Vanadium carbide reinforced aluminum matrix composite prepared by conventional, microwave and spark plasma sintering

The effect of sintering method on the structure and mechanical properties of aluminum -10 wt% VC composite was investigated. Aluminum-VC metal matrix composite was prepared successfully by conventional (at 600 degrees C), microwave (at 600 degrees C) and spark plasma sintering (at 450 degrees C). The obtained results indicate that the aluminum -10 wt% VC composite prepared by SPS had the highest relative density (99 +/- 0.6 +/- %TD), bending strength (295 +/- 15 MPa) and microhardness (232 +/- 16 Vickers). The XRD investigations showed the decomposition of VC phase and the formation of Al3V intermetallic phase in the microwave-sintered samples. The SEM micrographs and EDS analyses revealed uniform distribution of reinforcement particles in SPS method and the formation of Al3V phase in microwave-sintered sample. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.