Optical and conductive properties of AlSi-alloy/SiCp composites:: application in modelling CO2 laser processing of composites

The optical properties-reflectivity, real part of the refractive index, absorption coefficient as well as the thermal and electrical conductivity of AlSi-alloy/SiCp composite were measured. The optical parameters and both conductivities decreased with the increase of SiCp particles volume in AlSi-alloy matrix. This decrease was almost linear for the volume fraction of SiCp particle up to 10 vol% of the total mass of the composite. For the 15 vol% of SiCp particles, the departure from linearity is connected with the presence of additional phases in AlSi-alloy/SiCp composite materials. The measured temperature dependencies of optical reflectivity and electrical conductivity for AlSi-alloy/SiCp 15 vol% are of metallic character. Modelling of the interaction of the CO2 laser radiation with AlSi-alloy/SiCp 15 vol% composite should allow to estimate the initiation time at which the surface composite reaches melting temperature. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.