Processing and properties of SiCp/Fe composites by resistance sintering with a novel dynamic temperature control

A two-stage resistance sintering with novel dynamic temperature control technology has been developed to manufacture SiCp/Fe composites. Principles of the technology and equipment were examined and reported in comparison with hot pressing and conventional resistance sintering. The composites with different reinforcement volume fractions and sizes were processed by the new technology to investigate effects of reinforcement features on hardness, yield stress and wear resistance. The experimental results demonstrate that the SiCp/Fe composites in nearly full density can be realized within a few minutes by the technology, and the yield stress and Vickers hardness of the 10 vol.% SiCp/Fe composite were achieved up to the remarkable values of 949 MPa and 501HV5, respectively. It is shown that the composite with 10 vol.% SiC and particle size of 13 µm has the best mechanical properties among the composites in ranges of the volume fraction from 5% to 15% and of the particle size from 3 to 45 µm, respectively. Modeling by the Eshelby approach based on strengthening mechanism of load sharing was carried out to interpret the experimental results.