Investigation of Al/Steel Bimetal Composite Fabrication by Vacuum Assisted Solid Mould Investment Casting

Bimetal composites are a group of promising engineering materials with high developing and service potential. Especially in many fields they can be a powerful low cost alternative to metal-ceramic composites. The most commonly encountered type of these composites is steel reinforced aluminium matrix composites which stand out with high wear and abrasion resistance. Significant fabrication processes of metal/metal composites are based on liquid metal techniques. In this study, Al/steel composite specimens were produced by using vacuum assisted solid mould investment casting technique. A7075 wrought aluminium alloy were infiltrated into steel preforms, which were produced with 304 stainless steel and H13 hot-work tool steel turnings, in the plaster based solid investment casting moulds. Microstructure observations, HV microhardness measurements, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis were carried out for characterization.