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The effect of pouring temperatures of an ex situ (Al/SiCp) and in situ (Al/TiB2) metal matrix composites (MMCs) synthesized using stir casting method were studied. The Al/SiCp composite were fabricated by mixing of 6wt.% of SiCp into cast A356 aluminium alloy melt and poured at diverse pouring temperatures (730∘C, 750∘C and 770∘C). The Al/TiB2 MMCs were obtained by melting A356 aluminium alloy and mixing of KBF4 and K2TiF6 precursor salts whose stoichiometric ratio composition corresponds to 6wt.% of TiB2 reinforcement and other parameters were constant (stirring speed 300 RPM and holding time 30 minutes). The composite melt was poured into the permanent mould with varied pouring temperatures (800∘C, 820∘C and 840∘C). Coarser and homogenous SiC particles were presented in the Al/SiCp MMCs, whereas, finer and uniformly distributed TiB2 particles were appeared at the MMCs of Al/TiB2. The mechanical properties viz. tensile strength, fracture toughness and hardness of Al/SiCp and Al/TiB2 MMCs were experimentally determined as per the ASTM standards and compared. Higher tensile and fracture strength were occurred at the MMCs of Al/TiB2 as compared to Al/SiCp MMCs and base alloy of aluminium as well. Maximum hardness was attained at the pouring temperatures of 820∘C and 750∘C in the MMCs of Al/ TiB2 and Al/SiCp, respectively.

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The paper describes a different condition of pouring temperature by sand and permanent mould to produce A356-6 wt% TiB2 metal matrix composites by in-situ method salt metal reaction route. The observation of SEM micrographs shows particle distribution of the TiB2 and it appears in hexagonal shape in Al matrix. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of those TiB2 particulates and the results showed TiB2 particles are homogeneously dispersed throughout the matrix metal. Subsequent structure-property evaluation studies indicated sub-micron size reinforcement of in-situ formed TiB2 particles with improved physical and mechanical properties as compared to sand and permanent mould of Al-TiB2 composites. From, the permanent mould Al-TiB2 composite has an advantage of increase the properties over sand mould Al-TiB2 composite.