Effect of the reinforcing by WC on micro hardness, roughness and corrosion behavior of Al-12Si alloy

Abstract EN

This work investigated the effect of Tungsten Carbide as reinforcement with 1, 2 and 3 wt.

% on some properties of matrix Al-12Si alloy.

Al-12Si / WC composites were fabricated by stir casting method.

Micro hardness and roughness have been tested to investigate the role of WC reinforcing.

Corrosion behavior of these composites also investigated in 0.2M HCl solution using the potentiostat instrument.

The results show a good incorporation between the matrix and WC particles with probability to form Al12W and Al4C3 phase in addition to eutectic structure of Al-12Si alloy.

The micro hardness was increased with increasing the weight percent of WC, while the roughness was decreased due to the better interfacial bonding.

Corrosion protection properties of composites were better than that of base alloy due to the behavior of WC as a cathodic site which reduces the dissolution of metals from the metallic surface.