Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, 2012, 11, 1126-1131 Published Online November 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/jmmce) Processing of 5083 Aluminum Alloy Reinforced with Alumina through Microwave Sintering Jagesvar Verma 1 , Anil Kumar 2 , Rituraj Chandrakar 3 , Rajesh Kumar 4 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering at SSIPMT, Raipur, India 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering at BIT, Durg, India 3 Department of Mechanical Engineering at CSIT, Durg, India 4 Department in Mechatronics Engineering at CSIT, Durg, India Email: jageshwarverma28@gmail.com, Anilmech2010@gmail.com, riturajchandrakar@csitdurg.in, rajeshkumar@csitdurg.in Received July 7, 2012; revised August 13, 2012; accepted August 28, 2012 ABSTRACT Today, there is an increasing demand worldwide for the advanced materials in order to obtain the desired properties. This is because a single material generally cannot meet the requirement of harsh engineering environment that is why the need for composites arises. Metal matrix composite is an important class of materials with high potential for struc- tural applications requiring high specific modulus, strength and toughness. Metal matrix composites with unique pro- perties are growing every day and widely used in different industries because of their high mechanical properties and wear resistance. Keywords: Microstructure; Powder Metallurgy; Composite Materials 1. Introduction Aluminium MMC has been of interest in the recent li- terature because of its lower density, high toughness and corrosion resistance in the environmental condition [1]. Aluminium MMC shows poor strength which can be im- proved by adding some alloying elements like Cu, Mg, Si and Zn. The alloying elements improves strength but shows poor wear resistance properties which is the main drawback of aluminium which can be improved by ad- ding ceramic particle such as Al 2 O 3 and also using such reinforcement makes the control of microstructure, tri- bology and mechanical properties through controlling volume fraction, size and distribution of constituents. Among the ceramic particles Al 2 O 3 is favorable since it does not react with the matrix at high temperature and does not create undesired phases [1]. Alloy and compo- site have been prepared i.e. Al5083 alloy and alumina as reinforcement in various weight percentages by powder metallurgy route (e.g. high energy ball milling), hot com- paction, and microwave heating. Powder metallurgy me- thod is the most suitable method for making metal matrix composites. In comparison with the melting methods, it’s most important advantage is low processing temperature. That is why undesired phases between the matrix phase and the reinforcement are prevented. Moreover, rein- forcement particles are also suitably distributed in the matrix [2]. Another significant feature is the production of near net-shape parts, which is cost-effective. Hardness and Wear resistance of the composite is improved by proper addition of the reinforcement. However, elonga- tion of the composite may be reduced [3,4]. By addition of the hard phase particles, greatly improves the strength which in turn depends on the manipulation method [5]. Microwave energy is being utilized as an alternative en- ergy source for the processing of materials to ensure ra- pid, volumetric heating, finer microstructure and better properties [6,7]. Researchers have established that metal powder can be efficiently heated by microwave energy. Where in the dielectric loss and eddy current loss have important roles. In addition, multiple scattering in the powdered sam- ple also leads to the absorption of the microwave energy. The main aim of the present work is to develop alumi- num alloy matrix Al 2 O 3 particulate composite and their structure property correlation. The experimental work has been classified into three parts: 1) Development of 5083Al-Al 2 O 3 composite. 2) Thermal behavior analyses. 3) Characterization of 5083Al/Al 2 O 3 composite. 2. Methodology 2.1. Development of 5083Al/Al 2 O 3 Composite 2.1.1. Raw Materials Aluminum 5083Al alloy was chosen for this study and alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) particulates were reinforced with this 5083Al alloy matrix. The raw materials are shown in the Copyright © 2012 SciRes. JMMCE