Bagesh Bihari . Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Application www.ijera.com ISSN : 2248-9622, Vol. 7, Issue 1, ( Part -3) January 2017, pp.42-48 www.ijera.com 42 | Page An Overview on Different Processing Parameters in Particulate Reinforced Metal Matrix Composite Fabricated by Stir Casting Process Bagesh Bihari*, Anil Kumar Singh** *Research Scholar, Department of Foundry Technology, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Hatia, Ranchi, India ** Professor, Department of Foundry Technology, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Hatia, Ranchi, India I. I.INTRODUCTION Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are now recognized as important engineering and structural materials for application in aerospace, construction, automotive and leisure industries. The reinforcement of light weight aluminium alloys with short fibers, platelets and particle of ceramics such as silicon carbide or alumina results in composite of high specific strength and stiffness suitable for engineering applications like marine, aerospace and automotive [1-9]. High demands on material for better overall performance has led to extensive research and development efforts in the composites fields. Among the composites field, the aluminium based metal matrix composite materials are widely used. To meet emerging need, innovations in materials processing enabled achieving an enhancement in stiffness, realization of high strength to weight ratio, an improvement in wear resistance, maintaining strength at elevated temperatures [12,13]. MMCs' attributes include alterations in mechanical behaviour (e.g., tensile and compressive properties, creep, notch resistance, and tribology) and physical properties (e.g., intermediate density, thermal expansion, and thermal diffusivity) by the reinforced phase. The limitations of materials are thermal fatigue, thermo chemical compatibility, and low-transverse creep resistance. Most of the research work has been dealing with aluminium matrix. This is because aluminium is lighter weight which is first requirement in most of the industries. As a result, these materials are now being rapidly utilized in industries that traditionally used metals, and these have become the forefront of research and development activity in the many related areas [14,15]. There are several routes by which the reinforcement may be introduced in the matrix. The stir casting technique is an effective method for preparation of light weight MMC [10,11].The foundry casting processes have been a favoured processing method as they lend themselves to the manufacture of large number of complex shaped components. Especially, the stir casting mostly used to produce the Particulate reinforced metal matrix composite. The major problem in this technology is to obtain sufficient wetting of particle by the liquid metal and to get a homogeneous RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS ABSTRACT In the past few years the global need for reduced weight, low cost, high wear resistance and good quality materials has caused a shift in research from monolithic to composite materials. Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) have evoked a keen interest in recent times for potential applications in marine, aerospace and automotive industries owing to their superior strength to weight ratio and high temperature resistance. Driving force for the utilization of AMCs include performance, economic and environmental benefits. The widespread adoption of particulate metal matrix composites for engineering applications has been hindered by the high cost of producing components. Achieving a uniform distribution of reinforcement within the matrix is one such challenge which impacts directly on the properties and quality of the composite material. In the case of particle reinforced metal matrix composites, the distribution of the reinforcement particles in the matrix alloy is influenced by several factors during casting. These include the rheological behaviour of the matrix melt, the particle incorporation method, interactions of the particles and the matrix before, during and after mixing, and the changing particle distribution during solidification. In this paper, research relevant to these factors which influences the particle distribution is reviewed and discussed in order to achieve a good distribution of reinforcement particles in a cast metal matrix composite (MMC). Keywords: Metal Matrix Composite, Process Parameter, Stir Casting