Near-net shaped Al/SiCP composites via vacuum-pressure infiltration combined with gelcasting

To solve the problem of difficult machining, the near-net shaped Al/SiC_P composites with high volume fraction of SiC particles were fabricated by vacuum-pressure infiltration. The SiC_P preform with a complex shape was prepared by gelcasting. Pure Al, Al4Mg, and Al4Mg2Si were used as the matrices, respectively. The results indicate that the optimal parameters of SiC_P suspension in gelcasting process are pH value of 10, TMAH content of 0.5 wt.%, and solid loading of 52 vol.%. The Al matrix alloyed with Mg contributes to improving the interfacial wettability of the matrix and SiC particles, which increases the relative density of the composite. The Al matrix alloyed with Si is beneficial to inhibiting the formation of the detrimental Al₄C₃ phases. The Al4Mg2Si/SiC_P composite exhibits high relative density of 99.2%, good thermal conductivity of 150 W·m^?1·K^?1, low coefficient of thermal expansion of 10.1×10^?6 K^?1, and excellent bending strength of 489 MPa.