The Effect of Variation of Nano SiC Reinforcement Particle Addition to Mechanical Properties of Mg/Nano SiC Composite by Stir Casting Method

Composites are advanced material which is being developed that contains of two materials or more in order to improve the mechanical properties. Magnesium composite is a suitable material beside aluminium and its alloy to be applicated as vehicle body structure due to its lightweight and its low density. Thus, the vehicle body structure with lightweight and good mechanical properties can be achieved. In this research, magnesium composite is fabricated by mixing magnesium as composite matrix and nano SiC as reinforcement particle with the variation of the volume fraction 0.05 %v_f, 0.10 %v_f, 0.15 %v_f, 0.20 %v_f, and 0.25 %v_f with stir casting as fabrication methods. To characterize the composite product, several testing were done, which were chemical composition characterization, metallographic observation, SEM-EDS characterization, XRD characterization, hardness testing, wear testing, and impact testing. The result of this research shows that with nano SiC addition as reinforcement particle will increase mechanical properties of magnesium composite. The best mechanical properties of magnesium composite is shown by the addition of 0.15 %vf nano SiC. The result shows the brinnel hardness number of this composition is 39 HB and 0.0052 mm3/m wear rate. Mechanical properties of magnesium composite are increased due to several strengthening mechanism such as grain size reduction and Orowan strengthening mechanism.