Pseudo-in-situ stir casting: a new method for production of aluminum matrix composites with bimodal-sized B4C reinforcement

A new method was applied to produce an Al-0.5wt%Ti-0.3wt%Zr/5vol%B4C composite via stir casting with the aim of characterizing the microstructure of the resulting composite. For the production of the composite, large B4C particles (larger than 75 μm) with no pre-heating were added to the stirred melt. Reflected-light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size...