Fabrication of Functionally Graded Composite Material using Powder Metallurgy Route, An Overview

Functionally Graded Composite Material (FGCMs) are inhomogeneous materials, consisting of two (or more) different materials, with an engineered gradient along the thickness direction having a continuously varying spatial composition. Keeping in mind the wide areas of application and the probable scope of such materials, some existing problems are discussed. As part of the present investigation, a simple experimentation involving Al-SiC and Al-Al2O3 FGCM, by powder metallurgy (PM) route has been carried out and discussed. The effect of SiC and Al2O3 addition on the density of Aluminium, in the proposed functionally graded composite material and an overview of the current status of research on FGCMs including its future development is presented here. This review is about establishing powder metallurgy (PM) as a better technique for large scale production and up scaling of FGCM. This was further strengthened after considering the benefits of the technique such as process cost efficiency, authenticity of the functional application of the process and high adequacy of the process to control the quality of the FGM.