The effect of particle size and volume fraction of the reinforced phases on the linear thermal expansion in the Al–Si–SiCp system

Al–Si–SiCp composite systems were fabricated by spray-casting process and subsequently hot-extruded, and the effects of microstructural parameters, such as the volume fraction and particle size of the reinforced SiCp and Si phases on the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were investigated. It revealed that the increase in the volume fraction of SiCp reinforcements lowers the linear CTE of the Al–Si–SiCp composite system, and the CTE of this system is proportional to the size of the crystallized silicon phase.