A Critical Review on Recent Advancements in Aluminium-Based Metal Matrix Composites

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have garnered significant attention across various industrial sectors owing to their remarkable properties compared to conventional engineering materials. These include low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance, enhanced wear resistance, and favorable high-temperature properties. These materials find extensive applications in the military, automotive, and aerospace industries. AMCs are manufactured using diverse processing techniques, tailored to their specific classifications. Over three decades of intensive research have yielded numerous scientific revelations regarding the internal and extrinsic influences of ceramic reinforcement on the mechanical, thermomechanical, tribological, and physical characteristics of AMCs. In recent times, AMCs have witnessed a surge in usage across high-tech structural and functional domains, encompassing sports and recreation, automotive, aerospace, defense, and thermal management applications. Notably, studies on particle-reinforced cast AMCs originated in India during the 1970s, attained industrial maturity in developed nations, and are now progressively penetrating the mainstream materials arena. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of AMC material systems, encompassing processing, microstructure, characteristics, and applications, with the latest advancements in the field.