Pore filling in graphite particle compacts infiltrated with Al-12 wt.%Si and Al-12 wt.%Si-1 wt.%Cu alloys

The drainage curves (saturation versus applied pressure) that characterize pressure infiltration of Al-12wt.%Si and Al-12 wt.%Si-1 wt.%Cu alloys into particulate preforms made out of carbon particles of three sizes have been determined. The results show that, no matter the alloy or the particle preform, saturation (pore filling) varies with pressure much faster at low than at high pressures. Besides, the drainage curves at high and low pressures, can be reasonably fitted with the semi-empirical model of Brooks and Corey, although with significantly different model parameters. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.