Enhancing the tensile strength of SiC reinforced aluminium- based functionally graded structure through the mixture design approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Poornesh ◽  
Shreeranga Bhat ◽  
E.V. Gijo ◽  
Pavana Kumara Bellairu

PurposeThis article aims to study the tensile properties of a functionally graded composite structure with Al–18wt%Si alloy as the matrix material and silicon carbide (SiC) particles as the reinforcing element. More specifically, the study's primary objective is to optimize the composition of the material elements using a robust statistical approach.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, the composite material is fabricated using a combination of stir casting and the centrifugal casting technique. Moreover, the test specimen required to study the tensile strength are prepared according to the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. Eventually, optimal composition to maximize the tensile property of the material is determined using the mixture design approach.FindingsThe investigation results imply that the addition of the SiC plays a crucial role in increasing the tensile strength of the composite. The optical microstructural images of the composite show the adequate distribution of the reinforcing particles with the matrix. The proposed regression model shows better predictability of tensile strength. In addition, the methodology aids in optimizing the mixture component values to maximize the tensile strength of the produced functionally graded composite structure.Originality/valueLittle work has been reported so far where a hypereutectic Al–Si alloy is considered the matrix material to produce the composite structure. The article attempts to make a composite structure by using a combination of stir casting and centrifugal casting. Furthermore, it employs the mixture design to optimize the composition and predict the model of the study, which is one of a kind in the field of material science.

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Ashish Kumar Srivastava ◽  
Ambuj Saxena ◽  
Nagendra Kumar Maurya ◽  
Shashi Prakash Dwivedi

In the current scenario, the development of high strength and low weight material is the demand of the aerospace defence organizations. Magnesium alloy based composite has low density, good mechanical and physical properties. In this study, magnesium alloy AZ31B is used as reinforcement material and graphene nanoparticle is used as reinforcement material. Stir casting technique is used for the development of composite material. Three weight percentages i.e. 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.2% are used for the casting. The microstructural analysis is performed to validate the presence of graphene particles in the developed composite. Further mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness and toughness are evaluated. Experimental results confirm that GNPs particles are uniformly distributed into the matrix material. It was observed that due to the reinforcement of GNPs particles tensile strength of the material is improved by 31.17%, hardness is improved about 46.9%. However, the peak value of toughness is observed 12.6 Jule/cm2 in the matrix material, it decreases by increasing the wt% of reinforcement particle and lowest value of toughness of 6.82 Jule/cm2 is observed in AZ31B/1.2%GNP composite.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Premkumar John ◽  
Rajeev Vamadevan Rajam ◽  
Rajkumar Mattacaud Ramachandralal ◽  
Krishnakumar Komalangan

Purpose The purpose of this study is to distinguish the difference in tribological behavior of functionally graded composites in two sliding modes, namely, unidirectional and reciprocating. Design/methodology/approach A356-(10 Wt.%)SiCp functionally graded composite material (FGM) was prepared by vertical centrifugal casting and then a comparison was made between the tribological characteristics using pin-on-disk and pin-on-reciprocating plate configurations under identical operating conditions (sliding distance (s): 350 m; load (W): 30 = W = 120 N, in steps of 30 N; and velocity (v): 0.2 = v = 1.2 m/s, in steps of 0.2 m/s). Two types of test pins were considered, namely, a test pin taken from the outer zone of the FGM with maximum particle concentration and a test pin taken from the inner zone of the FGM in a matrix-rich region. Findings The study revealed that, for the test pin taken from the outer zone of the FGM in the low-velocity range (0.2–0.4 m/s), the reciprocating wear of the friction pair was dominant, while unidirectional wear was dominant in the velocity range of 0.6–0.8 m/s for the entire load range investigated. However, when the velocity was increased from 1.0 to 1.2 m/s, conflicting nature of dominancy in the wear characteristics of the friction pair was observed, depending on the loading condition. In addition, the inner zone FGM pin underwent seizure in the reciprocating mode, whereas this phenomenon was not seen in the unidirectional mode. Originality/value Differences in wear and friction characteristics of FGM friction pairs in two different sliding modes were investigated over a wide range of operating parameters.


2015 ◽  
Vol 830-831 ◽  
pp. 456-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jayakumar ◽  
Jibin C. Jacob ◽  
T.P.D. Rajan ◽  
M.A. Joseph ◽  
B.C. Pai

The present study describes the processing and characterization of hypoeutectic A319 functionally graded Aluminium metal matrix composite (FGMMC) reinforced with 10 weight percentage SiCp particles of 23 μm size. FGMMC’s are processed by liquid stir casting method followed by vertical centrifugal casting. Metallographic analysis of FGMMC casting reveals the influence of the centrifugal force on the gradation of various phases in the matrix and an increasing gradient distribution of SiC reinforcements gradually from inner towards the outer periphery forming different zones. Tensile and the compressive tests show that the variation in properties are structure sensitive and is confirmed by the dry wear tests. The study clearly depicts the gradient nature in the structure and mechanical properties of the FGM castings produced by centrifugal casting method.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832110055
Author(s):  
Zeeshan Ahmad ◽  
Sabah Khan

Alumnium alloy LM 25 based composites reinforced with boron carbide at different weight fractions of 4%, 8%, and 12% were fabricated by stir casting technique. The microstructures and morphology of the fabricated composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Elemental mapping of all fabricated composites were done to demonstrate the elements present in the matrix and fabricated composites. The results of microstructural analyses reveal homogenous dispersion of reinforcement particles in the matrix with some little amount of clustering found in composites reinforced with 12% wt. of boron carbide. The mechanical characterization is done for both alloy LM 25 and all fabricated composites based on hardness and tensile strength. The hardness increased from 13.6% to 21.31% and tensile strength 6.4% to 22.8% as reinforcement percentage of boron carbide particles increased from 0% to 12% wt. A fractured surface mapping was also done for all composites.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakthi Sadhasivam RM ◽  
Ramanathan K. ◽  
Bhuvaneswari B.V. ◽  
Raja R.

Purpose The most promising replacements for the industrial applications are particle reinforced metal matrix composites because of their good and combined mechanical properties. Currently, the need of matrix materials for industrial applications is widely satisfied by aluminium alloys. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the tribological behaviour of the zinc oxide (ZnO) particles reinforced AA6061 composites prepared by stir casting route. Design/methodology/approach In this study, AA6061 aluminium alloy matrix reinforced with varying weight percentages (3%, 4.5% and 6%) of ZnO particles, including monolithic AA6061 alloy samples, is cast by the most economical fabrication method, called stir casting. The prepared sample was subjected to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, experimental density measurement by Archimedian principle and theoretical density by rule of mixture and hardness test to investigate mechanical property. The dry sliding wear behaviour of the composites was investigated using pin-on-disc tribometer with various applied loads of 15 and 20 N, with constant sliding velocity and distance. The wear rate, coefficient of friction (COF) and worn surfaces of the composite specimens and their effects were also investigated in this work. Findings XPS results confirm the homogeneous distribution of ZnO microparticles in the Al matrix. The Vickers hardness result reveals that higher ZnO reinforced (6%) sample have 34.4% higher values of HV than the monolithic aluminium sample. The sliding wear tests similarly show that increasing the weight percentage of ZnO particles leads to a reduced wear rate and COF of 30.01% and 26.32% lower than unreinforced alloy for 15 N and 36.35% and 25% for 20 N applied load. From the worn surface morphological studies, it was evidently noticed that ZnO particles dispersed throughout the matrix and it had strong bonding between the reinforcement and the matrix, which significantly reduced the plastic deformation of the surfaces. Originality/value The uniqueness of this work is to use the reinforcement of ZnO particles with AA6061 matrix and preparing by stir casting route and to study and analyse the physical, hardness and tribological behaviour of the composite materials.


In this research, an effort is made to familiarize and best potentials of the reinforcing agent in aluminum 7075 matrices with naturally occurring Beryl (Be) and Graphene (Gr) to develop a new hybrid composite material. A stir casting technique was adopted to synthesize the hybrid nanocomposites. GNPS were added in volume fractions of 0.5wt%, 1wt%, 1.5wt%, and 2wt% and with a fixed volume fraction of 6 wt.% of Beryl. As cast hybrid composites were microstructurally characterized with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Microstructure study through scanning electron microscope demonstrated that the homogeneous distribution reinforcement Beryl and GNPs into the Al7075 matrix. Brinell hardness and tensile strength of synthesized materials were investigated. The hybrid Al7075-Beryl-GNPs composites showed better mechanical properties compared with base Al7075 matrix material. The ascast Al7075-6wt.% Beryl-2wt.%GNPs showed 49.41% improvement in hardness and 77.09% enhancement in ultimate tensile strength over Al7075 alloy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1147-1152
Author(s):  
Ömer Savaş

Purpose This study aims to investigate the production and abrasive wear rate of functionally graded TiB2/Al composites. TiB2 particles have been spontaneously formed in liquid matrix using in situ technique. The properties of composites such as hardness, abrasive wear rate and microstructure have been examined. Design/methodology/approach In situ TiB2 reinforcement phase was synthesized by using a liquid Al–Ti–B system. A semi-solid composite (Al(l)-TiB2(s)) prepared at 900°C was solidified under a centrifugal force to both grade functionally and give the final shape to materials. Abrasive wear test of materials was conducted using the pin-on-disk method at room temperature. The wear tests were carried out with two different loads of 1 Newton (N) and 2 N, a sliding velocity of 3.5 m s−1 and a sliding distance of 75 m. Findings This research provided the following findings; TiB2 particles can be successfully synthesized with in situ reaction technique in molten aluminum. It was determined that abrasive wear rate increases with increasing load and decreases with increasing TiB2 reinforcement content within matrix. Originality/value In previous studies, there have been many trials on the in situ production of TiB2-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. However, there are few studies on production of in situ TiB2-reinforced aluminum matrix functionally graded materials. At the same time, there is no study that the properties of composite, such as hardness and abrasive wear rate, are examined together according to centrifugal force. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2019-0538/


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 01005
Author(s):  
Cindy Retno Putri ◽  
Anne Zulfia Syahrial ◽  
Salahuddin Yunus ◽  
Budi Wahyu Utomo

The goal of this research is to improve the mechanical properties such as strength, hardness and wear resistance for automotive application such as brake shoe and bearings due to high cycle, load and impact during their usage. Therefore, another alloying element or reinforcement addition is necessary. In this work, the composites are made by ADC 12 (Al-Si aluminum alloy) as the matrix and reinforced with micro SiC through stir casting process and TiB is added various from (0.04, 0.06, 0.15, 0.3 and 0.5) wt.% that act as grain refiners and 5 wt.% of Mg is added to improve the wettability of the composites. The addition of TiB improves the mechanical properties because the grain becomes finer and uniform, and the addition of Mg makes the matrix and reinforce have better adhesion. The results obtained that the optimum composition was found by adding 0.15 wt.% of TiB with tensile strength improve from 98 MPa to 136.3 MPa, hardness from 35 to 53 HRB and wear rate reduced from 0.006 2 mm3 s−1 to 0.002 3 mm3 s−1 respectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 766-767 ◽  
pp. 252-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Siddique Ahmed Ghias ◽  
B. Vijaya Ramnath

The composite material is a combination of two or more materials with different physical and chemical properties. The composite has superior characteristics than those individual components. A hybrid composite is the one which contains at least three materials. When the matrix material is a metal, the composite is termed as metal matrix composites (MMC). The MMC is a composite material with two constituent parts, one being a metal. The other material may be another metal, ceramic or fiber. Among all the MMC’s, Aluminium is the most widely used matrix material due to its light weight, high strength and hardness. This paper deals with the fabrication and mechanical investigation of hybrid metal matrix composite Al - SiC. The fabrication is done by stir casting by adding the required quantities of additives into the stirred molten Aluminium. The results show significant effect of mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield stress and flexural strength. The internal structure of the composite is observed using Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and found that are formation of pores in them.


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