Microstructure and Tribological Performance of Alumina–Aluminum Matrix Composites Manufactured by Enhanced Stir Casting Method

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santanu Sardar ◽  
Santanu Kumar Karmakar ◽  
Debdulal Das
Keyword(s):  
Wear Rate ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Tribological Performance ◽  
Grit Size ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Al Alloy ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Reinforcement Content

Al–Zn–Mg–Cu matrix composites reinforced with (0–20 wt %) Al2O3 particles have been manufactured by enhanced stir casting technique. Microstructural characterization of cast composites by optical, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals homogeneous distribution of reinforcements in Al-alloy matrix with MgZn2 plus Al2CuMg intermetallics. With increasing particle content, hardness of composite rises considerably in spite of marginal rise in porosity. Tribological performance under two-body abrasion has been studied considering central composite design (CCD) apart from identification of mechanisms of wear via characterizations of abraded surfaces and debris. Composites exhibit significantly reduced wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF) irrespective of test conditions, since mechanisms of abrasion are observed to change from microplowing and microcutting in unreinforced alloy to mainly delamination with limited microplowing in composites. Effects of four independent factors (reinforcement content, load, abrasive grit size, and sliding distance) on wear behavior have been evaluated using response surface-based analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. Dominant factors on both wear rate and COF are identified as reinforcement content followed by grit size and load. Combined optimization of wear rate and COF employing multiresponse optimization technique with desirability approach as well as regression models of individual responses have been developed, and their adequacies are validated by confirmatory tests. The developed mathematical models provide further insight on the complex interactions among wear performances of the selected materials and variables of abrasive system. The optimum amount of reinforcement is identified at around 15 wt % for achieving the lowest values of both wear rate and COF.

scholarly journals Synthesis, Characterization and Testing of Al Alloy Based Hybrid Composite Materials

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2S2) ◽  
pp. 139-142
Keyword(s):  
Composite Materials ◽  
Casting Process ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Al Alloy ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Boron Carbide B4c ◽  
Weight Proportion

The developments in the area of aerospace, advancing activities in aircraft field and automotive industry emerges the exploit of new materials. In such applications, the role of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) is inevitable. In the proposed article, the fabrication of Al (6351) alloy reinforced with SiC and varying weight proportion of Boron Carbide (B4C) was done through stir casting process. The characterization of prepared composite materials is evaluated to ensure the homogeneous distribution of reinforced particulates in Al matrix. The existence of alloying elements and their mapping is done through EDS. Moreover, the enhancement of physical and mechanical behavior of the fabricated composites is also discussed in detail.

Dry sliding tribological properties of A356-SiCP aluminum matrix composites prepared by vacuum stir casting

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaqi Pan ◽  
Xiaoshan Liu ◽  
Guoqiu He ◽  
Bin Ge ◽  
Peiwen Le ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wear Rate ◽  
Tribological Properties ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Particle Content ◽  
Sliding Speed ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Casting Technique

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the effect of particle content, applied load and sliding speed on the tribological properties of A356-SiCP composites manufactured using a newly developed vacuum stir casting technique. Design/methodology/approach A356 alloy reinforced with 10, 15 and 20 vol% SiC particles was prepared by vacuum stir casting. Tribological tests were carried out on block-on-ring tribometer under dry sliding conditions, room temperature. Wear mechanism was investigated by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersion spectrum. Findings SiCP is homogeneously dispersed in the matrix. The increase in SiCP content decrease wear rate, but it leads to an increase in coefficient of friction. The wear rate increase and friction coefficient present different variation trends with increasing load. For A356-20%SiCP composite, when the load is less than 10 MPa, wear rate and friction coefficient under sliding speed of 400 rpm are lower than those of 200 rpm. Wear mechanism transition from abrasion, oxidation, delamination, adhesion to plastic flow as load and sliding speed increasing. Practical implications Results of this study will help guide the use of A356-SiCP in many automotive products such as brake rotors, brake pads, brake drums and pistons. Originality/value There are few paper studies the effect of particle content, applied load and sliding speed on the tribological properties of A356-SiCP composites. Aluminum matrix composites with uniform distribution of reinforcing particles were successfully prepared by using the newly developed vacuum stir casting technique.

scholarly journals ENHANCED MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SiC PARTICLE REINFORCED ALUMINIUM ALLOY COMPOSITE MATERIALS

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Kumar Pal ◽  
Arnav Vikram ◽  
Vineet Bajaj
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Silicon Carbide ◽  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Hardness Test ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Sic Particles

<p class="AMSmaintext">Aluminium6061 alloy composites containing various volume fractions of Silicon Carbide (SiC) particles (0, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) were prepared by stir casting method. In the current study,<strong> </strong>microstructures and mechanical properties of cast silicon carbide (SiC) reinforced aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) were investigated. Optical microscopic examination, SEM, tensile strength test, hardness test and elongation test were carried out. The results showed that with the addition of SiC reinforcements in Aluminum6061 matrix increased hardness and tensile strength however, decreased elongation at 25% SiC reinforced AMC. Hardness and tensile strength were observed to be are maximum at 25% SiC and elongation is minimum at 25% SiC. Microstructural observation confirmed clustering and homogeneous distribution of SiC particles in the Al6061 matrix.</p>

scholarly journals The Investigation of Machinability and Surface Properties of Aluminium Alloy Matrix Composites

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 210412
Author(s):  
Priyadarsini Morampudi ◽  
Venkata Ramana V.S.N. ◽  
Koona Bhavani ◽  
Amrita M ◽  
V Srinivas
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Al Alloy ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Casting Method ◽  
Alloy Matrix ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Aluminium Alloy Matrix

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are crucial to the progress of composite application areas due to their remarkable mechanical properties. Their usage has expanded into different fields such as the aerospace, automobile, and defense industries. The present study used wrought Al alloy AA6061 as the matrix, while ilmenite (FeTiO3) particles were used as reinforcement at different weight percentages to prepare metal matrix composites. One of the most economical and simple casting routes among the several available fabrication techniques for the preparation of composites is the stir casting method, which was applied in the present investigation to prepare the AMCs. The machinability of the fabricated composites and the surface roughness property after machining were studied to understand the effect of speed and feed during machining. The results showed that an increase in speed decreased the cutting forces and the surface roughness. Meanwhile, an increase in surface roughness was observed with an increase in feed.

A study on tribological behaviour and analysis of ZnO reinforced AA6061 matrix composites fabricated by stir casting route

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakthi Sadhasivam RM ◽  
Ramanathan K. ◽  
Bhuvaneswari B.V. ◽  
Raja R.
Keyword(s):  
Wear Rate ◽  
Sliding Wear ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Wear Behaviour ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Tribological Behaviour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Zno Particles ◽  
The Matrix

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.

Production of Al Metal Matrix Composites by the Stir-Casting Method

2013 ◽  
Vol 592-593 ◽  
pp. 614-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Anthymidis ◽  
Kostas David ◽  
Pavlos Agrianidis ◽  
Afroditi Trakali
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Metal Matrix Composites ◽  
Automobile Industry ◽  
Metal Matrix ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Stir Casting ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Casting Method ◽  
Alloy Matrix

It is well known that the addition of ceramic phases in an alloy e.g. aluminum, in form of fibers or particles influences its mechanical properties. This leads to a new generation of materials, which are called metal matrix composites (MMCs). They have found a lot of application during the last twenty-five years due to their low density, high strength and toughness, good fatigue and wear resistance. Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by ceramic particles are well known for their good thermophysical and mechanical properties. As a result, during the last years, there has been a considerable interest in using aluminum metal matrix composites in the automobile industry. Automobile industry use aluminum alloy matrix composites reinforced with SiC or Al2O3 particles for the production of pistons, brake rotors, calipers and liners. However, no reference could be cited in the international literature concerning aluminum reinforced with TiB particles and Fe and Cr, although these composites are very promising for improving the mechanical properties of this metal without significantly alter its corrosion behavior. Several processing techniques have been developed for the production of reinforced aluminum alloys. This paper is concerned with the study of TiB, Fe and Cr reinforced aluminum produced by the stir-casting method.

scholarly journals Investigations of the Tribological Performance of A390 Alloy Hybrid Aluminum Matrix Composite

Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhilash Edacherian ◽  
Ali Algahtani ◽  
Vineet Tirth
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Composites ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Particulate Composite ◽  
Tribological Performance ◽  
Processing Route ◽  
Dry Sliding Wear ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
Soft Phase ◽  
A390 Alloy

Several challenges stand in the way of the production of metal matrix composites (MMCs) such as higher processing temperatures, particulate mixing, particulate–matrix interface bonding issues, and the ability to process into desired geometrical shapes. Although there are many studies showing composites with single particulate reinforcements, studies on composites with multiple reinforcing agents (hybrid composites) are found to be limited. Development of a hybrid particulate composite with optimized mechanical and tribological properties is very significant to suit modern engineering applications. In this study, Al–Si hypereutectic alloy (A390) was used as the matrix and silicon carbide (SiC), graphite (Gr), and molybdenum di-sulphide (MoS2) were used as particulates. Particulate volume (wt %) was varied and sample test castings were made using a squeeze casting process through a stir casting processing route. The evaluation of the mechanical testing indicates that the presence of both the hard phase (SiC) and the soft phase had distinct effect on the properties of the hybrid aluminum matrix composites (HAMCs). Composite samples were characterized to understand the performance and to meet the tribological applications. The 3D profilometry of the fractured surfaces revealed poor ductility and scanning electron microscopy fractography study indicated an intra-granular brittle fracture for HAMCs. Also, the dry sliding wear tests indicated that the newly developed HAMCs had better tribological performance compared to that of A390 alloy.

scholarly journals Effect of T6 Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Hardness of Nanosized Al2O3 Reinforced 7075 Aluminum Matrix Composites

Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng-Xiang Zhang ◽  
Hong Yan ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Xiu-Liang Zou ◽  
Bin-Bing Tang
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Solution Treatment ◽  
Aluminum Matrix ◽  
Aging Treatment ◽  
Aluminum Matrix Composites ◽  
Matrix Composites ◽  
X Ray ◽  
T6 Heat Treatment ◽  
The Matrix

In this study, 7075 aluminum matrix composites reinforced with 1.5 wt.% nanosized Al2O3 were fabricated by ultrasonic vibration. The effect of T6 heat treatment on both microstructure and hardness of nanosized Al2O3 reinforced 7075 (Al2O3np/7075) composites were studied via scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and hardness tests. The Mg(Zn,Cu,Al)2 phases gradually dissolved into the matrix under solution treatment at 480 °C for 5 h. However, the morphology and size of Al7Cu2Fe phases remained unchanged due to their high melting points. Furthermore, the slenderness strips MgZn2 phases precipitated under aging treatment at 120 °C for 24 h. Compared to as-cast composites, the hardness of the sample under T6 heat treatment was increased ~52%. The strengthening mechanisms underlying the achieved hardness of composites are revealed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document