Microstructural Studies and Material Characterization of Alumina Nanoparticulate Reinforced Functionally Graded Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, produced using Centrifuge Casting Technique

The current research work discusses the concept of reinforcing alumina nanoparticulate to Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy using a unique casting technique known as centrifuge casting system established in-house at our advanced manufacturing centre. The resulting cast solid cylindrical specimen will be functionally graded along the length of the specimen containing higher percentage of primary silicon and alumina nanoparticulate at the top region than the bottom region, with a gradual transition in between the two regions. The microstructure of the functionally graded Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, reinforced with 0.5, 1 and 1.5wt.% of alumina nanoparticulate was analysed using “Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)” and the elemental composition of the cast specimens were obtained using “Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)”. The outcomes of the EDX analysis confirmed the presence of alumina nanoparticulate in the cast specimens. Further, the mechanical properties of the cast Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, reinforced with alumina nanoparticulate were studied, and it was found that the specimen with the addition of alumina nanoparticulate showed enhanced mechanical properties when compared with the Al-12Si (wt.%) alloy, without alumina nanoparticulate addition, cast under identical conditions.