Synthesis and Characterization of 6061Al/Al2O3 Particulate Metal Matrix Composites

Bharath V*and V. Auradi**

*M.Tech Student, **Assistant Professor, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur-572102, Karnataka, India Email:vsauradi@gmail.com, Ph.No.9844386037

ABSTRACT
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been developed to meet the demand for lighter materials with high specific strength, stiffness and wear resistance. Among Metal matrix composites particulate reinforced aluminium matrix composites are attractive due to significant improvements in mechanical and physical properties like such as superior strength to weight ratio, good ductility, high strength and high modulus, low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent wear resistance, excellent corrosion resistance, high temperature creep resistance and better fatigue strength. AMMCs find wide applications in aerospace, automobiles and marine sectors etc. The mechanical properties of aluminium matrix composites are strongly dependent on microstructural parameters like shape, size, volume fraction and distribution of reinforcement particles which have to be carefully chosen. Therefore, judicious selection of the variables is important to optimize the properties of the composites. In this present work, metal matrix composites with 6061Al as matrix and Al2O3 particulates were produced with varying amount of alumina particles and were fabricated by stir casting process. Above prepared composites are characterized by microstructural studies for distribution and volume fraction of the composite. Further, the prepared composites were evaluated for their mechanical properties like strength, ductility and hardness. The investigation reveals that there is a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the composite. The tensile strength and hardness were found to increase with the increase in the wt% of Al2O3 reinforcement.

Keywords: 6061Al, Al2O3 Particle, MMCs, Mechanical properties

Off all the aluminium alloys, Al6061 is quite a Al alloy 6061 is widely used in numerous popular choice as a matrix material to prepare engineering applications including transport and MMCs owing to its better formability construction where superior mechanical characteristics [4]. properties such as tensile, strength, hardness Amongst different kinds of the recently etc., are essentially required [1]. developed composites, particle-reinforced metal Alumina particulate reinforced aluminium matrix composites and in particular, aluminium composites possess a unique combination of base materials have all ready emerged as high specific strength, high elastic modulus, candidates for industrial applications. good wear resistance and good thermal stability than the corresponding non-reinforced matrix Aluminium alloys are still the subjects of alloy system [2]. intense studies, as their low density gives MATERIALS AND METHODS

INTRODUCTION

additional advantages in several applications. These alloys have started to replace cast iron and bronze, to manufacture wear resistance parts. MMCs reinforced with particles tend to offer enhancement of properties processed by conventional routes [9, 10]

Materials preparation Al6061 alloy as matrix material and Al2O3 is used as reinforcement material in the preparation of composites. The chemical composition of matrix material are as shown in Table1. The reinforcing material selected was Al2O3 of particle size 125 m.

Elements Percentage

Si 0.43

Fe 0.7

Table.1 Chemical Composition of Al6061 by Wt% Cu Mn Ni Pb Zn Ti Sn 0.24 0.139 0.05 0.24 0.25 0.15 0.001

Mg 0.802

Cr 0.25

Al Balance

EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
The liquid metallurgy routes have been adopted to prepare the cast composites as described below. In the present work, the composite will be prepared by liquid metallurgy route with varying amount of reinforcements in a resistance furnace. The furnace temperature was closely maintained to 700c using digital temperature controller with an accuracy of5c. The 6061 Al was placed in graphite crucible and heated to 750C using resistance furnace and the matrix Al 6061 of 200gm had reinforced with the 6 Wt% of Al2O3 of 125m size and during this temperature (i.e.) the micro particles of Al2O3 was added and a constant stirring had done for 15mins until a clear vertex is form,

then at the pouring temperature of 850C the molten mixture was poured into the permanent mould and allowed it to solidify for few mins after complete solidification the prepared composite is with drawl from the mould and then machining the composite according to requirements finally Samples produced are ready for different testing. Testing of Composites The cast composites were machined using CNC lathe according to IS1608-2005 standards to prepare the specimen, as shown in Figure-1. The tensile tests were conducted using computerized uni-axial tensile testing machine.Each test was repeated thrice and average response value was considered.

Figure-1. Tensile test specimen dimensions. Hardness tests were performed on as cast and The hardness was determined by recording the

composites to know the effect of Al2O3 particles in matrix material. The polished specimens were tested using Vickers micro hardness testing system. A load of 1N for a period of 10 seconds was applied on specimens.

diagonal lengths of indentation produced. The test was carried out at three different locations and the average value was taken as the hardness of the as cast and composite specimens.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Micrograph studies Figure-2 shows the microstructure of as cast Al6061 alloy in the as received samples.

Figure-2. Microstructure of as cast Al6061 alloy Figure-3 shows the microstructure of Al6061 alloy reinforced with 9wt % Al2O3 Micrograph clearly reveals No clustering of Al2O3 particles was observed in the matrix, and the dispersion of Al2O3 particles was seen to be uniform.

Figure-3. Microstructure of 9 wt % of Al2O3 Al6061 composite.