Artificial Neural Network Prediction of Silicon and Nickel recovery in Al-Si-Ni alloy Manufactured by Stir Casting

Abstract

Artificial neural network (ANN) is a non-linear statistical technique that being used to describe material behavior. This paper proposes using artificial neural networks (ANNS) in predicting silicon and nickel recovery. During the experimental work, the used optimum parameters are reaction time is 25 min., temperature is 950 ᵒC, Ni2O3 /Al wt. (weight) ratio is 0.082, and Na2SiF6 / Al wt. ratio is 1. Some tests such as chemical analysis, microstructure examination (EDX mapping), XRD diffraction were carried out on the produced alloys. The obtained experimental results are used to train the artificial neural network (ANN). While reaction time, temperature, Ni2O3 /Al wt. ratio, and Na2SiF6 / Al wt. ratio are used as ANN's inputs. Silicon and nickel recovery are used as ANN's outputs. The used ANN consists of three layers; Input layer that includes 4 neurons, the hidden layer includes 9 neurons, while the output layer contains 2 neurons. The Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) is used as the training function. Optimal mean square errors (MSE) for the ANN during predicting and estimating silicon and nickel recovery equal 0.0358, 0.0034, respectively, when reaction time is the variable and other parameters are kept constant, MSE equal 1.4007e-04, 1.3478e-04 when temperature is variable and other parameters are kept constant, MSE equal 1.3839e-04, 9.9891e-05 when Ni2O3/Al wt. ratio was the variable and other parameters are kept constant and finally MSE equal 0.0287, 0.0263 when Na2SiF6 / Al wt. ratio is variable and other parameters are kept constant.