Characterization & evaluation of Al7075 MMCs reinforced with ceramic particulates and influence of age hardening on their tensile behavior

Abstract

Aluminium has a massive demand in the areas of automobile, aerospace and diverse engineering applications in order to furnish the requirement in those fields. But this technological evolution needs something more than aluminium. Materialogists are struggling hard to find out a material which owns sound mechanical and thermal properties and also superior than aluminium in each extent. Metal matrix composite (MMC) is a solution. Generally, metal matrix composites contain a low density material, i.e. aluminium or magnesium, reinforced with fibers or particulate of a ceramic material, i.e. silicon carbide or graphite. They show greater specific strength, high stiffness, elevated operating temperature, and superior wear resistance, along with the possibility to customize these properties for a specific use. In this study, Al 7075 is taken as a base matrix material, whereas ceramic materials like SiC, Al2O3, B4C and TiB2 are used as reinforcements. There are different methods available for fabricating metal matrix composite materials and in this work, stir casting technique, which is a liquid state process, is used. Four different MMC specimens were produced with 15 % SiC, 15 % Al2O3, 15 % B4C and 15 % TiB2. Mechanical properties i.e. tensile strength, hardness, and impact strength were studied for the prepared specimens. The results were charted and presented graphically to describe these materials characteristics.