Effect of stirring speed and time on the mechanical properties of Al8011-SiC metal matrix composites

Abstract

In this experimental research work, specimens were fabricated with three different stirring time periods and two different stirring speeds using the standard experimental setup to obtain Al 8011-SiC composites with the reinforcement of SiC by the stir casting method. Al8011 aluminum alloy is the latest explored material in the aluminum sequence which is used in the aerospace industries and heat exchangers. The stir casting method is the most broadly used in the liquid metallurgy technique to manufacture composites and to acquire uniform distribution of particles. Experiments are conducted with different experimental parameter ranges for the pure unreinforced metal alloy and Al8011-SiC composite specimens and results were observed and discussed. The highest hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength were observed in Al8011-SiC composites at the maximum stirring conditions and stirring time. Elongation was also observed to be highest for the same stirring conditions. The toughness of the composites remains the same for all stirring speeds and stirring times. Mechanical properties except the toughness value are gradually increased with the rise of stirring speed and time in the composite specimens because of the homogenous distribution of SiC particles in the Al8011 matrix at the maximum speed and timings.