Abstract
Experimental studies to demonstrate self healing potentials of Al-Mg-Si alloy were undertaken in this research work. Self healing exploring secondary precipitation in the Al-Mg-Si alloy and use of low melting metallic alloy reinforcement (60Sn-40Pb alloy) were used as basis for the investigation. For the precipitation study, the Al-Mg-Si alloy was under-aged at temperature of 160oC for 10 minutes and then subjected to second step ageing treatment at four different temperatures within the range of 25oC and 70oC. In the 60Sn-40Pb alloy reinforced Al-Mg-Si alloy study, the samples were prepared in pre-cracked state and then subjected to healing heat-treatment at 250oC. For all cases tensile test and healing efficiency was used to analyze the results generated. It was observed that a second step thermal ageing at 50oC resulted in peak improvement in tensile strength, yield strength, toughness and percent elongation while ageing above this temperature lead to a drop in the tensile properties in comparison to that of the sample not subjected to a second ageing treatment. Also the use of 60Sn-40Pb alloy as reinforcement in the Al-Mg-Si alloy resulted in a healing efficiency of 91% after pre-cracking and heat-treatment. The satisfactory bonding between the 60Sn-40Pb alloy and the Al-Mg-Si alloy matrix contributed to the high healing efficiency observed.
Highlights
Self healing materials are bio-inspired materials designed to mimic the behaviour of biological systems which have the capacity of self healing after undergoing some form of damage [1]
Similar trend with that of the strength parameters and toughness was followed by the % Elongation (Figure 2(d)) with the exception of the sample treated at 60 ̊C which had % elongation values higher than that of the primary aged sample
The secondary precipitates are formed at sites referred to as precipitate free zones (PFZ) which are nucleation sites within the matrix where precipitation did not occur during the under ageing primary precipitation treatment
Summary
Self healing materials are bio-inspired materials designed to mimic the behaviour of biological systems which have the capacity of self healing after undergoing some form of damage (such as blood clotting to seal up an open wound or cut) [1]. The damage management philosophy explored in the design of self healing materials comes to terms with the inevitability of damage occurring and materials functionality waning [5]. Phenomena such as wear, residual stress development, micro-crack formation, and corrosion are among characteristics processed which can induce materials damage [6]. A wide range of benefits can accrue from the use of this design concept if it can be applied at commercial levels It has the potential of reducing cost of maintenance if components are made with self healing materials. There is the attraction of low energy requirement for developing self healing materials and low design cost of fabricating or incorporating self healing agents in traditional materials [8]
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