Fabrication and Characterization of a Stir Casting-Based Aluminium Hybrid MMC Reinforced with SiC, TiC, and MoS2

Abstract

The need for strong, lightweight materials has prompted the creation of innovative metal matrix composites based on aluminum. The properties of metal matrix composites that are uniformly dispersed with nanoparticles are much superior to those of monolithic alloy and microparticle-reinforced composites. The objective of this work was to create and evaluate a metal matrix composite reinforced with MoS2, SiC, and TiC that is a hybrid aluminum alloy, Al6061. It was also investigated how the weight percentages (3, 6, 9, and 12%) of MoS2, SiC, and TiC reinforcement affected the mechanical, morphological, tribological, and physical characteristics of the metal matrix composite. The addition of SiC and MoS2 increased the density of the reinforced Al6061 composite when compared to as-cast non-reinforced Al6061. It was found that the hybrid composite Al6061/12% SiC/4% MoS2 had the maximum density. The hybrid metal matrix composite's toughness increased as the proportion of TiC weight increased. The composite made of Al6061, 12% TiC, and 4% MoS2 had the maximum hardness, measuring 114.03 HV. The composite Al6061/12% TiC/4% MoS2 has the most ultimate tensile strength. The tribology analysis revealed that when applied stress increased from 10 to 50 N, mass loss increased dramatically. Because of the solid MoS2 lubricant and the development of the TiC layer at the contact zone, Double- and triple-reinforced specimens had less wear loss than non-reinforced specimens, as shown by the wear performance of hybrid composites. The main wear mechanisms of the composites were delamination wear and wear debris.