Impact on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-4.5Cu alloy by the addition of MoS2

Abstract

Utilization of aluminium composites is on the rise and has wide applications in aerospace, automobile and marine industries because of their inherent properties. The aluminium composites express high wear and corrosion resistance, high strength to weight ratio, toughness etc. In the present research work, aluminum 4.5 copper alloy reinforced with MoS2 is fabricated employing stir casting method and their mechanical properties and microstructures were investigated. The percentage addition of reinforcement was made in the range from 0 wt% to 6 wt% in a step of 2 wt%. The results show a significant improvement in the micro-hardness and tensile properties on the addition of MoS2 particles, up to 4 wt% and beyond 4 wt%, these properties start decreasing. The uniform distribution of particles as well as fine-grain refinement was observed with the addition of reinforcement and thereby the density of the composite improved. The highest value of tensile strength and hardness of composites was noticed at 4 wt% of MoS2 of aluminium composite and tensile fracture mechanism was analyzed with the scanning electron microscope.