Influence on Mechanical Behaviour and Characterization of A6063/Bagasse and Titanium Nitride Hybrid Composites

Abstract

In this study, aluminium matrix (A6063) composites reinforced with titanium nitride and sugarcane bagasse ash were fabricated using liquid metallurgy technique. Reinforcements were added to a maximum of 10 wt% in aluminium alloy. The composites were then subjected to various mechanical properties study. Microscopic examinations were employed to analyse the distribution of reinforcement and phases in the composites. The tensile and impact test specimen after fracture was exposed to scanning electron microscopy to study the fracture mechanism. The tensile strength, hardness, yield strength and flexural strength of composites increased to a maximum of 29.7%, 31%, 34% and 7.7%, respectively. Ductility and impact strength decreased to a maximum of 47% and 11.5%, respectively. The presence of dimples, shearing, tearing microcracks, pull-out, stress concentration, hillock and particle fracture influenced the tensile and impact fracture mechanisms. Contribution of titanium nitride was higher in influencing the tensile strength, hardness, flexural strength and impact strength than that of bagasse ash.