Investigation of Micro-structure and Mechanical Behaviour of Aluminum - Zircon Sand - Tungsten Carbide Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Nowadays composites play a vital role in automotive and aircraft applications. The main objective of this work is to employ aluminum-zircon sand – tungsten carbide metal matrix composites as they possess light in weight characteristics with improved corrosion and hardness properties. The casting was made up with stir casting and the mechanical properties are studied. This paper deals with the investigation of effects of zircon sand and tungsten carbide as reinforcements in aluminum metal matrix composite. The results show that tensile strength of composite increases with increase in percentage of tungsten carbide from 0.5 % to 1.5 %. But, when it is 2% there is reduction in strength due to higher content of tungsten carbide. Similar to tensile test results, compressive load also increases up to 1.5%. The impact test reveals that the energy absorbed by all the composites is similar to each other. The hardness test proves that the hardness of the alloy decreases with increase in the alloying content. Morphological analysis is carried out to find the internal structure of the tested specimens.