Mechanical and wear analysis of Al6061-SiC/Al2O3/B4C hybrid metal matrix composites using stir casting process

Abstract

In this present study hybrid aluminium metal matrix composites (HAMMC) were prepared by employing stir casting technique at 725 °C. Reinforcements such as Alumina (Al2O3), Silicon carbide (SiC) and Boron carbide (B4C) of 44µ size were reinforced with base aluminium matrix Al-6061 T6 alloy. Wear test, Tensile test, Flexural test and Impact test were done on the hybrid aluminium metal matrix composites as per ASTM standards. It is observed that hybrid composite with 2 wt% each of SiC, Al2O3 and B4C has high tensile strength and wear strength. Composite with 6 wt% of B4C has second high tensile strength, hardness and impact strength when compared with rest of the hybrid composites because of its excellent mechanical properties. Porosity of the samples 1 and 2 is less than the value 2.3 which indicates greater uniformity of reinforcements in the matrix. Flexural strength and Hardness was studied and analysed. Morphological study of the hybrid composites was done using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observed minimal cracks on the surface of the samples due to wear test.