Mechanical and Wear Properties of Al6063 Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with Al2O3 Particles

Abstract

Composite material has replaced conventional material drastically in recent years, due to its strength to weight ratio, easy forming, cost-effectiveness, good aesthetic appearance. Metal matrix composite has successfully replaced in a structural application in the field of automobile, construction, aerospace, marine, medical etc. of which aluminum matrix has widely accepted high strength to weight ratio, ease of fabrication, corrosion resistance, and high resistance to wear, etc. In this study an attempt was made to investigate the effect of alumina Al2O3 when reinforced with aluminum 6063 matrix, liquid metallurgy route (Stir Casting Technique) adopted for the preparation of composite, the reinforcement varied from 0 to 8wt% in steps of 2wt%. Mechanical, wear, fractography and X Ray diffraction studies conducted on prepared composite systems and testing done as per ASTM and ISO standard. After the test results revealed uniform distribution of reinforcement in matrix alloy, from mechanical test it was observed that as contain reinforcement is increased the mechanical properties like hardness, toughness, tensile strength have improved similar observation were made in wear test increase in containing reinforcement resulted better wear resistance, fractured tensile specimen was studied under Scanning electron microscope SEM which resulted in the mode of fracture for all composite systems and results shows the transition mode of fracture with increase in reinforcement, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) studies were conducted to identify the presence of reinforcement on prepared specimen and results were successfully compared with JCPDS Cards.