Mechanical Characterization and Numerical Optimization of Aluminum Matrix Hybrid Composite

Abstract

Hybridization of aluminium matrix composite is with a view to offset the properties deficient in one composite reinforcement. The present investigation involves a comparative study of AA6063 matrix composites with single reinforcement of Al2O3, SiC, graphene respectively and various hybridized proportions of the same reinforcements. Physical (density and %porosity) and mechanical (tensile strength, fracture toughness, %elongation, elastic modulus, etc.) properties of composites developed via solidification processing technique were evaluated. The porosity of all the composites falls below the maximum acceptable limit for cast metal matrix composite. Maximum values for UTS, %elongation and absorbed energy at maximum stress was obtained by hybrid composite with 4wt% Al2O3, SiC and 2wt% graphene, while the composite with the highest single reinforcement of graphene have the highest value for elastic modulus and fracture toughness. Numerical optimization results show that a matrix and hybrid reinforcements contents of AA6063 (91.413wt.%), SiC (3.679wt.%), Al2O3 (0.277wt.%), and graphene (4.632wt.%) respectively, will result in optimal values for the evaluated properties.