Optical Microstructure, FESEM, Microtensile, and Microhardness Properties of LM 25-B4Cnp-Grnp Hybrid Composites Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting

Abstract

The current investigation, nano-multi-powder particles, 5 and 10 wt.% boron carbide (B4C) and graphite (Gr) are utilized as a reinforcement, and aluminium LM 25 alloy is used as a matrix. These hybrid nanocomposites were fabricated by a novel additive manufacturing method—selective laser melting. The specimen was carried out in a cylindrical size having 2 circular slots of dimension 14 and length 50 mm. The diverse SLM specimens focused on tribological properties of impact, creep, tensile, and hardness were carried out for the three specimens with same weight percentage of nanoparticles. The consequence of the reinforcement has been performed through microtensile and microhardness tests. The microtensile and microhardness properties are evaluated by microtensile test machine and Vickers hardness tester, and the specimen has been prepared as per ASTM E8 and ASTM E18 standards. Microtensile strength and hardness were augmented by the addition of B4C and graphite nanoparticles. The tensile strength and hardness values are 668.93 MPa and 739.16 MPa, and 193VHN and 206.79VHN, respectively. The result of the microstructure study shows homogeneous dispersion of B4Cnp-Grnp in the matrix material of the LM25 alloy. The FESEM image results of the ruined surface illustrate the addition performance of ductile fracture, brittle fracture, and ploughing of reinforced material. The consequences of the research enhanced tensile and hardness properties of composite with reinforcement added.