Optimization of Process Parameters of Hot Extrusion of SiC/Al 6061 Composite Using Taguchi's Technique and Upper Bound Technique

Abstract

Significance of improving the material processing techniques for SiC/Al composite has been felt due to its enormous application in various key industries. In this research study, SiC reinforced that Al 6061 composite has been developed specially through stir casting route and the same was admitted to hot extrusion process to convert the round geometry into the hexagonal section. Totally, nine experiments were conducted based on L9 orthogonal array emphasized by Taguchi's technique, and the optimum levels were predicted based on the average response graph method. During the experiments, ram speed, temperature of the billet, and a friction between the die and the billet were considered as the process variables, thereby considering the extrusion force as the response variable. Additionally, the analysis of variance has been applied to determine the most significant factor to influence the response. At last, confirmation test was carried out to validate the results of the optimized model. In order to enhance the degree of validation, very famous analytical method of the upper bound technique was also employed to compare the results of the optimized model. Results of the upper bound technique and confirmation test were deviated in zero tolerance with the predicted one.