Abstract
Stir casting is a common metallurgical route in the casting of aluminum composites. Series of work done in this aspect considered the development of the composites with fixed stir casting parameters without applying an optimization approach. These parameters affect the microstructure and performance of the composites. The study is focused on the optimization of the stir casting parameters in the production of Al 7075 reinforced with TiO2 microparticles for performance improvement. Three stir casting parameters of stirring temperature, speed, and time were varied and optimized using the central composite design technique of the response surface method. Properties evaluated were ultimate tensile strength, hardness, impact strength, elastic modulus, and compressive strength. ANOVA results showed that the three stir casting parameters had a significant impact on the property responses. Five quadratic models were established for the properties linking them to the factors. The models were confirmed to be statistically significant at a confidence level of 95% and variations were observed to be < 5%. The interaction profile of the parameters as per response surface was analyzed. Contour plots associated with each interaction gave different ranges of stirring parameters in which each property can be maximized. Simultaneous optimization of the properties using Minitab 19 software showcased 779.3 °C, 574.2 rpm, and 22.5 min as the optimal stir casting parameters for temperature, speed and time respectively.
Highlights
Stir casting is a common metallurgical route in the casting of aluminum composites
This research reveals the effect of stirring parameters; temperature, time, and speed on the ultimate tensile strength, microhardness, impact strength, elastic modulus, and compressive strength of Al 7075/10 wt% microparticles of titanium dioxide according to the study of Alagarsamy and Ravichandran[13] and El-Mahallawi et al 18 in which 10 wt% yielded the optimum performance
Second order polynomial model obtained for the ultimate tensile strength which incorporates the input variable is expressed in Eq (3)
Summary
Stir casting is a common metallurgical route in the casting of aluminum composites. Series of work done in this aspect considered the development of the composites with fixed stir casting parameters without applying an optimization approach. Authors Kumar et al[14] and Kumaret al 15have performed the investigation of the influence of the stir casting parameters on the distribution of the reinforcement particles using the visualization technique From their investigation, it was concluded that 40% impeller position from the base 45o blade angle shows the considerable improvement in the mechanical properties. This research reveals the effect of stirring parameters; temperature, time, and speed on the ultimate tensile strength, microhardness, impact strength, elastic modulus, and compressive strength of Al 7075/10 wt% microparticles of titanium dioxide (average size 13 μm) according to the study of Alagarsamy and Ravichandran[13] and El-Mahallawi et al 18 in which 10 wt% yielded the optimum performance
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