Prediction of tensile strength in squeeze casted hybrid aluminium matrix composites using conventional statistical approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Among non-ferrous materials, aluminium and its alloys are one of the challenging materials having high structural characteristic, superior tribological and mechanical properties and used for the typical applications like carburettor, cylinder, cylinder lid, absorber, engine gear box, side cover, etc. Squeeze casting is one of the simplest processes of manufacturing of composite materials and it attains better advantages of low material processing cost, easy handling of material, size, design and good stability of matrix structure. This work was aimed to develop new hybrid aluminium composites with enhanced tensile strength to support the industries. In this present work, LM24-SiCp-fly ash composite was processed through squeeze casting process. Test coupons were cast with 3 levels and 4 parameters based on Taguchi’s L9 (34) orthogonal array. Influence of process factors on the tensile strength of fabricated component was evaluated and observed that reinforcement percentage and squeeze pressure were the major process parameters affecting the tensile strength. Optimum parametric settings were arrived at by statistical tool for producing the composites with enhanced strength up to 25%. From microstructural study, applying high level of squeeze pressure improved the uniform dispersion, good bonding between the matrix and reinforcement.