Study of mechanical properties of Al2014-B4C-Gr hybrid nano composite

Abstract

Aluminium hybrid metal matrix nano composite (AHMNC) material has all the advantages of conventional metal matrix nano composite with multifunctional properties because of the hybrid reinforcement. As a result, these materials offer a unique combination of properties that are not possible to achieve in conventional materials. The present study deals with the fabrication of aluminium hybrid nano composites by reinforcing Al2014 with nano sized B4C and graphite, processed through stir casting route followed by ultrasonic and squeeze casting. The addition of B4C improves the hardness, whereas Gr particles improve wear resistance in the composite. These combinations of the reinforcements are chosen for application under high abrasive conditions. Ultrasonic agitation has been done to uniformly distribute the reinforcement, whereas squeeze casting is done to reduce the porosity of the cast. The cast composite has been cut to prepare specimens for hardness, tensile strength, and microstructure as per the ASTM standards. The mechanical properties of the composite were evaluated and compared to the conventional. The microstructure of the composites was studied using optical microscopy to investigate the proper distribution of reinforcement and microstructure in the AHMNCs. The result indicates a significant improvement in the hardness. Further, the microstructure studies reveal that the reinforcement was fairly uniformly distributed over the matrix material.