The Effect of Stirrer Depth And Electroless Coating of Hardness And Tensile Strength in Aluminium Matrix Composite AL6061-AL2O3

Abstract

Metal matrix composite (MMC) are composite materials that are widely used in the industrial sector. Examples of metal matrix composites are Al6061 as matrix alloys and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> as reinforcement. In general, making Al6061-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3 </sub>composites using the stir casting method. The stirring parameter in the stir casting affects the physical and mechanical properties of the composites. The physical and mechanical properties of composites can be improved by increasing the wettability of the reinforcement. This research was conducted to determine the effect of the depth of stirring and electroless coating treatment on the hardness and tensile strength of Al6061-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> composites. The process of making composites with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> reinforcing particles with 6% weight fraction mixed with aluminum alloys and 2.5% magnesium powder as a wetting agent. Variations of this study were the depth of the stirrer and electroless coating treatment. The depths of stirring used for the experiment were 30%, 45%, and 60% of the height of the fluid. The testing phases in this study were the density and porosity test, metallographic observation, hardness test, and tensile test. The most efficient variation of the mixer depth was obtained at a mixer depth of 30% of the fluid height. The highest hardness and tensile strength test results are hardness value of 72.43 HBN and tensile strength of 182.19 MPa with electroless coating reinforcement treatment