Mechanical Properties Of Aluminum Matrix Composites Research Articles

Influence of agro-based reinforcements on the properties of aluminum matrix composites: a systematic review

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have been extensively studied primarily due to higher strength-to-weight ratio, lower cost, and higher wear resistance properties. However, increasing demand for economical and energy-efficient materials in the automotive, aerospace and other applications is tailoring research area in the agro-based composite materials. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review work is to study the influence of agro-based reinforcements on the tribological and mechanical properties of AMC’s processed by various techniques. It was observed that the processing conditions can be designed to obtain uniform structures and better properties AMCs. The agro-waste reinforcement materials, such as rice husk ash, bamboo stem ash, coconut and shell ash can result in a reduction in the density of AMC’s without compromising mechanical properties. Moreover, the efficient utilization of the agro-waste leads to a decrease in manufacturing cost and prevents environmental pollution, hence, can be considered as a sustainable material. The state-of-the-art revealed that the agro-based reinforcements do not form brittle composites, as in the case of ceramic reinforced composites. Hence, the study concludes that the agro-based AMCs have great potential to act as a replacement for costly and environmentally hazardous ceramic reinforced-AMCs which can especially be used in various automotive applications that demand higher strength-to-weight ratio, lower cost, and higher wear resistance.Graphical abstract

Influence of Temperature on Mechanical Properties of AMCs

This research focused on studying the effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) obtained by a powder metallurgy route. Aluminium powder was milled at room temperature for 5 h and using different atmospheres in order to achieve different amounts of reinforcement. The atmospheres employed were vacuum, confined ammonia, and vacuum combined with a short-time (5 and 10 min) of ammonia gas flow. After mechanical alloying, powders were consolidated by cold uniaxial pressing (850 MPa) and vacuum sintering (650 °C, 1 h). Hardness and tensile tests, on consolidated samples, were carried out at room temperature. Subsequently, the effect of temperature on both properties were evaluated. On one hand, the UTS and hardness were measured, again at room temperature, but after having subjected the sintered samples to a prolonged annealing (400 °C, 100 h). On the other hand, the tensile and hardness behaviour were also studied, while the samples are at high temperature, in particular 250 °C for UTS, and in the range between 100 and 400 °C for hardness. Results show that the use of ammonia gas allows achieving mechanical properties, at room and high temperature, higher than those of the commercial alloys EN AW 2024 T4, and EN AW 7075 T6.

Investigating the mechanical and tribological properties of aluminium metal matrix composite reinforced with rice husk ash and aluminium oxide

The present study investigates various mechanical properties of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with aluminium oxide and rice husk ash. Stir casting method was applied to produce composites reinforced with different amounts (2 wt. %, 4 wt. %, 6 wt. % and 8 wt. %) of rice husk ash particles and aluminium oxide. Mechanical properties such as micro hardness, tensile strength and wear rate have been examined. Pin-on disc apparatus is used for wear characteristics of the composites at load of 9.8 N, sliding velocity 1.5 m/s and sliding distance of 1,000 metres. Tensile test is performed on the universal testing machine. SEM and EDS were conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of RHA. It has been demonstrated that the increase in reinforcement content shows significant increase in mechanical properties of AMC. Further, rice husk ash shows better results in mechanical properties as well as in wear characteristics comparatively to aluminium oxide.

Investigating the mechanical and tribological properties of aluminium metal matrix composite reinforced with rice husk ash and aluminium oxide

The present study investigates various mechanical properties of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with aluminium oxide and rice husk ash. Stir casting method was applied to produce composites reinforced with different amounts (2 wt. %, 4 wt. %, 6 wt. % and 8 wt. %) of rice husk ash particles and aluminium oxide. Mechanical properties such as micro hardness, tensile strength and wear rate have been examined. Pin-on disc apparatus is used for wear characteristics of the composites at load of 9.8 N, sliding velocity 1.5 m/s and sliding distance of 1,000 metres. Tensile test is performed on the universal testing machine. SEM and EDS were conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of RHA. It has been demonstrated that the increase in reinforcement content shows significant increase in mechanical properties of AMC. Further, rice husk ash shows better results in mechanical properties as well as in wear characteristics comparatively to aluminium oxide.

Structural and mechanical properties of microwave hybrid sintered aluminium silicon carbide composite

ABSTRACTMicrowave material processing is recognized for many advantages, namely, substantial reduction in cycle time resulting in large energy savings, selective and volumetric heating, providing fine microstructure, improved mechanical properties and eco-friendliness. In our experiment, we have converted a conventional microwave into a microwave hybrid sintering furnace to microwave hybrid sintering, results improved densification of metal-matrix composite. In the present study, the composite of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with SiC particles was sintered by varying the composition of SiC. The microstructure and mechanical properties of AMCs were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and hardness. The results show as the amount of SiC was increasing in the compacts; the hardness was increasing and was varying between 50 and 60 HRF. SEM analysis shows uniform distribution of silicon carbide in the aluminium matrix. XRD analysis shows the presence of SiC, aluminium and aluminium oxide as foreign impurity due to some oxidation. These compositions were also confirmed by the EDX analysis. The composite sintered density was changed from 2.323 to 2.583 gm/cm3. It is concluded, using microwave hybrid sintering, improved mechanical and physical properties can be obtained of metal-matrix composite.

Effect of the Deformation Scheme on the Structure and Properties of Hot-Forged Aluminum-Matrix Composites

The structure and mechanical properties of aluminum-matrix composites, produced by hot forging of billets consisting of Al and 15 wt.% TiC–20% Al master alloy powder mixture, are investigated. Cylindrical and hollow cone billets are used for forging. It is shown that both strength and hardness of the composites produced from conical billets noticeably exceed those of the materials produced from cylindrical billets. In comparison with cylindrical billets, the use of conical billets for forging leads to an increase in (i) the intensity of deformation and (ii) the microhardness of the matrix phase.