Experimental investigations on property evaluation of Al-alloy reinforced with nano ceramic particulates based metal matrix composites (NMMC’s) subjected to forging

Abstract

This paper involves the Mechanical property Evaluation of Al- Alloy (T6-6061) reinforced with Nano Ceramic Particulates (ZrO₂) subjected to forging process. The standard Aluminum alloy ingots/blocks is melted and superheated in the electrical resistance furnace for about 8 hours at 750⁰ C. The superheated melt was reinforced with zirconium dioxide particulates by varying weight percentages in 3, 6 and 9 percent. The molten metal mixture was poured in a metal die of cylindrical shape having dimensions 300mm X 20mm diameter and allowed to solidify at ambient temperature, the sample were subjected to hand forging process. The microstructural characterization of forged composite specimen exhibits more or less uniform distribution of ZrO₂ particulates. The grain structure with spherical morphology of secondary magnesium and silicon phase in the Aluminum matrix whereas the unforged composite sample indicates coarse with dendrite type morphology. The strength results in terms of forged composite specimen reveals significant improvement in the tensile strength over the unforged composite specimen due to refined grain structure. The hardness result also reveals significant improvement in the forged and reinforced samples over the matrix alloy.