Experimental investigations of AA6061/Al2O3/WC/SiC hybrid metal matrix composite fabricated by two step stir casting

ABSTRACT

Hybrid metal matrix composites have emerged as an epicentre of material research due to their vast applications and a wide array of reinforcement combinations. In this experiment, two-step stir casting method had been used to fabricate hybrid aluminium 6061 metal matrix composites. The micro-structural and mechanical evaluation (density measurement, impact, tensile, hardness, and flexural) of the fabricated aluminium (AA6061) hybrid metal matrix composite had been performed. The reinforcements used were Al₂O₃ (3 wt.%), RHA (2 wt.%), WC (2 wt.%), and SiC (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.%, 20 wt.%). The mechanical properties had been found to improve with increasing wt.% of SiC. The maximum experimental density (2999.2 Kg/m³), impact energy (6 J), tensile strength (130.15 N/mm²), hardness (35 HRA), and flexural load (6720 N) had been obtained with 20 wt.% SiC reinforcement. The presence of reinforcements (Al₂O_3, RHA, WC, SiC) and their uniform distribution in the Al6061 matrix was confirmed by micro-structural analysis. Other surface morphological information like agglomeration of less soluble alumina and presence of dendrite structures at higher SiC concentration were also revealed. Further, the observations from this investigation have been compared with already existing literature. In conclusion, prospects for future research have also been explored.

KEYWORDS:

• Metal matrix composite
• silicon carbide
• rice husk ash
• two-step stir casting
• tungsten carbide

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering, JSS Academy of Technical Education, Noida, for constant support and motivation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contribution

Mohit Vishnoi: Conceptualisation, Review & Editing, Investigation, Supervision.

Siddharth Srivastava: Data Curation, Experimentation.

Shardul Rai: Data Curation, Editing.

Neeraj Verma: Supervision.

Mamatha T. G.: Supervision.

Availability of data and materials

The data was acquired through experimentation, and the institution provided other material.

Consent to publish

Consent was obtained from all authors to publish in the journal.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This chapter does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Informed consent was obtained from all authors included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

No funding has been involved in the preparation of this manuscript.