Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters
Powder metallurgy-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) are widely chosen and used for the development of components in the fields spanning aerospace, automotive and even electronic components. Engineered MMCs are known to offer a high strength-to-weight (σ/ρ) ratio. In this research study, we synthe...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/17/8843 |
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| author | Kanhu C. Nayak Kedarnath K. Rane Prashant P. Date T. S. Srivatsan |
| author_facet | Kanhu C. Nayak Kedarnath K. Rane Prashant P. Date T. S. Srivatsan |
| author_sort | Kanhu C. Nayak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Powder metallurgy-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) are widely chosen and used for the development of components in the fields spanning aerospace, automotive and even electronic components. Engineered MMCs are known to offer a high strength-to-weight (σ/ρ) ratio. In this research study, we synthesized cylindrical sintered samples of a ceramic particle-reinforced aluminum metal matrix using the technique of powder metallurgy. The samples for the purpose of testing, examination and analysis were made by mixing aluminum powder with powders of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide or alumina. Four varieties of aluminum composite were synthesized for a different volume percent of the ceramic particle reinforcement. The hybrid composite contained 2 vol.% and 7 vol.% of silicon carbide and 3 vol.% and 8 vol.% of alumina with aluminum as the chosen metal matrix. Homogeneous mixtures of the chosen powders were prepared using conventional ball milling. The homogeneous powder mixture was then cold compacted and subsequently sintered in a tubular furnace in an atmosphere of argon gas. Five different sintering conditions (combinations of temperature and sintering time) were chosen for the purpose of this study. The density and hardness of each sintered specimen were carefully evaluated. Cold compression tests were carried out for the purpose of determining the compressive strength of the engineered MMC. The sintered density and hardness of the aluminum MMCs varied with the addition of ceramic particle reinforcements. An increase in the volume fraction of the alumina particles to the Al/SiC mixture reduced the density, hardness and compressive strength. The sintering condition was optimized for the aluminum MMCs based on the hardness, densification parameter and cold compressive strength. The proposed powder metallurgy-based route for the fabrication of the aluminum matrix composite revealed a noticeable improvement in the physical and mechanical properties when compared one-on-one with commercially pure aluminum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:00:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b5e412b39bb41bea4f85660f63323c2 |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:00:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b5e412b39bb41bea4f85660f63323c22023-11-23T12:47:51ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-09-011217884310.3390/app12178843Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering ParametersKanhu C. Nayak0Kedarnath K. Rane1Prashant P. Date2T. S. Srivatsan3School of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul 136702, KoreaAdvanced Forming Research Centre, Inchinnan Drive, Renfrew PA4 9LJ, UKDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USAPowder metallurgy-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) are widely chosen and used for the development of components in the fields spanning aerospace, automotive and even electronic components. Engineered MMCs are known to offer a high strength-to-weight (σ/ρ) ratio. In this research study, we synthesized cylindrical sintered samples of a ceramic particle-reinforced aluminum metal matrix using the technique of powder metallurgy. The samples for the purpose of testing, examination and analysis were made by mixing aluminum powder with powders of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide or alumina. Four varieties of aluminum composite were synthesized for a different volume percent of the ceramic particle reinforcement. The hybrid composite contained 2 vol.% and 7 vol.% of silicon carbide and 3 vol.% and 8 vol.% of alumina with aluminum as the chosen metal matrix. Homogeneous mixtures of the chosen powders were prepared using conventional ball milling. The homogeneous powder mixture was then cold compacted and subsequently sintered in a tubular furnace in an atmosphere of argon gas. Five different sintering conditions (combinations of temperature and sintering time) were chosen for the purpose of this study. The density and hardness of each sintered specimen were carefully evaluated. Cold compression tests were carried out for the purpose of determining the compressive strength of the engineered MMC. The sintered density and hardness of the aluminum MMCs varied with the addition of ceramic particle reinforcements. An increase in the volume fraction of the alumina particles to the Al/SiC mixture reduced the density, hardness and compressive strength. The sintering condition was optimized for the aluminum MMCs based on the hardness, densification parameter and cold compressive strength. The proposed powder metallurgy-based route for the fabrication of the aluminum matrix composite revealed a noticeable improvement in the physical and mechanical properties when compared one-on-one with commercially pure aluminum.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/17/8843metal matrix compositepowder metallurgydensificationcompaction loadhardness |
| spellingShingle | Kanhu C. Nayak Kedarnath K. Rane Prashant P. Date T. S. Srivatsan Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters Applied Sciences metal matrix composite powder metallurgy densification compaction load hardness |
| title | Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters |
| title_full | Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters |
| title_short | Synthesis of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy: Role of Sintering Parameters |
| title_sort | synthesis of an aluminum alloy metal matrix composite using powder metallurgy role of sintering parameters |
| topic | metal matrix composite powder metallurgy densification compaction load hardness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/17/8843 |
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