Influence of particle size, weight fraction and

reinforcement on Mechanical behavior of

AlMg1 SiCu alloy Hybrid Metal Matrix
Composites
M. Vamsi Krishna*1, G.Bala Narasimha#1, C.Naveen Krishna*2, Anthony.M.Xavior*3
*1

Asst.Professor, MITS, JNTUA,Madanapalle, Andhrapradesh, India.

#1
Research Scholar, SVCE, Tirupati, Andhrapradesh, India.
*2 Asst.Professor, REVA College of Engineering, Bangalore, KarnatakaIndia.
*3
Dr. & Professor, VIT, School of Mechanical and Building sciences, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India
*1
mamidivk@gmail.com,
#1
balanarasimha.g@gmail.com
Abstract Aluminium alloy materials found to the best alternative with its unique capacity of designing
the materials to give required properties. Aluminium alloy Metal Matrix Composites (AMMCs) are gaining
wide spread acceptance for automobile, industrial, and aerospace applications because of their low density,
high strength and good structural rigidity. In this paper, an attempt is made to examine the effect of
influencial parameters such as type of reinforcement, size of the reinforcing particle and weight percentage
on mechanical properties. Stir casting technique has been employed to prepare the composites.
Keyword- Stir casting, Hybrid MMC, Particle size.
I. INTRODUCTION
Conventional monolithic materials have limitations in achieving good combination of Strength, stiffness, toughness
and density. To overcome these shortcomings and to meet the ever Increasing demand of modern day technology,
composites are most promising materials of recent interest, one of these being Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites
(HMMCs) which possess high specific strength, toughness, impact strength and low sensitivity to temperature
changes. As a result, many of the current applications for HMMCs are in aerospace and automobile components,
where the service environments are demanding and dynamic loading is common [1]. HMMCs typically are made of
discontinuous fiber or particle phase that is stiffer and stronger than the continuous matrix phase.
Aluminium based MMCS are still the subjects of intense studies, as their low density gives additional advantages in
several applications. Among the various useful aluminium alloys, aluminium alloy AlMg1 Si Cu (Al 6061) is
typically characterized by properties such as fluidity, castability, corrosion resistance and high strength-weight ratio.
This alloy has been commonly used as a base metal for MMCs reinforced with a variety of fibres, particles and
whiskers [2]. In recent years, considerable work has been done on Silicon carbide reinforced metal matrix
composites, because of its high strength, and also graphite reinforced metal matrix composites which exhibit low
density, low wear rate and excellent antiseizing properties. Mechanical properties of MMCs are affected by the size,
shape and weight fraction of the reinforcement, matrix material and reaction at the interface [3].
K.L.meena, et.al [4] investigated their work on Al/SiC Metal matrix composites with Al 6063 as matrix and SiC as
reinforcement of various sizes i.e,74, 53,44 by the melt stirring technique, and reported that the mechanical
properties were increased by decreasing the particle size and increasing the weight fraction of reinforcement. Khalid
Mahmood Ghauri et.al [5] investigated their work on mechanical properties of Al/SiC Metal matrix composites
with Al 6061 as matrix and SiC as reinforcement of 10 by varying the weight fraction of the composites, and
reported that the mechanical properties were increased by increasing the weight fraction of reinforcement.

Prashant.S et.al [6] investigated their work on mechanical properties of Al/Gr Metal matrix composites with Al
6061 as matrix and Graphite as reinforcement by varying the weight fraction of the composites, and reported that the
tensile strength increases high upto 9% and increases very slightly more than 9%, because of excess of graphite. S.
Dhanalakshmi et.al investigated their work on processing parameters of AlSiC MMC produced by stir casting[7].
However in present study an attempt is made to find out the effect of particle Size, weight fraction & type of
reinforcement on mechanical properties.
II. METHODOLOGY
A .Materials & Preparation of the composite:
The matrix material for present study is AlMg1 SiCu alloy. The reinforcing material selected was silicon carbide
particle and graphite of size 3, 18 and 37 m. In this process, first the aluminium alloy was placed in an electrical
resistance furnace and heated to above its liquidus temperature i.e. 750 0 c, so that the metal is totally melted. This
melt is then cooled down to a temperature between the liquidus and solidus points and kept in a semi solid state.
Prior to particle addition, Magnesium powder was added to melt to maintain the wettability. At this stage, the
preheated particles are added in three steps into the melt and mixed with the help of stirrer for 10 mins, and the melt
was poured into the gravity die at 7300 - 8000c.

Fig 1. Stir casting setup

B. Plan of Experiments:
In the present study, three types of reinforcements such as SiC, Gr and mixture of SiC & Gr (hybrid), three weight
percentages i.e: 5%, 10% and 15%, particle size 3 . 18 . & 37 were used. The plan of experiments were listed
in the table 1.
TABLE I
Plan of Experiments

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

SiC
SiC
SiC
Gr
Gr
Gr

Size
()
3
18
37
3
18
37

7.
8.
9.

Sic & Gr
Sic & Gr
Sic & Gr

3
18
37

S.No

Type of reinforcement

Wt. (%)
5
10
15
10
15
5
15
5
10

C.Testing of Composites
The tensile behavior of all the prepared samples were determined as per ASTM B-557 M Standard Test Methods of
Tension Testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products. The Impact strength of the
composites were carried out on charpy impact tester as per ASTM E 23 02a Standard Test Methods for Notched
Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials .The densities of all the prepared specimens were investigated
experimentally by the Archimedeans principle.
II. RESULTS AND DISCUSIONS
To investigate the mechanical behavior of the composites, tensile tests, impact strength test & density of the
specimen were carried out as per ASTM standards. Three test specimens were used for each run. The results of
tensile strength, impact strength and density of the specimen were listed in the table 2.
TABLE II
Experimental Results

S.No
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Type of
reinforcement

Size
()

Wt. (%)

SiC
SiC
SiC
Gr
Gr
Gr
Sic & Gr
Sic & Gr
Sic & Gr

3
18
37
3
18
37
3
18
37

5
10
15
10
15
5
15
5
10

Tensile
strength
(Mpa)
161.24
155.83
150.95
144.61
143.75
144.26
192.45
184.32
177.23

Impact
strength
(Joules)

Density
(gm/cc)

26
27
30
21
19
16
43
26
29

2.77
2.75
2.74
2.58
2.64
2.66
2.59
2.62
2.61

IV CONCLUSION
The present work on effect of influencing parameters on mechanical behavior of composites led to the following
conclusions:
a. It is observed that increase in weight percentage of reinforcement leads to increase in tensile strength and
decreases in densisty.
b. Decrease in size of the particle increases the tensile strength because of effective bonding between the
particles.
c. It is observed that maximum tensile strength i.e; 192.45 Mpa & impact strength 43 Joules was obtained at
mixture SiC/Gr of 3 at 15%.
d. The very low density of the preapared specimen i.e; 2.58 gm/cc was obtained at Graphite reinforcement of
3 at 10%
REFERENCES
[1] C.J. Tong, et.al: Metall, Mater.Trans. A 36 ,2005 (p.12631271.)
[2] M.K. Surappa: Aluminium matrix composites: Challenges and opportunities, Sadhana, Vol. 28, No. 1&2, pp. 31934, 2003.
[3] Journals of material engineering and performance, springer, Dec 2011, vol 20 , issue 9.
[4] K.L.meena, et.al: American Journal Of Mechanical Engineering, 2013, vol 1 (p 14 -19. )
[5] Khalid Mahmood Ghauri: Pak. J. Engg. & Appl. Sci. Vol. 12, Jan., 2013 (p. 102-110)
[6] Prashant.S et.al: Int J.Mech Eng & Rob.Res,Vol 1, No.3 (p. 85-95)
[7] S. Dhanalakshmi et.al : Journal of Materials, Feb 2012 (p. 8-15)