Effects of Micro and Nano-Size Al₂O₃ Particle Reinforcement on Mechanical Behaviour of Extruded Aluminum Alloy Matrix Composite

Abstract:

Aluminum alloy (AA2014) matrix composites reinforced by different weight percentage of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) in micro and nano sizes were fabricated through powder metallurgy route followed by hot extrusion process. Seven different aluminium composites with varying percentages of nano and micron sized alumina particles varying from 1% to 10% were evaluated in addition to monolithic alloy. The microstructure of nano-composite and monolithic alloys were examined by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). In addition, the effects of weight fraction of the reinforcement matrix on mechanical properties were evaluated. The results have indicated that, a significant improvement in hardness of the nano composite was found in case of nano-composite with 8% of micro Al₂O₃ and 2% of nano Al₂O₃ particles by the addition of reinforcement.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 787)
• Pages: 617-621
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.787.617
• Online since: August 2015
• Authors: R. Senthilkumar*, N. Arunkumar, Mohammed Manzoor Hussain
• Keywords: Aluminium Alloy, Hot Extrusion Processes, Mechanical Properties, Nanocomposites, Powder metallurgy

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