Effect of Magnesium Addition of Aluminum Matrix Composites CNT Reinforced Using Stir-Squeeze Casting Method

Abstract:

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are widely developed nowadays because they have superior properties. One method of manufacturing AMCs is stir-squeeze casting. This study investigated the effect of magnesium addition on 1% wt CNT reinforcement. Aluminum matrix composites made using Aluminum 6063 reinforced with 1% wt CNT added magnesium with variations (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% wt) were made by a casting method which combines stir-casting at 350 Rpm for 2 minutes with squeeze-casting at a pressure of 10 Mpa for 75 seconds, cast on a metal mold heated at 450°C and an AMC casting temperature of 750°C . The results of CNT-reinforced AMC casting were studied for physical properties, namely porosity and density, mechanical properties, namely tensile strength and hardness, and microstructure characterization, namely OM and SEM. The results showed that adding magnesium can reduce porosity and increase density. The results of hardness testing also show that increasing Mg can increase hardness, and the highest hardness value is 48.8 HV at the addition of 6% Mg, with an increase of 74% from the raw material. The microstructure observation results show that adding Mg functions as a wetting agent, which causes CNTs to be evenly distributed and no accumulation occurs.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1145)
• Pages: 71-79
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-nwDAB8
• Online since: March 2025
• Authors: Suhardi Suhardi*, Muhammad Syahid, Hairul Arsyad
• Keywords: Aluminum Matrix Composite, Carbon Nanotube, Magnesium, Stir-Squeeze Casting

References

[1] J. J. MOSES, I. DINAHARAN, and S. J. SEKHAR, "Prediction of influence of process parameters on tensile strength of AA6061/TiC aluminum matrix composites produced using stir casting," Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China (English Ed., vol. 26, no. 6, p.1498–1511, 2016.

DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(16)64256-5

[2] T. Triyono, A. Latief Al Yusron, and E. Surojo, "Study of the Effect of Stirring Speed in Stir Casting Process on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Silica Sand Reinforced AMC Subjected to Electroless Coating Process," Mek. Maj. Ilm. Mek., vol. 19, no. 1, pp.41-46, 2020.

DOI: 10.20961/mekanika.v19i1.40248

[3] B.V. Ramnath, C. Parswajinan, C. Elanchezhian, S. V. Pragadeesh, P. R. Ramkishore, and V. Sabarish, "A review on CNT reinforced aluminium and magnesium matrix composites," Appl. Mech. Mater., vol. 591, p.120–123, 2014, doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/ AMM.591.120.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.591.120

[4] K. P. So et al., "Improving the wettability of aluminum on carbon nanotubes," Acta Mater., vol. 59, no. 9, p.3313–3320, 2011.

DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2011.01.061

[5] A. M. K. Esawi, K. Morsi, A. Sayed, M. Taher, and S. Lanka, "Effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the mechanical properties of CNT-reinforced aluminium composites," Compos. Sci. Technol., vol. 70, no. 16, p.2237–2241, 2010.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.05.004

[6] A. S. Prabowo, T. Triyono, and I. Yaningsih, "Analysis of the Effect of Mg Addition in Sio 2 Reinforced Piston Remelting Aluminum Matrix Composite Using Stir Casting Method on Hardness and Density," Mechanics, vol. 15, no. 1, pp.37-43, 2016.

[7] T. Mesin, "Addition Of Magnesium (Mg) With Alumina (Al 2 Hai 3) To Strengthen Aluminium Material Composits On Mechanical Features And Micro Structure," vol. 2, no. 2, pp.7-13, 2021.

[8] G. Upadhyay and K. K. Saxena, "Role of Stir Casting in development of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite (AMC): An Overview," IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., vol. 1116, no. 1, p.012022, 2021.

DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/1116/1/012022

[9] S. Mathur, "Effect of Stir Casting Process Parameters on Metal Matrix Composites", vol. 2, str. 395-398, 2013.

[10] R. Ramesh, S. Suresh Kumar, and S. Gowrishankar, "Production and Characterization of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with Al3Ni by Stir and Squeeze Casting," Appl. Mech. Mater., vol. 766–767, no. September, p.315–319, 2015.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.766-767.315

[11] E.-S. Y. El-Kady, T. S. Mahmoud, and M. A.-A. Sayed, "Elevated Temperatures Tensile Characteristics of Cast A356/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanocomposites Fabricated Using a Combination of Rheocasting and Squeeze Casting Techniques," Mater. Sci. Appl., vol. 02, no. 05, p.390–398, 2011.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2011.25050

[12] M. I. Alim, A. Firdausi, and M. D. Nurmalasari, "Density and Porosity of Rocks," Fis. Lab., no. January, pp.1-3, 2017.

[13] S. Characteristics and S. Mechanics, "MATRIX COMPOSITE (AMC) AL alloy, 5% Cu," vol. 12, no. 2, pp.151-164, 2018.

[14] A. B. Elshalakany et al., "Research Article on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of MWCNTs Reinforced Aluminum Alloy A356 Cast Nanocomposites Fabricated Using a Combination of Rheocasting and Squeeze Casting Techniques," vol. 2014, 2014.

DOI: 10.1155/2014/386370

[15] M. Susri, Suherman, and F. Rahmad, "Effect of Magnesium Addition on Hardness, Impact Strength and Microstructure of Aluminum Alloy (Al-Si) by Lost Foam Casting Method," J. Ilm. "MECHANICS" Tech. Engineering, vol. 2, no. 2, pp.77-84, 2016.