A STUDY ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALUMINUM 7075 METAL MATRIX REINFORCED WITH SILICON CARBIDE PARTICLES USING STIR CASTING METHOD

Raghavendra M J, Praveen Kumar K, Arun R, Arjun S

Abstract: In the advances of application software and available digital computer technology, having more practical challenging field for Designers, Engineers and Academicians for seeking superior composite materials with their mechanical properties. In this study, Aluminum 7075 based metal matrix reinforced with Silicon Carbide particles used to manufacture required composite materials by using Stir casting method. During casting process care is taken with respect to degasifying, proper vertex speed to have thoroughly mixing of reinforcements and to reduce the formation of oxygen in molten material by adding Hexachloro-Ethane tablets. The influence of reinforced ratio 0,1,2,3 and 4 weight percentages of Silicon carbide particles with Aluminum 7075 metal matrix was determined. The distribution of reinforced particles in metal matrix material was studied by using Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersion Spectroscopy analysis. The importance of adding reinforced particles with Aluminum 7075 is to study Microstructure characterization, Chemical compositions, mechanical and tribological properties. Tribological properties of these composite materials were investigated by wear test using pin on disc for different loads at constant speed. In this work, it has been observed that, the reinforcement particles are uniformly distributed in metal matrix composites. The mechanical properties such as hardness, yield and ultimate tensile strength increases with increasing weight percentage of reinforcement in metal matrix composites. It was also observed that, the wear rate decreases with increase in weight percentage of reinforcement.

Keywords: Aluminum 7075, Silicon Carbide, Stir Casting, Mechanical properties, Tribological properties

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2017.0612015