Effect of Varying Percentage Increase in Reinforcement on Some Mechanical Properties of Die Cast Aluminum Alloy Composites

Öz

The die-casting process is a metal casting processes that utilize metal molds or permanent dies. In this work, the effect of varying percentage increase in reinforcement on some mechanical properties of aluminum alloy composites was obtained by the die cast process. The process was applied to produce various casts using aluminum alloy as the metal matrix and sawdust as the reinforcement at 5%, 10% and 15% by weight. Aluminum Scrap was sourced and sent for elemental characterization at Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI), Akure Nigeria. Tensile and hardness test were the mechanical tests carried out on the different samples of the cast. The elemental characterization test result showed that, the composition of the aluminum alloy used is Al-8.1%Mg-0.4%Fe-0.2%Zn. Results showed that at 10% by weight of reinforcement, the average tensile strength of the composite had the highest value while the lowest tensile strength was recorded at 15% by weight of reinforcement. At 15% by weight of reinforcement, the average hardness of the composite had the highest value while the lowest hardness was recorded at 5% by weight of reinforcement. Results were compared with the works of Ranjit et al. (2020) and Belete et al. (2013) and it was concluded that the results obtained from this work are adequate and significant for use.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Percentage increase
• Mechanical properties
• Die casting
• Aluminum alloy
• Composites

Kaynakça

1. Belete SY, Manas MM, Pradeep KJ. 2013. Influence of Reinforcement Type on Microstructure, Hardness, and Tensile Properties of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite. J Minerals Materials Charact Eng, 1: 124-130.
2. Cole GS, Sherman AM. 1995. Lightweight materials for automotive applications. J Automative Appl, 35(1): 3-9.
3. Evans PV, Keyte R, Ricks RA. 1993. Squeeze casting of aluminium alloys for near net shape manufacture. Mater Design, 14(1): 65-67.
4. Guo HM, Yang XJ. 2007. Preparation of semi-solid slurry containing particles for wrought aluminum alloy 2024. Transact Nonferrous Metals Soc of China, 17(4): 799-804.
5. Hassan AA, Syarifah NA, Izwan I. 2019. Tool failure in die casting. Ref Module Materials Sci Materials Eng, 10(1): 65-73.
6. Kumar GBV, Rao CSP, Selvaraj N. 2011. Mechanical and tribological behaviour of particulate reinforced aluminium metal matrix composites-A review. J Minerals Materials Charact Eng, 10(1): 59-91.
7. Mahendra HM, Prakash GS, Prasad KSK, Rajanna. 2018. Mecahnical properties of Al6061- Al2O3 metal matrix composite using die casting technique. Metall Sci Mate J, 1(1): 102-115.
8. Miller WS, Zhuang L, Bottema J, Wittebrood AJ, De Smet P, Haszler A, Vieregge A. 2000. Recent development in aluminium alloys for the automotive industry. Mater Sci Eng, 280(1): 37-49.

9. Panemangalore DB, Shabadi R. 2021. Microstructural Aspects of Metal-Matrix Composites. Encyclop Materials: Composites, 1: 274-297.
10. Ranjith KS, Ramachandran N, Arvind M, Divaakar D, Dineskumar P, Adhith S. 2019. Effect on the mechanical properties of za-27/graphite reinforced composites when routed through a squeeze casting process. Int J Innov Tech Exploring Eng, 8(10): 2-4.
11. Sujan D, Rahman ME, Maleque MA, Tan CK. 2012. Physio-mechanical properties of aluminium metal matrix composites reinforced with Al2O3 and SiC. World Acad Sci Eng Technol, 6(8): 8-25.