Development of Aluminum Alloys 6061(AA6061) Silicon Carbide (SiC)-Graphite (GR) and Hybrid Composite for Automotive Applications

Abstract

The microstructure and mechanical properties of composite materials made of Silicon carbide (SiC) and Graphite (GR) reinforcement, known as Aluminum Alloy 6061(AA6061) Matrix were developed. Using the stir casting method, the hybrid composites were prepared with 6 weight percent of the reinforcements in the ratio of 0:1,1:3,1:1,3:1,and 1:0. It was determined how the reinforcement particles affected the microstructures and mechanical characteristics of these materials. The microstructure displays a uniformly distributed fine particles of α-Al grains and Mg2Si phase with in the matrix alloy. The microstructure amply demonstrates the presence of the reinforcing particles (SiC and GR) and dendritic development was noted. There are very few indications of particles clusters, and the particles are very dispersed throughout the matrix. Sample A2 (AA6061 25% SiC/ 75% GR) had the highest recorded hardness value of 123.34 HRB4.8,9.33, while the base alloy had the lowest value of 70.36 HRB when compared to the base alloy, the developed hybrid composites showed improved tensile strength. In contrast to the base alloy, which displayed a strength of 115.67N/mm2, Sample A3 demonstrated a maximum strength of 143.88 N/mm2 as compared to the base alloy which showed strength of 115.67 N/mm2. The hard reinforcement particles sharp edges serve as a nucleation site, which is why the strength of samples A4 and A5 decreased when SiC reinforcement is added, the materials extension decreases when the developed hybrid composite materials with samples were compared with the base alloy. In comparison to the created hybrid composite materials, the base alloy displayed a maximum extension of 2.4mm, with sample A5 showing the lowest extension value of 1.23mm. Sample A2 displayed the highest structures rate of 0.060, while sample A5 displayed the lowest strain rate of 0.031. The impact strength values increases from 2.76 (Base alloy) to 4.77j (Sample A5) with the addition of the reinforcement particles. The obtained mechanical properties indicate that the reinforced alloy performed favorably well but not significantly better than the ones in the literature.