Multi-objective optimization of friction stir welding parameters using desirability approach to join Al/SiC_p metal matrix composites

Silicon carbide particulate （SiCp） reinforced cast aluminium （A1） based metal matrix composites （MMCs） have gained wide acceptance in the fabrication of light weight structures requiring high specific strength, high temperature capability and good wear resistance. Friction stir welding （FSW） process parameters play major role in deciding the performance of welded joints. The ultimate tensile strength, notch tensile strength and weld nugget hardness of friction stir butt welded joints of cast A1/SiCp MMCs （AA6061 with 20% （volume fraction） of SiCp） were investigated. The relationships between the FSW process parameters （rotational speed, welding speed and axial force） and the responses （ultimate tensile strength, notch tensile strength and weld nugget hardness） were established. The optimal welding parameters to maximize the mechanical properties were identified by using desirability approach. From this investigation, it is found that the joints fabricated with the tool rotational speed of 1370 r/min, welding speed of 88.9 mm/min, and axial force of 9.6 kN yield the maximum ultimate tensile strength, notch tensile strength and hardness of 265 MPa, 201 MPa and HV 114, respectively.

PULSED Nd-YAG LASER WELDING OF AN AI-SiC_p METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE

A study is presented of the laser welding behaviour of an SiC particulate re-inforced Al-alloy comPOsite using a pulsed Nd-YAG laser. The influences of laser weldingparameters of laser intensity, pulse duration and the beamjs focus position on the depth ofweld penetration as well as the size of weld bead width were investigated. A typical mi-crostructure of a weld section reveals that the three distinct zones are present. Cracks andporosity were fOund to be two major defects in laser welded metal matrix composites(MMC). These investigations have led to an optimum welding condition proposed forlaser welding of SiC partiulate reinforced aluminium alloy comPosites with minimum de-fects.

Tool life modeling for evaluating the effects of cutting speed and reinforcements on the machining of particle reinforced metal matrix composites

The wear of cutting tools in the machining of 2024Al alloy composites reinforced with Al2O3 particles using varying sizes and volume fractions of particles up to 23.3vol% was investigated by a turning process using coated carbide tools K10 and TP30 at different cut- ting speeds. Machining tests were performed with a plan of experiments based on the Taguchi method. The tool life model was developed in terms of cutting speed, size, and volume fraction of particles by multiple linear regressions. The analysis of variance （ANOVA） was also employed to carry out the effects of these parameters on the cutting tool life. The test results show that the tool life decreases with the increase of cutting speed for both cutting tools K10 and TP30, and the tool life of the K10 tool is significantly longer than that of the TP30 tool. For the tool life, cutting speed is found to be the most effective factor followed by particle content and particle size, respectively. The predicted tool life of cutting tools is found to be in very good agreement with the experimentally observed ones.

Influence of Reinforcement Type on Microstructure, Hardness, and Tensile Properties of an Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composite

This paper presents the results of the comparative study of as cast microstructures and mechanical properties viz yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, percentage elongation, hardness, percentage porosity and fracture characteristic of 5 wt% SiC and Al2O3 particulate reinforced Al-4% Cu-2.5% Mg matrix composites. These composite materials were prepared through stir casting process. Quantitative metallographic techniques were utilized to determine the average grain size of particles. The microstructures and tensile fracture characteristic of the representative samples of the composites were examined using optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The experimental results demonstrate a fairly uniform distribution of 50.8 μm Al2O3 and 49.2 μm SiC spherical particles with some clustering in few areas. At the interfaces of Al2O3 and the matrix, MgO and MgAl2O4 were observed. Similarly, Al4C3 was formed at the interfaces between SiC and the matrix. The mechanical property test results revealed that, for the same weight percentage of reinforcement, Al-4% Cu-2.5% Mg/5 wt% SiC composite exhibit a 15.8%, 16.4%, 4.97% and 10.8% higher yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, and hardness, respectively. On the other hand, even if some porosity was observed in the Al2O3 reinforced composite, the percentage elongation (ductility) was 31% higher than that of SiC rein-forced composite. The tensile specimen of SiC reinforced composite failed in a brittle fashion without neck formation, whereas the Al2O3 reinforced composite failed in a ductile fashion with noticeable neck formation.

Effect of Reinforcement Clustering on Crack Initiation Mechanism in a Cast Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite during Low Cycle Fatigue

The reinforcement distribution of metal matrix composites (MMCs) plays an important role in low cycle fatigue. Thus, it is essential to study the effect of reinforcement clustering on the crack initiation mechanism of MMCs. In this study, the effect of reinforcement clustering on the microcrack initiation mechanism in a cast hybrid MMC reinforced with SiC particles and Al2O3 whiskers was investigated experimentally and numerically. Experimental results showed that microcracks always initiated in the particle-matrix interface, located in the cluster of the reinforcements. The interface debonding occurred in the fracture which created additional secondary microcracks due to continued fatigue cycling. The microcrack coalesced with other nearby microcracks caused the final fracture. To validate the experimental results on the microcrack initiation, three dimensional unit cell models using finite element method (FEM) were developed. The stress distribution in both the reinforcement clustering and non-clustering regions was analyzed. The numerical analysis showed that high stresses were developed on the reinforcements located in the clustering region and stress concentration occurred on the particle-matrix interface. The high volume fraction reinforced hybrid clustering region experienced greater stresses than that of the SiC particulate reinforced clustering region and low volume fraction reinforced hybrid clustering region. Besides, the stresses developed on the non-clustering region with particle-whisker series orientation were reasonably higher than that of the non-clustering region with particle-whisker parallel orientation. The high volume fraction reinforced hybrid clustering region is found to be highly vulnerable to initiate crack in cast hybrid MMC during low cycle fatigue.

A Survey on Effect of Agro Waste Ash as Reinforcement on Aluminium Base Metal Matrix Composites

In the present day availability of agricultural waste products is very huge quantity. Most of the industries prefer Metal matrix composite (MMC) due to their density, high strength to weight ratio, hardness, corrosion resistance, fatigue and creep resistance. Hence they are widely used in structural applications along with aerospace and automobile industry, marine, sports, electronic and automation industries. In the present paper a study is focused on the mechanical, tribological and corrosion behavior of the metal matrix composite using different agro waste ash which is easily available. Agro waste ash like Rice Husk, groundnut shell, bamboo leaf, coconut shell can be used as reinforcement and applicable for various applications like automotive, structural components. From this current study, it’s clearly identified that addition of agro waste ash as reinforcement with Aluminium improves the properties of metal matrix composite. Aluminium metal with such reinforcement materials has shown a high specific strength, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, also it will increase hardness, satisfactory levels of corrosion resistance.

Experimental Investigation on the Effect of Reinforcement Particles on the Forgeability and the Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites

The wide choice of materials, today’s engineers are posed with a big challenge for the right selection of a material and as well as the right selection of a manufacturing process for an application. Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites is a relatively new material among all the engineering materials. It has proved its position in automobile, aerospace, and many other engineering applications due its wear resistance properties and due to its substantial hardness. One of the most important criteria is forgeability by which the workability of the material can be determined. The nature of distribution of reinforcing phase in the matrix greatly influenced the properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites. The forgeability of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites, which are produced by powder metallurgy method, are greatly depends on the size and percentage of reinforcement materials, compacting load, sintering temperature and soaking time etc. In this present work, the forgeability of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with silicon carbide (400 meshes) has investigated. A comparison have been made with different types of Aluminum Silicon Carbide Metal Matrix Composite materials contains 0%5%,10%,15%&20% by weight of silicon carbide. The mechanical properties like hardness of the different composites have also investigated. It is observed that the forgeabilty of the composites decreases with increasing the wt% of SiC but the mechanical properties like hardness enhanced on increasing the wt% of SiC.

Competitive precipitation behavior of hybrid reinforcements in copper matrix composites fabricated by powder metallurgy

Copper matrix composites reinforced by in situ-formed hybrid titanium boride whiskers(TiB_(w))and titanium diboride particles(TiB_(2p))were fabricated by powder metallurgy.Microstructural observations showed competitive precipitation behavior between TiB_(w) and TiB_(2p),where the relative contents of the two reinforcements varied with sintering temperature.Based on thermodynamic and kinetic assessments,the precipitation mechanisms of the hybrid reinforcements were discussed,and the formation of both TiB_(w) and TiB_(2p) from the local melting zone was thermodynamically favored.The precipitation kinetics were mainly controlled by a solid-state diffusion of B atoms.By forming a compact compound layer,in situ reactions were divided into two stages,where Zener growth and Dybkov growth prevailed,respectively.Accordingly,the competitive precipitation behavior was attributed to the transition of the growth model during the reaction process.

An overview of additively manufactured metal matrix composites:preparation,performance,and challenge

Metal matrix composites(MMCs)are frequently employed in various advanced industries due to their high modulus and strength,favorable wear and corrosion resistance,and other good properties at elevated temperatures.In recent decades,additive manufacturing(AM)technology has garnered attention as a potential way for fabricating MMCs.This article provides a comprehensive review of recent endeavors and progress in AM of MMCs,encompassing available AM technologies,types of reinforcements,feedstock preparation,synthesis principles during the AM process,typical AM-produced MMCs,strengthening mechanisms,challenges,and future interests.Compared to conventionally manufactured MMCs,AM-produced MMCs exhibit more uniformly distributed reinforcements and refined microstructure,resulting in comparable or even better mechanical properties.In addition,AM technology can produce bulk MMCs with significantly low porosity and fabricate geometrically complex MMC components and MMC lattice structures.As reviewed,many AM-produced MMCs,such as Al matrix composites,Ti matrix composites,nickel matrix composites,Fe matrix composites,etc,have been successfully produced.The types and contents of reinforcements strongly influence the properties of AM-produced MMCs,the choice of AM technology,and the applied processing parameters.In these MMCs,four primary strengthening mechanisms have been identified:Hall–Petch strengthening,dislocation strengthening,load transfer strengthening,and Orowan strengthening.AM technologies offer advantages that enhance the properties of MMCs when compared with traditional fabrication methods.Despite the advantages above,further challenges of AM-produced MMCs are still faced,such as new methods and new technologies for investigating AM-produced MMCs,the intrinsic nature of MMCs coupled with AM technologies,and challenges in the AM processes.Therefore,the article concludes by discussing the challenges and future interests of AM of MMCs.

Simulation of local effect of reinforcement on temperature field during solidification of aluminum metal matrix composite

The effect of reinforcement on the solidification of pure metal matrix composites (MMCs) was simulated using a two-dimensional solidification temperature field model by the finite element method. The concept of the character length was proposed to describe the size of reinforcement local heat influential zone in MMCs solidification according to the change of the morphologies of solid-liquid interface. The relationship between the character length and the geometrical conditions, the boundary condition and physical properties of the reinforcement were studied, respectively. The results show that the width of the unit and the cold boundary temperature have no effect on the character lengths but have effect on the distance between cold boundary and reinforcement (l) and the thermal parameters of the reinforcement. An experimental rule to predict the value of the character length was derived and applied.

Hot deformation behaviors of 35% SiC_p/2024Al metal matrix composites

The hot deformation behaviors of 35%SiCp/2024 aluminum alloy composites were studied by hot compression tests using Gleeble-1500D thermo-mechanical simulator at temperatures ranging from 350 to 500 °C under strain rates of 0.01-10 s-1. The true stress-true strain curves were obtained in the tests. Constitutive equation and processing map were established. The results show that the flow stress decreases with the increase of deformation temperature at a constant strain rate, and increases with the increase of strain rate at constant temperature, indicating that composite is a positive strain rate sensitive material. The flow stress behavior of composite during hot compression deformation can be represented by a Zener-Hollomon parameter in the hyperbolic sine form. Its activation energy for hot deformation Q is 225.4 kJ/mol. To demonstrate the potential workability, the stable zones and the instability zones in the processing map were identified and verified through micrographs. Considering processing map and microstructure, the hot deformation should be carried out at the temperature of 500 °C and the strain rate of 0.1-1 s-1.

Development of Al-12Si-xTi system active ternary filler metals for Al metal matrix composites

To improve the wettability of Al metal matrix composites（Al-MMCs） by common filler metals,Al-12Si-xTi（x=0.1,0.5,1,3.0;mass fraction,%） system active ternary filler metals were prepared.It was demonstrated that although the added Ti existed within Ti（Al1-xSix）3（0≤x≤0.15） phase,the shear strength and shear fracture surface of the developed Al-12Si-xTi brazes were quite similar to those of traditional Al-12Si braze due to the presence of similar microstructure of Al-Si eutectic microstructure with large volume fraction.So,small Ti addition（～1%） did not make the active brazes brittle and hard compared with the conventional Al-12Si braze.The measured melting range of each Al-12Si-xTi foil was very similar,i.e.,580-590 ℃,because the composition was close to that of eutectic.For wettability improvement,with increasing Ti content,the interfacial gap between the Al2O3 reinforcement and filler metal（R/M） could be eliminated,and the amount of the remainder of the active fillers on the composite substrate decreased after sessile drop test at 610 ℃ for 30 min.So,the wettability improvement became easy to observe repeatedly with increasing Ti content.Additionally,the amount and size of Ti（AlSi）3 phase were sensitive to the Ti content（before brazing） and Si content（after brazing）.

MACHINING OF METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

Two types of aluminium-based composites reinforced respectively with 20 vol short fibre alumina and with a hybrid of 15 vol SiC particle and 5 vol short alumina fibre are machined with different tool materials:cemented carbide,ceramic,cubic boron nitride(CBN)and polycrystalline diamond(PCD).The analysis on tool wear shows that the various tool materials exhibite different tool wear behaviours,and the tool wear mechanisma are discussed.Apparently,PCD tools do not necessarily guarantee dimensional stability but they can provide the most economic means for machining all sorts of composites.Consequently,a suitable tool material is suggested for machining each metal matrix composite(MMC) from the standpoints of tool wear and machined surface finish.

THE INTERFACIAL BEHAVIORS OF ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITE IN DIFFERENT WELDING METHODS

Non-interlayer liquid phase diffusion welding (China Patent) and laser welding methods for aluminum matrix composite are mainly described in this paper. In the non-interlayer liquid phase diffusion welding, the key processing parameters affecting the strength of joint is welding temperature. When temperature rises beyond solidus temperature, the bonded line vanishes. The strength of joint reaches the maximum and becomes constant when welding temperature is close to liquid phase temperature. Oxide film in the interface is no longer detected by SEM in the welded joint. With this kind of technique, particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite Al2 O3p/6061Al is welded successfully, and the joint strength is about 80% of the strength of composite (as-casted). In the laser welding, results indicate that because of the huge specific surface area of the reinforcement, the interfacial reaction between the matrix and the reinforcement is restrained intensively at certain laser power and pulsed laser beam. The laser pulse frequency directly affects the reinforcement segregation and the reinforcement distribution in the weld, so that the weldability of the composite could be improved by increasing the laser pulse frequency. The maximum strength of the weld can reach 70% of the strength of the parent.

ANALYSIS OF ELASTOPLASTIC DEFORMATION IN METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES WITH PARTICULATE REINFORCEMENTS

In this paper, elastoplastic stress-strain behavior during tensile deformation of an aluminum alloy matrix composite containing alumina circular and non-circular particles is analyzed. In terms of cell models in conjunction with continuum plasticity theory, various periodic arrays of particles are assumed in a three-dimensional finite element simulation. The geometrical effects of particle volume fraction, shape, aspect ratio, array and distribution, as well as non-circular particle orientation on the overall elastoplastic stress-strain behavior are examined in view to design optimum microstructures of the composites.

Strengthening mechanisms based on reinforcement distribution uniformity for particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites

A modified mixed strengthening model was proposed for describing the yield strength of particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites.The strengthening mechanisms of the composites were analyzed based on the microstructures and compression mechanical properties.The distribution uniformity of reinforcements and cooperation relationship among dislocation mechanisms were considered in the modified mixed strengthening model by introducing a distribution uniformity factor u and a cooperation coefficient fc,respectively.The results show that the modified mixed strengthening model can accurately describe the yield strengths of Al3Ti/2024Al composites with a relative deviation less than1.2%,which is much more accurate than other strengthening models.The modified mixed model can also be used to predict the yield strength of Al3Ti/2024Al composites with different fractions of reinforcements.

Wear Studies on Metal Matrix Composites: a Taguchi Approach

An attempt has been made to study the influence of wear parameters like applied load, sliding speed, sliding distance and percentage of reinforcement on the dry sliding wear of the metal matrix composites. A plan of experiments, based on techniques of Taguchi, was performed to acquire data in controlled way. An orthogonal array and the analysis of variance were employed to investigate the influence of process parameters on the wear of composites. The objective is to establish a correlation between dry sliding wear of composites and wear parameters. These correlations were obtained by multiple regressions. Finally, confirmation tests were conducted to verify the experimental results foreseen from the mentioned correlations.

Effects of reinforcement on wear resistance of aluminum matrix composites

The effect of reinforcement on the wear mechanism of metal matrix composites （MMCs） was investigated by considering different parameters, such as sliding distance （6 km）, pressure （0.14-1.1 MPa） and sliding speed （230-1480 r/min）. The wear mechanisms of an MMC and the corresponding matrix material under similar experimental conditions were compared on a pin-on-disc wear machine. The pins were made of 6061 aluminum matrix alloy and 6061 aluminum matrix composite reinforced with 10% Al2O3 （volume fraciton） particles （6-18μm）. The disc was made of steel. The major findings are as follows： the MMC shows much higher wear resistance than the corresponding matrix material; unlike that of matrix material, the wear of MMC is very much linear and possible to predict easily; the wear mechanism is similar for both materials other than the three-body abrasion in the case of MMC; the reinforced particles resist the abrasion and restrict the deformation of MMCs which causes high resistance to wear. These results reveal the roles of the reinforcement particles on the wear resistance of MMCs and provide a useful guide for a better control of their wear.

Laser Additive Manufacturing on Metal Matrix Composites: A Review

Important progresses in the study of laser additive manufacturing on metal matrix composites(MMCs)have been made.Recent efforts and advances in additive manufacturing on 5 types of MMCs are presented and reviewed.The main focus is on the material design,the combination of reinforcement and the metal matrix,the synthesis principle during the manufacturing process,and the resulted microstructures as well as properties.Thereafter,the trend of development in future is forecasted,including:Formation mechanism and reinforcement principle of strengthening phase;Material and process design to actively achieve expected performance;Innovative structure design based on the special properties of laser AM MMCs;Simulation,monitoring and optimization in the process of laser AM MMCs.

Microstructure evolution of rare earth Pr modified alumina-silicate short fiber-reinforced Al-Si metal matrix composites

Al-Si metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with 20 vol.% alumina-silicate shot fibers (Al2O3-SiO2(sf)) were fabricated by an infiltration squeeze method. Pure Pr metal was added into these composites. The effect of Pr addition on the microstructure evolution of Al-Si MMCs was investigated by SEM,TEM,and EDS. Pr addition is favorable to make uniform microstructures with the modified eutectic Si crystal. PrAlSi phase with high contents of Pr and Si is observed on the interface between the fiber and the m...