Fabrication and Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Aluminium-Magnesium Composite

Abstract

Increasing demand for the superior material properties have turned our thinking from a single material to composite. Traditionally composite material consists of continuous phase of the matrix bearing the discontinuous phase of the reinforcement that carry the main load. Commonly used matrix materials for Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) are aluminum, magnesium, titanium, copper etc. Among various MMCs, aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMC) have distinct properties like better strength, lightweight corrosion resistance. Addition of reinforced metals in the pure aluminum improves the mechanical properties of aluminum. This paper focuses on the casting of aluminum metal matrix composite where Magnesium (Mg) of two different weight fraction is used as reinforced metal. The Al-Mg metal matrix with 1wt% and 2wt% Mg is fabricated using the stir casting method. Initially, aluminum and magnesium are preheated in two separate furnaces before being mixed. Then the preheated aluminum matrix is poured into the furnace whose temperature is elevated to 6700C. When the aluminum is completely melted, preheated magnesium is added with manual mixing. Afterwards, the stirring is performed at a speed of 600 rpm to accomplish the mechanical mixing. Finally, the mixture of matrix and reinforcement material is transferred into the molds. The mechanical tests are performed to check the properties like tensile strength, impact strength, and hardness. With the addition of magnesium, hardness and impact strength are increased gradually while the ultimate tensile strength and ductility shows a different trend. Initially the tensile strength and ductility are reached to the highest value for 1wt% Mg and then it is decreased at the next weight percentage due to the brittleness of the material. Therefore, these properties have the significance to apply this material where the seeking properties are hardness and impact strength.