Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Aluminium-SiC-B4C Hybrid MMCS

Abstract

Metallic materials are employed in most engineering applications involving dynamic and thermal load conditions. Different alloys of steel have been employed in industries normally owing to their higher strength, toughness, and thermal properties. However, some of the technological applications demand materials with lower density, possessing suitable strength and thermal properties. Aluminum alloy is one such material with lower density and higher corrosion resistance properties compared to structural steels. The mechanical and thermal properties of aluminum like hardness, tensile strength, and coefficient of thermal expansion can be further enhanced by the addition of ceramic materials like SiC, Al₂O₃, TiC, B₄C, etc., which have superior mechanical and thermal characteristics. Based on the research work being carried out in the field of composite material an attempt is made to evaluate the changes in the mechanical properties due hybrid reinforcement of SiC and B₄C. Composite materials are processed by Stir casting process with reinforcement of 10% reinforcement by weight with a combination of (2%SiC+8% B₄C, 4%SiC+ 6% B₄C, 6%SiC +4% B₄C & 8%SiC +2% B₄C). Mechanical properties are evaluated by performing Hardness Test, and Tensile Test.