Fabrication and Characterization of Hybrid Aluminum (Al6061) Matrix Composite Reinforced with SiC, B4C and MoS2

Abstract

In the current perspective, the acceptance of single and hybrid reinforced Aluminum alloy composites rises day today for general purpose and engineering applications as a result of their desirable properties like high strength, low density, better wear, and corrosion resistance. This work aimed at fabrication of aluminum alloy (Al6061) based hybrid composite reinforced with MoS2, SiC, and B4C powders via stir casting method and investigate the influence of reinforcements on the microstructural, density, porosity, tensile, hardness, and wear resistance behavior of the base alloy. The reinforcement has been added by varying B4C and SiC to 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%. But the percentage addition of MoS2 has been restricted to 4% in each specimen except the one which is non-reinforced. In each composite except non-reinforced, constant 84% of Al6061 was used to know the effect of reinforcements exactly. The hardness of the prepared hybrid aluminum matrix composite improved with the rise in percentage composition of B4C. With the addition of 12% of B4C and 4% of MoS2, the hardness of Al6061 was improved by about 22.06%. On the other hand, the ultimate tensile strength of the hybrid Al6061 composites found to be increased by the addition of B4C, SiC, and MoS2. By the addition of 12% of SiC and 4% of MoS2, ultimate tensile strength was improved by 22.63%. As the load increases from 10N to 50N in the step of 20N, the coefficient of friction and wear loss increases. At 50N load, the maximum weight loss was 0.0032g for non-reinforced specimen and the minimum weight loss was 0.0016g for double reinforced specimen (Al6061/12%B4C/4%MoS2) at this load. The advances in mechanical and tribological properties of B4C, SiC, and MoS2 hybrid reinforced aluminum alloy (Al6061) provide a practical and technical record in the area of composites for automotive, commercial, military and aerospace applications.