Abstract

Intermetallic-reinforced boron carbide (B4C) composites produced through stir casting processing

Author(s): E.Subba Rao, N.Ramanaiah

The present study is aimed to evaluating the mechanical properties of aluminium metal matrix composite (AMMC). An effort is made to enhance the mechanical properties like hardness, tensile strength, yield strength, % of elongation of AMMCs by reinforcing AA6061 matrix with Boron carbide (B4C) particles. AMMCs were made, AA6061 as matrix material and B4C as reinforcement material, through stir casting method. AMMCs with varying percentage by different wt. %, 1%,2 %, 3%, 4%,5% B4C were fabricated. Asystematic study of the matrix metal and AMMCs were done to evaluate the mechanical properties (hardness, yield strength and tensile strength) in as cast and heat treated condition. It was observed that in comparison to the matrix metal, the precipitation kinetic was accelerated by adding the B4C particles. It was noticed that, mechanical properties are increase with the increase in wt. % of the reinforcement up to 4% B4C further addition there is a diminution in both the conditions (as cast and cold rolling followed by heat treatment condition). It was also thoughtout that 4% B4C composite shows better mechanical (hardness, yield strength and tensile strength) properties and low % of elongation than all other compositions in both the conditions. Optical microscopy and Scanning electron micrographs were carried out to authenticate the mechanical properties of the matrix metal and AMMCs.