MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HYBRID ALUMINUM METAL MATRIX

COMPOSITES
Abstract:

Hybrid composites are those composites which have a combination of two or more
reinforcements in a single matrix. In this study, Hybrid Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites were
fabricated by using Casting technique. Hybrid composites with two reinforcements such as, Silicon
Carbide (SiC) in different proportions are considered and Aluminum alloy 6061as base alloy
matrix. Later, the cast aluminum metal matrix composites were machined as per ASTM standards
with required dimensions. Mechanical tests such as tensile, Charpy impact, Brinell hardness tests
were conducted on the composites fabricated in order to evaluate effect of reinforcements. Fatigue
study of the composites is carried out by using ANSYS. The test results were studied and analyzed.

Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced With Sic and NEEM Leaf Ash Using Stir
Casting Method

Abstract

Aluminium metal matrix composites (AMMCs) are the trustful materials for marine, aerospace,
defense, advanced structural, aviation applications and also in automobile vehicles due to its
favorable properties. The hybrid metal matrix composites are manufactured using stir casting
process, which is the simplest and most convenient form of manufacturing a material. In this paper
aluminium alloy 6063 is been bolstered with SiC and Neem Leaf Ash. Two samples were
fabricated Sample 1 (Al 6063 eighty%+SiC 20%), Sample 2 (Al 6063 eighty%+ SiC 10%+ Neem
Leaf Ash 10%). After manufacturing those samples, the following exams were carried out like
Hardness test, Pin on Disc Wear testing. The combination of SiC and Neem Leaf Ash particles in
the matrix was improved by adding those reinforcements for the base metal. The results display
that Sample-2 (Al 6063 80% + SiC 10% + Neem Leaf Ash 10%) suggests development in
mechanical properties like hardness and also the wear properties has been reduced.
Investigations on Aluminium wire mesh, Banana Fiber and Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid
Composites

Objectives: In the fiber metal laminates aluminium has been preferred choice when it comes to the
selection of the type of metal to be used as reinforcement in FML, due to its easy of availability,
favourable mix of mechanical characteristics and low cost. Among fibers, glass has been found
out to be most reliable as it is cheaper than its counterparts, and at the same time does not
compromise on its mechanical properties. Methods: The hand-layup process is employed to
fabricate two types of composites: a normal GFRP and a GFRP hybrid. The hybrid, named
GABGRP (glass-aluminium-banana-glassreinforced plastic) comprises of layers of both
aluminium and banana fibers as reinforcements in a glass fiber-base. The aluminium in this study
has been employed in two different forms: foil and wire mesh. The GABGRP has been fabricated,
and subjected to material testing to find out aluminium in which form, aluminium is more suitable
as a reinforcement. The fabricated materials are cut in accordance to ASTM standards and are
subjected to various mechanical tests, namely tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests. Findings:
The investigation conducted on Glass-Aluminium Foil/Wire MeshBanana Fibre-Glass Hybrid
Composites, it has been inferred that the GABGRP (with Al wire mesh) hybrid composite has the
highest flexural strength among its counterparts. Also, the GABGRP (with Al wire mesh) hybrid
composite has the highest tensile load capacity when compared with the other two composite types.
GABGRP hybrid also has a higher toughness value than the standard GFRP. GABGRP (with Al
wire mesh) also exhibits a lower hardness value, which shows that it is less brittle. Thus, it is
inferred that the inclusion of banana fibers and aluminium wire mesh as reinforcements in GFRP
hybrid composites influences its mechanical properties. Improvement/Applications: The inclusion
of aluminium as wire mesh and banana fibers in GFRP that influences its mechanical properties,
contributing towards a higher flexibility, ductility, impact and tensile properties.