International Journal of Engineering Research

B. K. Shivananda ¹, Madeva Nagaral ², D. Madhu ³, V. Auradi ⁴

Affiliations
1 Mechanical Engineering, UVCE, Bangalore, Karnataka, IN
2 Aircraft Research and Design Centre, HAL, Bangalore, Karnataka, IN
3 Mech. Engg., Sri Nandhanam College of Engg. & Tech, Tirupattur, Tamilnadu, IN
4 R&D Centre, Mechanical Engineering, SIT, Tumkur, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The present work, aims at investigating the wear properties of AA2024 alloy before and after introducing micro size Boron Carbide (B₄C) particulates. B₄C particulate reinforced AA2024 alloy metal matrix composites were prepared by stir casting method. Weight fraction of the reinforcement was varied 0 to 6 wt. % of B₄C in steps of 3 wt. %. For each composite, during processing the reinforcement particles were pre-heated to a temperature of 400°C and then dispersed into the vortex of molten AA2024 alloy. The micostructural characterization was done using scanning electron microscope, which revealed uniform distribution of B₄C particles in Al matrix. Pin-on-disc wear testing machine was used to evaluate the wear of prepared specimens, in which a hardened EN32 steel disc was used as the counter face. The results revealed that the wear in terms of height loss was increased with increase in normal load and sliding speed for all the conditions. Further, wear studies also suggest that wear resistance of the AA2024-3 & 6 wt. % B₄C composites was lesser than that of the AA2024 matrix.

Keywords

AA2024 Alloy, B₄C, Stir Casting, Hardness, Tensile Strength.

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Shivraj Koti ¹, S. B. Halesh ¹, Madeva Nagaral ², V. Auradi ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sir MVIT, Bangalore, Karnataka, IN
2 Aircraft Research and Design Centre, HAL, Bangalore, Karnataka, IN
3 R&D Centre, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SIT, Tumkur, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The work is carried out to investigate and study the mechanical properties of B₄C reinforced AA7475 alloy metal matrix composites. In the present work AA7475 alloy is taken as the base matrix and B₄C particulates as reinforcement material to prepare metal matrix composites by stir casting method. For metal matrix composites the reinforcement material was varied from 0 to 4 wt. % in steps of 2 wt. %. For each composite, the reinforcement particulates were preheated to a temperature of 300°C and dispersed into a vortex of molten AA7475 alloy. The microstructural characterization was done using scanning electron microscope. Mechanical properties like hardness, ultimate tensile strength and yield strength were evaluated as per ASTM standards. Further, scanning electron microphotographs revealed that there was uniform distribution of B₄C particulates in AA7475 alloy matrix. Hardness, ultimate tensile strength and yield strength increased as wt. % of B₄C increased in the base matrix.

Keywords

AA7475 Alloy, B₄C, Stir Casting, Hardness, Tensile Strength.

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