An Investigation of Mechanical Properties by Reinforcing Steel Mesh into Aluminium Alloy 6061

Abstract

The application of aluminium-based composite is increasing day by day in structural and aerospace engineering sectors due its exceptional properties such as higher strength to weight ratio, excellent mechanical properties, and high corrosion resistance. In the current study the Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) with Aluminum alloy (AA) 6061 as matrix and steel mesh as reinforcement was fabricated by two routes. First, by hot rolling the steel mesh sandwiched between two 3 mm thick AA 6061 sheets and second by the pouring of AA 6061 over and below the steel mesh placed in horizontal plane in a sand mold such that the mesh gets completely incorporated at the centre of casting subsequently hot rolling them to obtain MMC. One specimen obtained by each route was given T6-heat treatment (HT). The microstructural study was done to characterize the composites formed and their mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength were compared with HT cast-rolled and HT rolled sheets of same thickness. The superior Ultimate tensile strength of 155.4MPa was shown by samples obtained by HT cast-rolled sheet with steel mesh sample than other samples.