Fabrication of AA6061-sea sand composite and analysis of its properties

Abstract

Aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) are widely used in various applications because of their excellent properties; however, their lightweightness limits their broad application scope. Various ceramic compounds are used as reinforcements in AMCs, such as Al 2 O 3 , SiC, ZrO 2 , and TiO 2 . However, the use of ceramic compounds results in high production costs in AMC manufacturing. Thus, the substitution of reinforcement particles with various organic and industrial waste reinforcements is required. In line with the research trend of using industrial waste materials such as rice husk ash, red mud, and fly ash, this study uses sea sand as an AMC reinforcement. Sea sand is used because it primarily contains SiO 2 and Fe 3 O 4 ceramic compounds and, thus, can be used as a reinforcement. This study aims to determine the physical and mechanical properties of an AA6061–sea sand composite. Sea sand was subjected to electroless coating to increase its wettability before the stir-casting process. The as-prepared composite was manufactured by the stir-casting method upon the addition of 2–6 wt% sea sand. Composite characterisation was carried out through Brinell hardness and tensile tests. The results showed that the electroless-coated composites possessed lower porosity and, therefore, higher hardness and ultimate tensile strength than the non-electroless-coated composites.

Effect of Stir Casting Process Parameters and Stirrer Blade Geometry on Mechanical Properties of Al MMCs – A Review

“…also, improvement in mechanical properties and wear resistance was observed. akbar et al, [70] reinforced sea sand (2-6 wt.%) with aa6061 due to presence of sio 2 and Fe 3 o 4 ceramic compounds. To improve wettability, electroless coating was applied on sea sand.…”

Studies of forging on the aluminium-sea sand composites

“…The addition of sea sand particles to the density matrix has a downward trend along with the increase in the mass fraction of sea sand. This occurs because the density value of sea sand, which is 2.5 g/cm3 is lower than that of aluminium, which is 2.7 g cm −3 , which causes the density of the composite to decrease along with the increase in the content of sea sand [18]. Based on the graph, it is known that the lowest density value is composite with a mass fraction of 6% sea sand.…”

“…Strong interfacial adhesion is the result of mechanical interlocking generated by the coarsening of particles as a result of the electroless coating procedure. The bigger the number of particles added, the greater the likelihood of agglomeration, which reduces the composite's mechanical qualities [18,20]. The hardness decreases when sea sand particles (EC) >2 wt% are introduced.…”

Effect of nano ZrB2 particles on physical, mechanical and corrosion properties of Al6061 metal-matrix nano composites through stir casting route

“…In an electrical furnace at 750 °C, the Al6061 alloy was melted [32]. Later, magnesium chips (as catalysts) and Hexa chloromethane (as degassing capsules) were added after the alloy was molten.…”