Multi-Objective Optimization of Novel Aluminum Welding Fillers Reinforced with Niobium Diboride Nanoparticles

Abstract

New and innovative technologies have expanded the quality and applications of aluminum welding in the maritime, aerospace, and automotive industries. One such technology is the addition of nanoparticles to aluminum matrices, resulting in improved strength, operating temperature, and stiffness. Furthermore, researchers continue to assess pertinent factors that improve the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of aluminum welding by enabling the optimization of the manufacturing process. Hence, this research explores alternatives, namely cost-effective aluminum welding fillers reinforced with niobium diboride nanoparticles. The goal has been to improve weld quality by employing multi-objective optimization, attained through a central composite design with a response surface model. The model considered three factors: the amount (weight percent) of nanoparticles, melt stirring speed, and melt stirring time. Filler hardness and porosity percentage served as response variables. The optimal parameters for manufacturing this novel filler for the processing conditions studied are 2% nanoparticles present in a melt stirred at 750 rpm for 35.2 s. The resulting filler possessed a 687.4 MPA Brinell hardness and low porosity, i.e., 3.9%. Overall, the results prove that the proposed experimental design successfully identified the optimal processing factors for manufacturing novel nanoparticle-reinforced fillers with improved mechanical properties for potential innovative applications across diverse industries.