TY - JOUR
T1 - Processing, Properties, and Microstructure of Recycled Aluminum Alloy Composites Produced Through an Optimized Stir and Squeeze Casting Processes
AU - Christy, John Victor
AU - Arunachalam, Ramanathan
AU - Mourad, Abdel Hamid I.
AU - Krishnan, Pradeep Kumar
AU - Piya, Sujan
AU - Al-Maharbi, Majid
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al-Ain, UAE, and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, for providing research support through a collaborative research project (SQU: CL/SQU-UAEU/17/04 and UAEU: 31N270). The Central Analytical and Applied Research Unit (CAARU) at SQU is acknowledged for providing support through analytical facilities and equipment, such as the FESEM and XRD reported in this manuscript. The Concrete Lab in UAEU is also acknowledged for providing SEM images for the tensile fracture surfaces and wear analysis. The partial support of Dr. Rajaraman Muraliraja in casting the samples, as well as in XRD analysis, is also acknowledged.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Society of Manufacturing Engineers
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - This work focuses on the processing, properties, microstructure, and optimization of squeeze and stir casted samples of scrap aluminum alloy wheel aluminum matrix composites reinforced with alumina. The Taguchi-Grey relational analysis method was used to optimize the stir and casting process parameters, namely, squeeze pressure, squeeze time, die preheating temperature, and stirrer speed. These stir-casted composites were analyzed based on their microstructure, hardness, tensile strength, compression strength, and wear/tribological performance. Adding alumina to an aluminum matrix improved the mechanical and tribological properties. The results showed that out of nine experiments (L1–L9) obtained from Taguchi analysis, experiments L5 and L6 exhibited the best mechanical properties. Microstructural observations revealed different morphologies in the distribution of Al2O3 and porosity in the Al matrix, depending on the process parameters. Finally, the Taguchi-GRA method was used to find the optimized process parameters and was experimentally verified. The optimized sample (M2) showed the lowest porosity (5.29%) and significantly higher ultimate compression strength (433 MPa). However, it exhibited slightly lower hardness and ultimate tensile strength when compared with the L6 and L5 samples, respectively.
AB - This work focuses on the processing, properties, microstructure, and optimization of squeeze and stir casted samples of scrap aluminum alloy wheel aluminum matrix composites reinforced with alumina. The Taguchi-Grey relational analysis method was used to optimize the stir and casting process parameters, namely, squeeze pressure, squeeze time, die preheating temperature, and stirrer speed. These stir-casted composites were analyzed based on their microstructure, hardness, tensile strength, compression strength, and wear/tribological performance. Adding alumina to an aluminum matrix improved the mechanical and tribological properties. The results showed that out of nine experiments (L1–L9) obtained from Taguchi analysis, experiments L5 and L6 exhibited the best mechanical properties. Microstructural observations revealed different morphologies in the distribution of Al2O3 and porosity in the Al matrix, depending on the process parameters. Finally, the Taguchi-GRA method was used to find the optimized process parameters and was experimentally verified. The optimized sample (M2) showed the lowest porosity (5.29%) and significantly higher ultimate compression strength (433 MPa). However, it exhibited slightly lower hardness and ultimate tensile strength when compared with the L6 and L5 samples, respectively.
KW - Alumina
KW - Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites
KW - Mechanical Properties
KW - Scrap Aluminum Alloy Wheel
KW - Squeeze Stir Casting
KW - Taguchi
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jmapro.2020.09.067
DO - 10.1016/j.jmapro.2020.09.067
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85092148691
SN - 1526-6125
VL - 59
SP - 287
EP - 301
JO - Journal of Manufacturing Processes
JF - Journal of Manufacturing Processes
ER -