Microstructural and Mechanical Characterization of Al6061 Alloy Reinforced with Varying Titanium Carbide Content via Stir Casting
摘要
Aluminum composites reinforced with micro- and nanoparticles are employed extensively in various applications. Due to lightweight, high-strength ratio, enhanced tensile property and high fracture toughness, the aluminum composites have gained significant attention. The integration of titanium carbide reinforced with aluminum alloy has expanded the applicability in various applications, such as defense, military and aerospace. Meanwhile, conventional Aluminum 6061-titanium carbide composite faces numerous challenging issues, such as manufacturing complexity, mechanical performances as well as temperature sensitivity. This study investigates Aluminum 6061 reinforced with titanium carbide at different weight factors, such as 3, 6 and 9%, which are fabricated using the stir-casting method. Detailed microstructural features are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, thereby investigating elemental distribution. In addition to this, the scanning electron microscopy exhibits high-magnification analysis and enhanced-contrast imaging at lower concentrations. Titanium carbide composite with 9% exhibited more particle agglomeration as well as interfacial irregularities than the other two Titanium carbide composites. Based on the Charpy impact strength, the Aluminum 6061 with 3, 6 and 9% Titanium carbide composites achieve the impact strength rates of 7.6, 6.2 and 5.3 Joules. Statistical evaluation using sample t-tests demonstrated that the Titanium carbide concentration significantly affects the mechanical behavior of the composite. This research provides a correlation between reinforcement and mechanical performance due to its high-strength and lightweight applications.