A Study on Compressive Tensile and Hardness Properties of Aluminum 6061 with 5–15% Boron Carbide Reinforcements

The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the mechanical and chemical characteristics of Al6061 as-cast aluminum in contrast to Al6061 metal matrix composites (MMCs) infused with differing amounts of boron carbide (B4C), specifically 5%, 10%, or 15%. Composite samples of Al-B4C were employed for the research. Through the utilization of a stir casting method, the Al-B4C composite was created with three distinct weight ratios of B4C: 5%, 10%, and 15%. Stir casting was conducted at a temperature of 800 °C following the preheating of B4C reinforcements to 650 °C. Subsequent assessments included hardness, compressive strength, and tensile strength tests adhering to ASTM standards. Examination of the outcomes reveals that compared to both Al-B4C MMCs containing 10% and 5% B4C content as well as the as-cast Al6061, the aluminum MMC incorporating 15% B4C exhibits notably higher tensile strength (375.32 MPa), compressive strength (288.29 MPa), and hardness (104.1 HV). This investigation demonstrates that increasing the proportion of B4C reinforcement enhances the mechanical and physical properties of the material. Particularly, a 15% B4C weight fraction results in significant enhancements in the aforementioned characteristics for the B4C/Al6061 metal matrix composite.