Hardness and Compressive Properties on Metal Matrix Composites with Influence of Nano-Ceramic Particles Through Powder Metallurgy Process

Hardness and compressive strength of metal matrix composites (MMCs) are influenced by different processing constraints like various sizes of reinforcing particles, different weight ratios, and mixing time. Due to segregation of strengthening particles in the MMCs were easily occurred in the stir casting process and it is very complex to evade. Therefore, the powder metallurgy process is the significant route to prepare the composites with base matrix of aluminum alloy AA1050, and ceramic hard particles of chromium carbide (Cr3C2) were utilized in this research. During this process, instead of ball milling, the barrel-based mixer was utilized to mixing the powders to compose quality-based composites. Therefore, in this study barrel mixing time is considered as main parameters; consequently, the various sizes of strengthening particle and different weight proportions were utilized. The new approach of barrel mixing with different time durations from 15 to 45 min, different nano-sized ceramic particles (10–20 nm), and various weight proportions of particles (10–14%) were investigated through the powder metallurgy process. Finally, the maximum time at 45 min and increasing the particles from 10 to 14% and nano-sizes compose better hardness and compressive strength. The contour interpretation is explained the different approaches of process parameters on the prepared composites.