Effect of zirconium oxide particulate composites with Al-Si on the microstructural and mechanical properties of hot pressed, spray forming and stir casting methods

Abstract

This research work aims to investigate the aluminum and silicon alloy reinforced with the ZrO2 powder particles, which has been fabricated using stir casting and spray deposition method. The mechanical properties, micro hardness and microstructure of the developed metal matrix composite is investigated. The microstructural results indicate that the rich interface among the AlSi-ZrO2 particles and depicts the agglomeration of reinforced phase resulting to poor wettability of ZrO2 and observed decohesion. The mechanical testing results indicate that the tensile strength increases with the percentage of ZrO2. Moreover, as cast composites exhibit reverse tendency in compressive and hardness values. The highest compressive values for as cast and hot-pressed composites were 380 MPa and 337 MPa for 10% ZrO2. The highest tensile strength of 191.83 MPa was obtained for 5% ZrO2 as cast composite and 164 MPa for 15% ZrO2 hot pressed composite. It is to note that as cast composite method represented more homogenous data compared to the hot-pressed composites. Hot pressed samples exhibited the reduction in the porosity compared to the as cast. The developed method proved to be accurate, reduced time and efficient to predict the numerous samples. © 2021 Engineers Australia.