International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

ISSN 2278 0882

Development and testing of Al5083 alloy reinforced by

SiC particles
Amir Hussain Idrisi1, Vikas Dev Singh2, Vipul Saxena3
1

Deptt. of Mechanical Engg. SRMS CET, Bareilly

2
Asst. prof. SRMS WCET, Bareilly
3
Deptt. of Ceramics Engg, IIT BHU, Varanasi

Abstract
This work involves the development of metal matrix
composite materials by combining the desirable
attributes of metals and Ceramics. Here Aluminium
5083 used as the matrix material in which SiC added as
the reinforced material. Present work was focused on
the study of behaviour of Aluminium 5083 with SiC as
reinforcement produced by stir casting method and
ultrasonic assisted stir casting method. Different
percentages of reinforced particles were mixed and
different specimens were made. Tensile and
compressive tests were employed to obtain the
mechanical properties and trend was compared between
the samples developed by stir casting method and
ultrasonic assisted stir casting method. The results
show that the mechanical properties i.e., tensile and
compressive properties improved.
Key Words Al5083, SiC particles, tensile and
compressive test, Ultrasonic assisted stir casting
process

1. INTRODUCTION
Composites are materials in which the desirable
properties of separate materials are combined by
mechanically binding them together. They have
superior properties from individual materials and their
respective alloys as well. Development of metal matrix
composite materials consists of combination of
desirable attributes of metals and ceramics. The
addition of high strength, high modulus refractory
particles to a ductile metal matrix produce a material
whose mechanical properties are intermediate between
the matrix alloy and the ceramic reinforcement.
In the past, various studies have been carried out on
metal matrix composites. SiC, TiC, WC and B4C are
the most commonly used particulates to reinforce
metal or alloy matrix or aluminium or iron. The study
of SiC in Aluminium 5083 alloy is still rare and scarce
and very limited studies have been reported. So the
information and the data available on the mechanical

properties are scarce which make this study a

significant one. Moreover no research have been done
on SiC reinforced Al 5083 composites which used
ultrasonic assisted stir casting route for fabrication.
Comparative reports of both routes (with or without
u l t r a s on i c probe) are also not available. This
research area is still vacant and has scope for work in
this particular field.
Section Historical Development, includes the
historical development of metal matrix composite.
Section Selection of Material, is based on the
selection of metal matrix and reinforcement material
and discussion on its individual properties. Section
Experimental Setup, explains the
various
experimental setup used for stir casting method,
ultrasonic stir casting method and tests. Section
Results and Discussion, presents the results of
different tests conducted on various samples and
discusses their comparative analysis. Section
Conclusion, covers the findings of our work and
discussion on scope of further work in the same field.
Section - Future scope, Discuss about the further
scope of work on same field. Finally section
References, covers the number of papers and research
works used in our present work.

2. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
Metal matrix composite (MMC) consists of
combination of desirable attributes of metals as matrix
and ceramics as reinforcement. Work on MMCs began
in the 1950s since then researchers tried numerous
combinations of matrices and reinforcements. This led
to the development of product for aerospace, but
resultant commercial applications were limited. The
introduction of ceramic whiskers as reinforcement and
the development of in-situ eutectics in the 1960s aided
high temperature applications in aircraft engines. In the
late 1970s the automobile industries started to take
MMCs seriously. In the last 20 years, MMCs evolved
from laboratories to a class of materials with numerous
applications and commercial markets.

IJSRET @ 2014

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014
Composite may be broadly classified according to two
ways
1. On the basis of Reinforcement
2. On the basis of Matrix

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Classification on the basis of Reinforcement is shown

in Fig.1. Classification on the basis of Matrix is shown
in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 Classification on the basis of reinforcement

Fig. 2 Classification on the basis of matrix

No research have been done on SiC reinforced Al

5083 composites which used ultrasonic assisted stir
casting route for fabrication. This led us to do
significant work on this field. In this investigation SiC
particulates reinforced Al 5083 composites test
samples were fabricated and processed by both simple
and ultrasonic assisted stir casting route. The
parameters of different wt. % of SiC addition in the
Al 5083 alloy is examined to study the mechanical
behaviour of processed specimen.

3. SELECTION OF MATERIAL
We have selected particle reinforced MMC for our
work. Particle-Reinforced MMCs are the composites
in which particles of sizes greater than 1 m are
present. Aluminium 5083 alloy as metal matrix and
SiC as reinforced material is used to develop particle
reinforced MMC. 5XXX series aluminium alloy
contain high percentage of magnesium in HCP
structure at 6510C. Magnesium acts as strengthening

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014
agent, improves wettability of aluminium and has
high corrosion resistant properties. It has small
solubility of 3% at room temperature and 15.35% at
4510C (eutectic). Eutectic reaction gives K phase

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(FCC) and phase (Al3Mg2). Phase diagram and

distribution image are shown in Figure 3 and 4
(Udomphol, 2007).

Fig. 3 Phase equilibrium diagram

Fig. 4 Distribution image

The standard composition of aluminium 5083 is given in table 1 and the actual composition which we considered for
our work is given in table 2.
Table 1 Composition (wt. %) of Standard Al-5083

Table 2 Composition (wt. %) of Actual Al-5083

Silicon carbide (SiC) is composed of carbon and

silicon atoms in tetrahedral arrangement with strong
bonds in the crystal lattice. This produces a very hard
and strong material. Silicon carbide particulates have
attained a prime position among the various
discontinuous dispersions available for the synthesis
of MMC. This is due to the fact that introduction of
SiC to the aluminium matrix substantially enhances
the strength, the modulus, the abrasive wear
resistance and thermal stability. The density of SiC
(3.2g/cm) is nearer to that of aluminium alloy

AA6061 (2.7g/cm3). The resistance of SiC to acids,

alkalis or molten salts up to 800 degree Celsius
makes it a good reinforcement candidate for
aluminium based MMC. Furthermore, SiC is easily
available and has good wettability with aluminium
alloys. The type of the silicon carbide is F320, density
is in between 1.29-1.35 g/cm3 and the mesh size
is 29.2 1.5 m. Surface chemical values of F 320
silicon carbide are given in Table 3.

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

ISSN 2278 0882

Table 3 Surface chemical values of F 320 silicon

carbide

4. EXPERIMENT SETUP
Stir casting is the fabrication technique used widely for
producing particle reinforced MMC having Al 5XXX
series alloy as metal matrix and SiC as reinforcement.
We have introduced ultrasonic probe during
production of MMC. For manufacturing of composite
samples and their testing, following machines and
equipments are used.

Matrix (Al 5083 alloy)

Reinforcement (SiC)

Weighing Machine

Crucible (Graphite)

Furnace

Mould (Mild Steel)

Stirrer

Ultrasonic Probe (For ultrasonic stir casting

only)

Cutting Grinder

Universal Testing Machine

Lathe

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Fig. 5 presents the setup of stir casting method.

Fig. 5 stir casting

Fig. 6 presents the setup of ultrasonic stir casting
method.

Fig. 6 Ultrasonic Assisted Stir Casting Process

High power ultrasound was introduced into molten
aluminium during solidification of aluminium
dendrites. Dendrite that is formed during casting
having large grain and many branches which is
harmful structure in metal. In order to suppress
the generation of dendrite structure during casting, an
active method was introduced by using high power
ultrasound to break dendrite arms and to increase
the number of nuclear seeds. The grain sizes of the
aluminium treated by the high power ultrasound were
decreased and the shape became spherical. The sizes
were same at the different power of ultrasound when
the power approached threshold level. There were also
harmful small cavities created when the power of
ultrasound exceeds desired power range. This useless
extra ultrasonic power generated vapours of molten
aluminium and these vapour was fixed as small
cavities in the solid aluminium after solidification.
(Choi et. al., 2009). The microstructure of the sample
produce by using ultrasonic probe is shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 7 SiC powder embedded within an aluminium

matrix
Various samples developed for tensile and
compressive testing by both the methods are shown in

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

ISSN 2278 0882

fig. 8a and fig. 8b respectively.

Fig. 8a Tensile test specimen

Fig. 8b Compressive test specimen

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Tensile Measurement
The tensile strength was measured with the help
of Universal Testing Machine. The specimens were
clamped between the fixed crosshead and the moving
crosshead of the machine. The load was attached and
the pressure valve was released so that the moving
crosshead move down and the sample came under
tension. After yielding the sample broke and at this
point tensile strength was measured along with
Youngs Modulus.
For this purpose Al-SiC composite samples will be
fabricated as per the ASTM E8 standard. Tensile
strength or the ultimate stress of the cast different
weight % of SiC composites was measured and the
trend was compared with and without probe. Table 4
shows the tensile strength of specimen with and
without using the probe.

Fig. 9a and fig. 9b shows the trend of tensile strength

of specimen of different weight % of SiC with and
without probe respectively.

Table 4 Tensile Strength of Specimen

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Fig. 9a Tensile strength (With probe)

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014

Fig. 9b Tensile strength (without probe)

Fig. 10 shows the tensile strength of specimen of
different wt % of SiC for with and without probe
collectively in bar graph.

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Test shows that the modulus of elasticity increases

with the increase in wt % of SiC in specimen
irrespective of use of ultrasonic probe. This also shows
that the modulus of elasticity of the specimen produced
with the help of ultrasonic probe is more in
comparison to the specimen without using ultrasonic
probe.
Compression Measurement
Compression tests were carried out on Al-SiC
composite specimens with length to diameter ratio of
1.5. Tests were performed on universal testing
machine (UTM) of 100 KN capacity. The samples
were compressed between two flat plates and the
maximum failure load was recorded. Table 6 shows
the compressive strength of specimen at different wt.
% of SiC reinforcement with and without probe.
Table 6 Compressive Strength of Specimen

Fig. 10 Comparative Bar Graph of Tensile Strength

Test shows that the tensile strength increases with the
increase in wt % of SiC in specimen irrespective of use
of ultrasonic probe. This also shows that the tensile
strength of the specimen produced with the help of
ultrasonic probe is more in comparison to the specimen
without using ultrasonic probe.
Modulus of elasticity was also calculated and the
observation is as shown in the Table 5.
Table 5 Modulus of elasticity

Fig. 11a and fig. 11b shows the trend of compressive

strength of specimen of different weight % of SiC with
and without probe respectively

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 697-704 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

ISSN 2278 0882

ultrasonic probe, and formation of spherical shape

grain size of aluminium.

6. CONCLUSION
From the study it is concluded that with the use of SiC
particle as reinforcement material with Al-5083 alloy
as matrix material certain mechanical properties get
enhanced. Al-5083 composites tensile strength and
compressive strength increased with increased wt. %
of SiC mixed along with modulus of elasticity. Further
with the introduction of ultrasonic probe to stir casting
route the tensile strength and compressive strength
along with modulus of elasticity increased by at a
particular wt. % of SiC.
Therefore it can be concluded that in Stir casting
processing route the mechanical properties increased
by increasing wt. % of SiC and also with ultrasonic
assisted stir casting route. Ultrasonic stir casting route
proved to be the prominent route for fabrication of
composites.

Fig. 11a Compressive Strength (With Probe)

7. FUTURE SCOPE
More weight % of SiC can be mixed by preheating it
up to 1100C. Process can be repeated on the
casted product in order to improve its interfacial
bonding. Semi solid state mixing can be done by
passing through eutectic point of the binary diagram.
Fig. 11b Compressive strength (without probe)
Fig. 12 shows the compressive strength of specimen of
different wt % of SiC for with and without probe
collectively in bar graph.

REFERENCES

Fig. 12 Comparative Bar Graph of Compressive

Strength
The increase in tensile and compressive strength of AlSiC composite is due to the breaking of aluminium
dendrites, formed during solidification without using
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