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INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR

OF ILMENITE BASED AL METAL MATRIX
PARTICULATE COMPOSITES

Article September 2013

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 5, September - October (2013) IAEME`
AND TECHNOLOGY (IJMET)

ISSN 0976 6340 (Print)

ISSN 0976 6359 (Online) IJMET
Volume 4, Issue 5, September - October (2013), pp. 111-115
IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijmet.asp
Journal Impact Factor (2013): 5.7731 (Calculated by GISI) IAEME
www.jifactor.com

INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF ILMENITE BASED

AL METAL MATRIX PARTICULATE COMPOSITES

Ajay Dev Boyina1, M. Vijaya Sekhar Babu2, K. Santa Rao3, Dr. P.S. Rao4
1
(PG Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, GMRIT, India)
2
(Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, GMRIT, India)
3
(Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, GMRIT, India)
4
(Professor, Industrial Production engineering, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam)

ABSTRACT

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) constitute an important class of design and weight
efficient structural materials that are encouraging every sphere of engineering applications.
There has been an increasing interest in composites having high performance with low cost
reinforcements. Among various metals which are naturally available, Ilmenite is one of the
inexpensive and medium density reinforcement available in large quantities in the coastal beaches.
Hence, composites with Ilmenite as reinforcement are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide
spread applications in automotive and structural applications. To produce Al matrix cast particle
composites, wettability of the Ilmenite particles by liquid Al is essential. The present investigation
has been focused on the utilization of abundantly available Ilmenite in useful manner by dispersing it
into aluminium matrix to produce composites by stir casting method. Ilmenite particles of 38
microns size were used. The standard specimens fabricated using stir casting followed by machining.
Samples were prepared at different stirring speeds and stirring times. Then tested for their tensile
behaviour hardness properties. Microstructure was also studied using an optical microscope.

Keywords Hardness, Ilmenite, Metal matrix composite, Stir Casting, Stirring speed, Stirring time

1. INTRODUCTION

During the past decades, researches into the production of metal matrix composites have been
investigated by numerous investigators. Recently developments in aluminum matrix composites
(AMCs) are playing important role in the composites areas. AMCs exhibit excellent mechanical
properties like low density, high specific strength, high structural efficiency; good wear resistance,
excellent thermal and electrical properties. As a result, their applications were expanded into the

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 5, September - October (2013) IAEME

fields of aerospace, automotive, infrastructure and military industries. AMCs are advanced materials
prepared by combining two or more materials in which tailored properties were analysed. Upon the
reinforcement of micro particles in the AMCs has improved mechanical properties due to the
reinforcement of high strength and high modulus particles like BiC, SiC, TiC, Al2O3, TiCr, FeTiO3,
etc. Among various fabrication techniques for composites stir casting is one of the most economical
and simple casting route, used in the present study to fabricate AMCs. Influence of reinforcement
on tensile behaviour, hardness, and wear properties were studied by many researchers.
In the present work Al alloy 2014 is taken as matrix, and particulate metal matrix composites
(PMMCs) were fabricated using stir casting method. 38 micron size Ilmenite (FeTiO3) particles were
prepared using ball milling process. Ilmenite particles of 1 % weight of the Al Matrix were added to
the melt during the stir casting process.
G.N. Lokesh et al., fabricated fly ash and SiC PMMCs using stir casting technique and it was
observed that hardness and Ultimate Tensile Strength were improved [1]. Prasad et al. fabricated rice
husk ash PMMCs as reinforcement using stir casting technique and observed that reinforcement
distribution is fairly uniform due to the vortex generated with improved mechanical, tribological and
damping behaviour of the composites [2]. A.R.K.. Swamy et al., fabricated Tungsten Carbide and
Graphite as reinforcement using vortex method and results shown that increasing the graphite
content within the aluminum matrix results in significant increases in the ductility, UTS,
compressive strength and Youngs modulus, but a decrease in the hardness[3]. H.Z. Ye et al.,
fabricated Ti6Al4V particles as reinforcement in AM60B magnesium matrix using hot isostatic
pressing technique and their results showed that no beneficial reinforcing effects, but only led to
decreased elongation which indicates the reduction in the ductility[4].

2. MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR

2.1 Tensile test

Tensile tests were conducted on standard specimen using UTM and hardness was tested on
Vickers Hardness testing machine.

Fig.1 Tensile specimens before and after failure

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 5, September - October (2013) IAEME

Table.1 Stirring speeds and stirring times for specimens along with resultant Ultimate Tensile
Strength

Stirring Speed Stirring Time Ultimate Tensile Vickers

( RPM ) ( MINUTES ) Strength Hardness Number
Al 2014 - - 167.78 148
Specimen 1 400 10 164.21 86
Specimen 2 600 10 173.67 83
Specimen 3 400 20 178.41 81
Specimen 4 600 20 185.52 78

Tensile properties indicate that the addition of Ilmenite leads to increase in the ultimate
tensile strength. Fig.2 shows the effect of Ilmenite particulate content on tensile behaviour of
the composite. It is observed that the ultimate strength of composite is increased when compared to
the Al 2014 and gradually increases with in the modelling space.

Fig.2 Stress strain curves of test specimens comparing with Al 2014

2.2 Hardness
Hardness tests were performed on the specimens to know the effect of Ilmenite in matrix
material. Hardness of MMCs is decreased with increase in stirring speed and stirring time. Results
were shown in Table.1

Fig.3 Vickerss Hardness Number for specimens along with Al 2014

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International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
6340(Print), ISSN 0976 6359(Online) Volume 4, Issue 5, September - October (2013) IAEME

2.3 Microstructure
Microphotographs were taken to study the distribution of Ilmenite particles in the Al matrix.
All the images were taken at 150X magnification. The micrographs shows that the Ilmenite particles
were uniformly distributed in the matrix and results in the change of hardness.

Fig.4 Al matrix showing the presence of Ilmenite Particles

The image in the Fig.5 shows the indentation during Vickers Hardness Test. The image
clearly shows that the Al-FeTiO3 composite is brittle and soft. This was strongly observed by the
sharp brittle straight lines at the edges of the indentation.

Fig.5 Optical micrograph showing the sharp edges if the indentation

3. CONCLUSION

The results from the experimental work conclude that Ilmenite of 1% by weight can be
successfully added to Al 2014 by stir casting route to produce composites. Ultimate tensile strength
increases with addition of Ilmenite particles. It increases with the increase in stirring speeds and
stirring times. Addition of Ilmenite decreases the hardness of the composite and further decreases by
increase in stirring speed and stirring time. Optical micro photographs shows the uniform
distribution of particles in the matrix.

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4. REFERENCES

[1] G.N.Lokesh, M.Ramachandra, K.V.Mahendra and T.Sreenith, Effect of Hardness, Tensile and
Wear Behaviour of Al-4.5wt%Cu Alloy/Fly ash/SiC Metal Matrix Composites.
[2] D. Siva Prasad and Dr. A. Rama Krishna, Production and Mechanical Properties of A356.2
/RHA Composites.
[3] A. R. K. Swamy, A. Ramesha, G.B. Veeresh Kumar and J. N. Prakash, Effect of Particulate
Reinforcements on the Mechanical Properties of Al6061-WC and Al6061-Gr MMCs
[4] H.Z. Ye, X.Y. Liu, Microstructure and tensile properties of Ti6Al4V/AM60B magnesium
matrix composite.
[6] R.Maguteeswarana, Dr. R.Sivasubramanian, V.Suresh, Methodology Study and Analysis Of
Magnesium Alloy Metal Matrix Composites International Journal of Mechanical Engineering
& Technology (IJMET), Volume 3, Issue 2, 2012, pp. 217 - 224, ISSN Print: 0976 6340,
ISSN Online: 0976 6359, Published by IAEME
[7] Manjunatha L.H., P.Dinesh, Development And Study on Microstructure, Hardness And Wear
Properties of As Cast, Heat Treated and Extruded Cnt- Reinforced With 6061al Metal Matrix
Composites International Journal of Mechanical Engineering & Technology (IJMET),
Volume 3, Issue 3, 2012, pp. 583 - 598, ISSN Print: 0976 6340, ISSN Online: 0976 6359,
Published by IAEME
[8] V.Suresh , Dr. R.Sivasubramanian , R.Maguteeswaran, study and investigation of analysis of
metal matrix composite International Journal of Mechanical Engineering & Technology
(IJMET), Volume 3, Issue 2, 2012, pp. 171 - 188, ISSN Print: 0976 6340, ISSN Online: 0976
6359, Published by IAEME

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