Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical
Properties of an Aluminum Alloy
and Aluminum Alloy Composite:
A Comparative Study
Shaik Mozammil, Jimmy Karloopia, Pradeep Kumar Jha,
and T. S. Srivatsan
Abstract The primary objective of this paper is to present and discuss the appropriateness of using the stir casting process as a viable approach for the fabrication
of an in situ aluminum alloy-based metal matrix composite (MMC). The exothermic
chemical reaction that occurs between the K 2 TiF 6 and KBF 4 salts is responsible
for the formation and presence of the reinforcing titanium diboride (TiB 2 ) particles
in the melted aluminum–copper alloy. Presence of these particles exerts an influence on hardness, tensile strength, and even ductility of the engineered composite
material. With the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), both the chosen aluminum alloy and the synthesized
aluminum alloy composite material were characterized to facilitate a better understanding of the intrinsic morphological details and/or intrinsic features to include the
size, morphology, and distribution of the TiB 2 reinforcement in the aluminum alloy
metal matrix. For purposes of enhancing the mechanical properties of the chosen
Al-4.5 pct. Cu alloy and the Al-4.5 wt.pct Cu/xTiB 2 composite a T6 heat treatment
sequence was used and test results of the heat treated alloy compared with results
obtained for the as-cast counterpart.
Keywords Al-4.5%cu · Stir casting · Al-4.5%Cu-xTiB 2 · T6 heat treatment
Introduction
Aluminum is by far the most popular matrix for use as metal matrix composite
(MMC). Aluminum alloy-based matrix composites (AMCs) have in recent years
enabled and engendered for themselves widespread application in the industries
spanning aerospace, automobile, ground transportation, marine, and few other
S. Mozammil (B) · J. Karloopia · P. K. Jha
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee,
Roorkee, Uttarkhand 247667, India
e-mail: smozammil@me.iitr.ac.in
T. S. Srivatsan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_14
217
Properties of an Aluminum Alloy
and Aluminum Alloy Composite:
A Comparative Study
Shaik Mozammil, Jimmy Karloopia, Pradeep Kumar Jha,
and T. S. Srivatsan
Abstract The primary objective of this paper is to present and discuss the appropriateness of using the stir casting process as a viable approach for the fabrication
of an in situ aluminum alloy-based metal matrix composite (MMC). The exothermic
chemical reaction that occurs between the K 2 TiF 6 and KBF 4 salts is responsible
for the formation and presence of the reinforcing titanium diboride (TiB 2 ) particles
in the melted aluminum–copper alloy. Presence of these particles exerts an influence on hardness, tensile strength, and even ductility of the engineered composite
material. With the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), both the chosen aluminum alloy and the synthesized
aluminum alloy composite material were characterized to facilitate a better understanding of the intrinsic morphological details and/or intrinsic features to include the
size, morphology, and distribution of the TiB 2 reinforcement in the aluminum alloy
metal matrix. For purposes of enhancing the mechanical properties of the chosen
Al-4.5 pct. Cu alloy and the Al-4.5 wt.pct Cu/xTiB 2 composite a T6 heat treatment
sequence was used and test results of the heat treated alloy compared with results
obtained for the as-cast counterpart.
Keywords Al-4.5%cu · Stir casting · Al-4.5%Cu-xTiB 2 · T6 heat treatment
Introduction
Aluminum is by far the most popular matrix for use as metal matrix composite
(MMC). Aluminum alloy-based matrix composites (AMCs) have in recent years
enabled and engendered for themselves widespread application in the industries
spanning aerospace, automobile, ground transportation, marine, and few other
S. Mozammil (B) · J. Karloopia · P. K. Jha
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee,
Roorkee, Uttarkhand 247667, India
e-mail: smozammil@me.iitr.ac.in
T. S. Srivatsan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_14
217