SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Investigation on the effect of heat

treatment on characteristics of ZrC and
Bagasse ash reinforced Aluminium hybrib
composite
RA1811002010036 - Suparno Sengupta
RA1811002010043 - Rohit Joseph
Batch Number: M3

Mr. Veeranath V.
Assistant Professsor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Final Review Contents

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Summary of Literature
• Objectives
• Materials
• Methodology
• Design of Experiments
• Results and Discussions
• Scope of work
• Expenses
• Project outcome
• Conclusion
• References

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Introduction
• From recent years’ research, the use of aluminum metal
matrix composites has been increased due to their mind-
blowing characteristics and enormous applications.
• Likewise, many types of fillers and processing routes were
employed to develop the same which mainly govern the
output characteristics.
• Heat Treatment of the developed composites was utilized
to attain anticipated physical and mechanical behavior
through alteration of the crystal structure of the
constituents

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 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Introduction
•So, this research paper is intended at exploring the influence of
heat treatment and age hardening on the mechanical and physical
properties of the developed composites.
•Hybrid composites were fabricated by reinforcing zirconium
carbide and bagasse ash in an aluminum matrix as per L4 Taguchi
array by varying the processing constrictions in 2 levels.
•The developed composites were subjected to different types of heat
treatment processes such as annealing, normalizing, tempering, and
quenching to learn the upshot of the same on its behavior.
•The physiognomies like density, and hardness were analyzed,
related, and consolidated before and after the heat treatment of
specimens.

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Literature Review
Author (Title)
Johny James.S, Ganesan.M,
Santhamoorthy.P, Kuppan.P
(Development of Hybrid Aluminium
Metal Matrix Composite and
study of property)
Gebre Fenta Aynalem (Processing
Methods and Mechanical
Properties of Aluminium Matrix
Composites)
R. Srinivasana, B. Suresh Babub,
P. Prathapc, Ruban Whenishd, R.
Soundararajane and G.
Chandramohanf (Optimization of
friction stir welding process
parameters on AA 6063-SiC-B4C
hybrid metal matrix composites by
genetic algorithm)
Year & Summary/ Observation
Journal
Materials Today: ● The reinforcements used is ZrO2(5%) and Al2O3(5%) and matrix is Al
Proceedings 5 6061(90%).
(2018) 13048– ● The hardness test was performed using Vickers micro hardness tester and its
13054 maximum value is 82.9 at 200gf load. This accounts 70% increase when
evaluate with parent alloy.
● Al 6061 (Al2 O3+ZrO2 ) composite has higher tensile strength than base alloy
Al606.
Advances in ● The reinforcements used is SiC, Al2O3, and AlN, Cu and high carbon steel chips powder,
Materials Science and the matrix is Al6061.
and Engineering ● Weak mechanical properties of pure aluminium and its alloys can be improved to a
Volume 2020, significant level by adding a variety of reinforcing materials even if there is a slight
decrease in ductility of the final composite
Article ID 3765791
● AMCs have a wide range of applications almost in all manufacturing, construction,
automotive, and aerospace industries at large due to their distinct and fabulous material
properties than other engineering materials.
Journal of Ceramic ● Reinforcements are Si(0.6%), Fe(0.35%), Mn(0.1%), Cu(0.1%), Mg(0.9%), Zn(0.1%)
Processing Ti(0.1%), Cr(0.1%). Matrix is Al6063.
Research. Vol. 22, ● FSW of AMMC was used efficiently for joining of aluminium alloys. The tensile strength
No. 1, pp. 16~24 of the weldment of composites depends upon the FSW parameters and each parameter
has its effect over the tensile strength
(2021)
● The maximum tensile strength was obtained 208.7 MPa with optimum FSW parameters
such as TRS – 1050 rpm; AF – 10 kN and WS – 45 mm/min. The tensile strength of trial
welds were 205.8 MPa which validated was with the optimized results by GA and proved
that the experimental results are agreeable with 1.22% error at 98% confidence level.
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 SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Literature Review
Author (Title)
Vemula Vijaya Vani and Sanjay
Kumar Chak (The effect of process
parameters in Aluminum Metal
Matrix Composites with Powder
Metallurgy)
Sare Çelik, Türker Türkoğlu
(EFFECTS OF PROCESS
PARAMETERS ON
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF
Al-Al2O3-B4C HYBRID
COMPOSITES BY USING GREY
RELATIONAL ANALYSIS)
P. Suresh and P. Mathiyalagan
(Influence of Process Parameters
on Machining
Al-Sic-Gr Hybrid Composites)
Year & Summary/ Observation
Journal
Division of ● The metal matrix used is Aluminum and reinforcements used are Silicon Carbide (SiC)
Manufacturing and Alumina Oxide (Al2O3).
Process and ● Higher sintering temperatures result in a higher diffusion rate, leading to a denser
Automation structure.
Engineering ● Optimum percentage of reinforcement results in the finer microstructure, due to hard
(2018) ceramic particles act as a barrier to the grain boundaries and hence, delays the grain
growth.
Academic • The metal matrix used is Pure aluminum (purity 99.5%) and reinforcements are 10 wt.%
Studies in B4C and 10 wt.% Al2O3.
Engineering • Hardness analysis showed that the hardness of all composites increased compared to the
Sciences hardness of the matrix phase, regardless of the reinforcement type and size.he compression
(2020) strength values of hybrid composites increased with reinforcement. Compared to the
monolithic aluminum material, an increase in compressive strength was achieved
approximately 3 times.
• Grey relational analysis combined with Taguchi Experimental design has been successfully
conducted in the production process of hybrid composites. Optimum parameters for multi-
response characteristic; It has been obtained from dual size B4C reinforcement, ball milling,
and 500 °C hot pressed hybrid composite sample.
Journal of • The metal matrix used is Aluminum alloy LM25 and reinforcements used are Sic and graphite.
Material • The optimum parameters level of machining Al-SiC-Gr hybrid composites for minimum surface
Science and roughness within the feasible ranges are cutting speed 113 m/min, feed rate 0.2 mm/rev , depth of
Mechanical cut 0.2 mm and 10 % of combined SiC-Gr reinforcement. The combined SiC- Gr reinforcement of
Engineering 10% yields better surface finish due to decrease in ductility of the base metal.
(JMSME) • ANOVA results for material removal rate indicates that depth of cut is the major parameter which
(April – June influences the material removal rate with about 30%, followed by feed rate with 28%, cutting
2016) speed with 25% and combined SiC-Gr reinforcement with 10% of the contribution ratio.
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Literature Review
Author (Title)
M. Senthil Kumar, R. V.
Mangalaraja, R. Senthil Kumar
and L. Natrayan (Processing and
Characterization of
A2024/Al2O3/SiC Reinforces
Hybrid Composites Using Squeeze
Casting Technique)
Soorya Prakash Kumarasamy ,
Kavimani Vijayananth , Titus
Thankachan , Gopal
Pudhupalayam Muthukutti
(Investigations on mechanical and
machinability behavior of
aluminum/flyash cenosphere/Gr
hybrid composites processed
through compocasting)
S. Suresh Kumar , F. Erdemir ,
Temel Varol , S. Thirumalai
Kumaran, M. Uthayakumar, Aykut
Canakci (Investigation of WEDM
process parameters of AleSiCeB4C
composites using response surface
methodology)
Year & Summary/ Observation
Journal
Iranian ● The metal matrix used are A2024 aluminum and reinforcements are Al2O3/SiC
Journal of different particle sizes (10, 20 and 40 μm) and weight fractions (upto 10 wt %).
Materials ● Composite density increased with increasing weight percentage and decreasing
Science & particles size of Al2O3/SiC reinforcement.
Engineering ● Addition of hard Al2O3/SiC reinforcement improved the hardness of the AA2024 alloy
Vol. 16, No. 2, by 14.1 %. frictional behavior of the HMMCs depends on load, sliding speed and
(June 2019) reinforcement wt%.composite sample AA2024/5wt%Al2O3/5wt%SiC showed better de-
formation resistance and wear
Journal of • The metal matrix used is Al–Zn–Mg alloy (Al7075) and reinforcements used are
Applied particles or whiskers of SiliconCarbide (SiC), alumina (Al2O3) and graphite, rice
Research and husk ash, bamboo leaf ash, groundnut shell ash, etc
Technology • Addition of low density flyash cenosphere particulates results in 6.8% decrement in
(2017) density for the hybrid composites i.e. reduced from 2.615 g/cm3 to 2.537 g/cm3.
• The bulk hardness of the composites increased from 57 HRB to 62 HRB that is by
8.7% with respect to the addition of 10% flyash cenosphere and 2% Gr. On further
increase in weight percentage of Gr, the bulk hardness decreases. The tensile
strength of hybrid MMC is inferior due to Gr addi tion whereas the Al MMC without
Gr exhibits better tensile strength (213 N/mm2).
International • The metal matrix used is Aluminium and reinforcements used are Sic and B4C.
Journal of • The enhanced mechanical and physical properties of the composite were obtained with
Lightweight an increase in the B4C content.
Materials and • The optimum machining conditions obtained through an analysis are current of 20 A,
Manufacture pulse on time of 108.6 ms, wire feed rate of 10 mm/min and 5.65% of the B4C content in
(2020) the composites.
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 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Summary of Literature Review

1. Various types of reinforcements are been used with
Aluminium to form a hybrid composite like
ZrO2,AL2O3,SiC,AlN,B4C,Graphite,etc.
2. Various types of tests like hardness test , microstructural
analysis, wear test, tensile test, corrosion test, etc are
used.
3. Various processing techniques like stir casting, friction
stir welding, hot press, power blending, power
compaction, compocasting, etc are used.
4. Various combinations of reinforcements have been already
used /employed to fabricate aluminium hybrid composites
but a combination of ZrC + Sugarcane Bagasse ash
reinforcements have not been tried so far to our best
knowledge.
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 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Objectives/ Motivation
1. To develop and characterize (physical and
mechanical) aluminum hybrid composites by
varying the process parameters according to
Taguchi’s array of experiments.
2. To perform heat treatment on the fabricated
hybrid component.
3. To study and analyse the physical and mechanical
properties of the heat treatment samples.
4. To analyse the effect of process parameters using
Taguchi Analysis
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Materials
• Aluminium Al-6061 - Matrix
• Zirconium Carbide powder, used as reinforcement
• Bagasse Ash, used as reinforcement.

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Methodology
Literature Review

Matrix- ZrC + Baggase ash

Aluminum Stir casting

Aluminum Hybrid composite

Characterization & Heat treatment

Testing 1. Annealing
1. Microstructure 2. Quenching
2. Hardness test 3. Tempering
3. Density test 4. Normalizing

Analysis

Results + Discussion

Conclusion
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Design of Experiments
• We stir cast Aluminium along with the
reinforcements and obtain 4 casts, 2 of (816g Al,
17g ZrC2, 17g Bagasse ash) and 2 of (799g Al,
25.5g ZrC2, 25.5g Bagasse ash).
• We find out the properties of each cast prior to
heat treatment.
• After heat treatment, we again find out the
properties, compare them with the previously
obtained values, and do optimization.

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Design of Experiments
Process Parameters Varied
Process Parameter Level 1 Level 2

Reinforcement % 4 6

Stirring Time (min) 10 20

Stirring Speed (rpm) 500 750

Exp. No. A B C
1 1 1 1
2 1 2 2
3 2 1 2
4 2 2 1

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Design of Experiments
L4 Taguchi Array

Exp. No. Reinforcement Stiring Time Stiring Speed

(Wt. %.) (min) (rpm)
1 4 10 500

2 4 20 750

3 6 10 750

4 6 20 500

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Design of Experiments
Melting Tempratuere-800 Degree Celsius
Reinforcements Pre-Heat Temperature-350 Degree
Celsius

Exp. No. Mg SiC Graphite Stiring Stiring

(g) (g) (g) Time Speed
(min) (rpm)
1 816 17 17 10 500

2 816 17 17 20 750

3 799 25.5 25.5 10 750

4 799 25.5 25.5 20 500

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 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Design of Experiments
Fabricated Samples

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Results and Discussions

Hardness – Before Heat Treatment
• Hardness is measured using Vicker’s Hardness
Testing Machine at a load of 5kgf, dwell time of
5s and Diamond Indenter (120o)

Exp. No. Reinforcem Stiring Time Stiring Hardness

ent (Wt. %.) (min) Speed (Hv)
(rpm)
1 2 10 500 88.9

2 2 20 750 77.5

3 3 10 750 48.3

4 3 20 500 96.5

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Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

Density – Before Heat Treatment
• Density of the samples is measured theatrically
and tabulated as below:

Exp. No. Reinforcem Stirring Stirring Density

ent (Wt. %.) Time Speed (g/cc)
(min) (rpm)
1 2 10 500 2.7186
2 2 20 750 2.7703
3 3 10 750 2.7144
4 3 20 500 2.701

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Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

OUTPUT – HARDNESS – AFTER-HEAT
TREATMENT
HARDNESS (Hv)
Reinfor Stirring Stirring
Exp.
cement Time Speed ANNEA NORM TEMPE QUENC
No.
(Wt %) (min) (rpm) LED ALIZED RED HED

1 2 10 500 52.1 32.5 38.5 47.9

2 2 20 750 45.6 31.6 39.7 42.3
3 3 10 750 33.9 30.9 40.2 52.3
4 3 20 500 32.5 35.0 43.3 49.2

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Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Results and Discussions

OUTPUT – DENSITY – AFTER-HEAT
TREATMENT

DENSITY (g/cc)
Reinfor Stirring Stirring
Exp.
cement Time Speed ANNEA NORM TEMPE QUENC
No.
(Wt %) (min) (rpm) LED ALIZED RED HED

1 2 10 500 2.611 2.787 2.862 2.864

2 2 20 750 2.766 2.713 2.702 2.785
3 3 10 750 3.138 2.779 2.786 2.806
4 3 20 500 2.952 2.881 2.748 2.865

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Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 1 Sample 3

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 2 Sample 4

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Results and Discussions

Annealed Normalized
Sample 1 Sample 1

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 2 Sample 2

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 3 Sample 3

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 4 Sample 4

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

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Results and Discussions

Quenched Tempered
Sample 1 Sample 1

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 2 Sample 2

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 3 Sample 3

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

Sample 4 Sample 4

100x 200x 500x 100x 200x 500x

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Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

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Scope of Work
• The Aluminium composite can be used in
automobile industry for manufacturing car bodies.
• The car bodies manufactured will be light weight
because of which the mileage of the car increases.
• The composite is reinforced by a natural source -
Sugarcane Bagasse Ash.

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Expenses
• Zirconium Carbide: Rs 4,000
• Bagasse Ash: Rs 2,000
• Aluminum 6061: Rs 6,000
• Stir Casting: Rs 8,000
• Total expenses: Rs 20,000

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Project Outcome
This project was presented in the “4th International
Conference in Advances in Mechanical Engineering
(ICAME 2022) on March 24th, 2022 and March 26th,
2022.

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Conclusion
• This paper is mainly focused on the fabrication
and characterization of aluminum matrix hybrid
composites by reinforcing Zirconium carbide and
bagasse ash in aluminum matrix
• The same samples are subjected to heat treatment
processes like annealing, normalizing, quenching
and tempering.
• The physical and mechanical behavior of the
samples pre and post treatment were analysed and
compared.

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 SRM Institute of Science and Technology

References
1. Vani, Vemula Vijaya, and Sanjay Kumar Chak.
"The effect of process parameters in aluminum
metal matrix composites with powder metallurgy."
Manufacturing Review 5 (2018): 7.
2. Şenel, Mahmut Can, and Mevlüt Gürbüz.
"Investigation on mechanical properties and
microstructure of B4C/graphene binary particles
reinforced aluminum hybrid composites." Metals
and Materials International 27.7 (2021): 2438-
2449.

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Department of Mechanical Engineering