Experimental investigation and material characterization of friction welded aa7075 sicp metal matrix composite

Abstract

Aluminium alloy AA 7075 plays a vital role in the contemporary newlineworld due to its appreciable strength to weight ratio. Among the commercially newlineutilized aluminium alloys, AA 7075 (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) is noted for good newlinemechanical properties and natural ageing characteristics which made it newlineattractive for areas that include aerospace, naval and automobile. On newlinecomparing with the conventional materials, aluminium metal matrix newlinecomposites display excellent mechanical and thermal properties which newlineestablished them as the area of research interest over recent years. Hence in newlinethis present work, Aluminium alloy AA 7075-T6 has been used as metal newlinematrix and SiC refractory particles as reinforcement.The SiC refractory newlineparticles of high strength and high modulus when added to the ductile metal newlinematrix, a typical material is produced which has got the toughness of the alloy newlinematrix as well as the hardness of hard refractory reinforcements. Hence, an newlinealuminium metal matrix composite material AA7075- 10% vol. SiCp-T6 newlinemetal matrix composite was developed with a good combination of strength, newlinetoughness, low density and high tensile strength and it has been used as work newlinematerial. newlineHowever, the main difficulty with this type of material is its newlineinability to get welded with the fusion welding technique as it is susceptible to newlineweld solidification cracking, porosity, lack of fusion and harmful fumes. newlineIn order to overcome the difficulties seen during the joining of aluminium newlinealloys using fusion welding process any one of the available solid-state newlinewelding process must be employed. In the case of solid-state welding process, newlinethere is no occurrence of phase transformation as a result all the problems newlineassociated with the fusion welding can be overcome. Solid state welding newlineprocess has several more advantages like narrow HAZ, low distortion and low newlineresidual stresses. newline