Experimental Investigation on Microstructure, Mechanical Behavior and Tribological analysis of Al2017/SiC/TiO₂ Composed by double stir casting route

This study is on synthesising aluminium-based metal matrix hybrid composites with silicon carbide (SiC) and Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) reinforcements by double stir casting technique. SiC and TiO₂ were chosen for their excellent mechanical, tribological and physical properties. As limited information exists on the mechanical properties of Al2017 composites with both SiC and TiO₂. The Al/SiC/TiO₂ hybrid nanocomposites were prepared with 5 wt.% of SiC nanoparticles, 5 wt.% of TiO₂ nanoparticles, and a mixture of both at 5,5 wt.%. Microstructure analysis confirmed a uniform distribution of SiC and TiO₂ particles within the aluminium matrix. The Al2017/SiC composite exhibited a hardness of 46.33 HRB, while the Al2017/TiO₂ composite displayed a comparable hardness of 44.33 HRB. However, the combined Al2017/SiC/TiO₂ composite showed a decreased hardness of 40.33 HRB suggesting the importance of considering the composition and combination of reinforcement materials when designing metal matrix composites. The observed decrease in hardness in the Al2017/SiC/TiO₂ composite can be attributed to various factors, including the interaction and compatibility between SiC and TiO₂ particles within the aluminium matrix. Further research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms and enhance the mechanical behaviour of the Al2017 composites.