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Influence of Si3N4 on micro structural, mechanical and physical features of Al-7175 based vacuum assisted bottom stir cast composites

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Abstract

Through this research paper, the influence of silicon nitride (Si3N4) particles incorporated with Al 7175 have been studied and reported for mechanical and physical behaviors. Various composites were fabricated by varying weight percentage (0 to 9%) of Si3N4 particles (as reinforcements) via vacuum sealed bottom pouring stir casting technique. Apart from the mechanical and physical behavioral evaluations, microstructural and micro-hardness was critically analyzed for different cast samples varying the weight percentages of silicon nitride particles. During micro-hardness evaluation of the cast samples, influence of variation in indentation load and dwell time was examined. The microstructural analysis illustrated the grain refinements with an addition of silicon nitride (Si3N4). The results exhibited significant improvements in micro-hardness, tensile strength and compressive strength by 14%, 22.76% and 25.67% respectively up to 7 weight percent with silicon nitride particles as the reinforcing phase. The micro-hardness values were observed to show a declining trend with an escalation in indentation load and dwell time.

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The data and material used to support the findings of this research work are included in the article.

Abbreviations

Al:

Aluminum

AA:

Aluminum alloy

AMMC:

Aluminum based metal matrix composite

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials

XRD:

X-Ray diffraction

VHN:

Vickers hardness number

EDS:

Energy dispersive spectroscopy

°C:

Degree celsius

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

wt.%:

Weight percentage

g/cc:

Gram per cubic centimeter

gms.:

Grams

RPM:

Revolution per minute

Si3N4 :

Silicon nitride

H2O:

Water

HNO3 :

Nitric acid

HCl:

Hydrochloric acid

HF:

Hydrofluoric acid

CR:

Crumb rubber

Mg:

Magnesium

MPa:

Mega-Pascal

SF6 :

Sulphur hexafluoride

UTM:

Universal Testing Machine

%ge:

Percentage

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This research work received no specific grant (or fund) from any funding agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be university), Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Paramjit Singh, R S Walia & Chandra Shekhar Jawalkar

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  1. Paramjit Singh
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  2. R S Walia
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  3. Chandra Shekhar Jawalkar
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Correspondence to Paramjit Singh.

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Singh, P., Walia, R.S. & Jawalkar, C.S. Influence of Si3N4 on micro structural, mechanical and physical features of Al-7175 based vacuum assisted bottom stir cast composites. Sādhanā 48, 180 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-023-02244-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-023-02244-7

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