Investigation of Influence of Variations of Ageing Conditions on Aluminium-Silicon: Pathway to Tailored Mechanical Properties

Abstract

This study focuses on the investigation of the influence of the variations of ageing conditions on the mechanical properties of ferrosilicon-silicon carbide reinforced Aluminium metal matrix composites. The ageing temperature, reinforcement percentage volume fractions and ageing time of the composite were systematically varied during fabrication stages by keeping the Aluminium and Ferrosilicon compositions constant while varying the percentage volume fractions of Silicon Carbide (SiC). The samples produced were machined into hardness, impact and tensile tests specimens. Then the specimens were subjected to laboratory based accelerated solution heat treatment, quenching and artificial ageing. Array of comprehensive mechanical properties examination and characterization in line with the appropriate specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard manuals were conducted to determine the influence of ageing on the material’s strength, hardness, impact toughness and stress-strain characteristics. The study revealed significant enhancement in the mechanical properties of the material and the findings would provide valuable insight into the ageing behaviour of Aluminium-Silicon, thus, enabling the optimization of the material’s performance for use in diverse engineering applications.