EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM ALUMINA COMPOSITES

The 6061 Aluminium (Al6061) alloy reinforced with Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particle using various size (25, 50 80 microns) with constant volume fraction of about 10 % is fabricated by stir casting method. Morphology of the composite and the particle distribution were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The microstructure examined by SEM reveals that Al2O3 particle is well spread evenly in the all the three specimens. The variation in mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength and density with respect to increase in particle size of Al2O3 was investigated. The results illustrate that the hardness and yield strength decreases with increase in particle size. The density of the composites increases with increase in particle size and the amount of porosity in the composites increases with decrease in size of particles. The mechanical properties of the composites are improved in relation to the Al6061 alloy