Influence of precipitation hardening parameters on the fatigue strength of AA 6061-SiCp composite

Aluminium matrix-based discontinuously reinforced composites are age hardenable and can be strengthened through precipitation hardening process. Tests, based on the design of experiments (DOE) technique, were conducted to systematically record the influence of precipitation hardening parameters on the fatigue strength of AA 6061-SiCp composite. A correlation model is formulated from the results of the tests. For a given solutionizing temperature of 530 °C it is observed that solutionizing time (St) as an individual parameter has the maximum influence on fatigue strength of AA 6061-SiCp composite, followed by the first order interaction effect between solutionizing time (St) and aging temperature (AT).