Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Al 7075 reinforced with WC Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Metal matrix composites are mostly used in components of various parts of industrial equipment because of their excellent properties like high strength to weight ratio and high impact value and fracture toughness while compared to the conventional material. Due to the concepts of high strength to low weight ratio, the aluminum primarily based composites are gradually being applied as a part of the transport, aerospace, marine, automobile industries. The usually applied reinforcing materials for those composites are silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, aluminum oxide and graphite as particles. The Evaluation of mechanical properties of Al7075 reinforced with WC Metal Matrix Composites was explored. Al 7075 was extensively applied in aircraft engine and wings. Because of their higher hardness, higher strength, excellent wear resistance, and high-temperature corrosion protection, it is in need of further enhancement of properties for increasing its applicability. Tungsten carbide is attractive as reinforcement because it has high hardness, high modulus of elasticity and excellent thermal stability. In the present work, the metal matrix composite are prepared by using stir casting technique. The development of Al7075 alloy based metal matrix reinforced with varying steps of tungsten carbide by 1.5wt%, 3wt%, 4.5 wt%, 6 wt% and also experimental study was carried out to investigate the mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, impact strength. As a result hardness, tensile strength increases with the increase in the wt% of WC, and impact strength decreases with the increase in WC particulates.