Sains Malaysiana 53(3)(2024): 705-717

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5303-17

 

Effect of Short Heat Treatments on the Microstructural Evolution and Hardness of Thixoformed Graphene Reinforced Aluminium Composites

(Kesan Rawatan Haba Singkat terhadap Evolusi Mikrostruktur dan Kekerasan Komposit Aluminium Diperkuat Grafen Pembentukan Tikso)

 

NUR FARAH BAZILAH WAKHI ANUAR1,2, MOHD ZAIDI OMAR1, MOHD SHUKOR SALLEH2,*, WAN FATHUL HAKIM W. ZAMRI1 & AFIFAH MD ALI1

 

1Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

2Fakulti Teknologi dan Kejuruteraan Industri dan Pembuatan, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 26 September 2023/Diterima: 15 Februari 2024

 

Abstract

Aluminium metal matrix composites are increasingly being used in numerous industries due to their lightweight nature and high strength. The incorporation of graphene into aluminium metal matrix composites has garnered significant interest owing to graphene's capacity to enhance numerous properties concurrently. Hence, this study aimed to fabricate a 0.3 wt.% graphene nanoplatelets reinforced A356 alloy (GNP-A356) composite through stir casting followed by thixoforming and short T6 heat treatment processes. It also evaluated the microstructure and mechanical properties of GNP-A356 after the thixoforming process and short T6 heat treatment. The microstructure of alloy and composite was confirmed by optical microstructure, field emission scanning electron microscopy images, and X-ray diffraction. Microstructure investigations demonstrate the impact of the stirring process on the structural transformation of the 𝛼-Al phase from the dendritic into a rosette-like and globular-like structure. The result also indicated that there was a transformation of eutectic silicon from the shape of a needle-like to spheroid structure after a short heat treatment, showing the efficiency of T6 heat treatment with a shorter time of solution treatment and ageing. Moreover, the increase in relative density and addition of reinforcement led to a significant increment in hardness. The result shows the hardness improved by 35.77% and 77.8% for as-cast and heat-treated composites, respectively, compared to A356 alloy.

 

Keywords: Aluminum alloy; aluminium matrix composite; graphene; short T6 heat treatment; Thixoforming

 

Abstrak

Penggunaan komposit matriks logam aluminium semakin meningkat dalam pelbagai industri kerana sifatnya yang ringan dan kekuatan yang tinggi. Penggabungan grafen ke dalam komposit matriks logam aluminium telah mendapat kepentingan yang ketara kerana keupayaan grafen dalam meningkatkan keupayaan pelbagai sifat secara serentak. Komposit matriks logam aluminium semakin meningkat dalam pelbagai industri kerana cirinya yang ringan dan kekuatan tinggi. Penggabungan grafen ke dalam komposit matriks logam aluminium telah menarik minat kerana keupayaan grafen meningkatkan pelbagai ciri secara serentak. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan menghasilkan komposit aloi A356 diperkuat 0.3 bt.% grafen nanoplatelet (GNP-A356) melalui adukan tuangan diikuti dengan proses pembentukan-tikso dan rawatan haba T6 singkat. Kajian ini juga menilai mikrostruktur dan sifat mekanik GNP-A356 selepas pembentukan-tikso dan rawatan haba T6 singkat. Mikrostruktur dikaji menggunakan mikrostruktur optik, imej mikroskop elektron pengimbasan pelepasan medan, dan pembelauan sinar-X. Penyelidikan mikrostruktur menunjukkan kesan proses adukan ke atas transformasi struktur fasa 𝛼-Al daripada dendritik kepada struktur seakan roset dan sfera. Hasil kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa terdapat transformasi eutektik silikon daripada bentuk seakan jarum kepada struktur sferoid selepas rawatan haba singkat yang menunjukkan kecekapan rawatan haba T6 dengan masa larutan rawatan dan masa penuaan yang singkat. Selain itu, peningkatan dalam ketumpatan relatif dan penambahan tetulang membawa kepada peningkatan yang ketara dalam kekerasan Keputusan menunjukkan terdapat peningkatan kekerasan sebanyak 35.77% dan 77.8% untuk komposit tuangan dan komposit dirawat haba, masing-masing, berbanding aloi A356.

 

Kata kunci: Aloi aluminum; grafen; komposit matriks aluminium; pembentukan tikso; rawatan haba T6 singkat

 

RUJUKAN

Abbasipour, B., Niroumand, B., Monir Vaghefi, S.M. & Abedi, M. 2019. Tribological behavior of A356−CNT nanocomposites fabricated by various casting techniques. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 29(10): 1993-2004.

Abboud, J. & Mazumder, J. 2020. Developing of nano sized fibrous eutectic silicon in hypereutectic Al–Si alloy by laser remelting. Scientific Reports 10(1): 12090.

Abdelgnei, M.A.H., Zaidi Omar, M., Ghazali, J., Gebril, M.A. & Mohammed, M.N. 2019. The effect of the rheocast process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-5.7Si-2Cu-0.3Mg alloy. Jurnal Kejuruteraan 31(2): 317-326.

Afifi, M.A., Wang, Y.C., Pereira, P.H.R., Huang, Y., Wang, Y., Cheng, X., Li, S. & Langdon, T.G. 2018. Mechanical properties of an Al-Zn-Mg alloy processed by ECAP and heat treatments. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 769: 631-639.

Akçamlı, N., Şenyurt, B., Gökçe, H. & Ağaoğulları, D. 2022. Powder metallurgical fabrication of graphene reinforced near-eutectic Al-Si matrix composites: Microstructural, mechanical and electrochemical characterization. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 31: 101052.

Arendarchuck, B.E., Fals, H.D.C. & Lourençato, L.A. 2023. Effect of thixoforming process and microstructural changes in the A380 matrix composite reinforced with NbC by the stir casting method. JOM 75(1): 184-194.

Arif, M.A.M., Omar, M.Z., Sajuri, Z. & Salleh, M.S. 2020. Effects of Cu and Mg on thixoformability and mechanical properties of aluminium alloy 2014. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 30(2): 275-287.

Arriaga-Benitez, R.I. & Pekguleryuz, M. 2023. The synergistic effects of nano-sized α-Al(Mn,Cr,Fe)Si and Al–Si–Zr dispersoids on the creep behavior Al–Si–Mg–Cu (Mn, Cr, Zr) diesel engine alloy. Materials Science and Engineering: A 872: 144949.

Azizi, Z., Rahmani, K. & Taheri-Behrooz, F. 2022. The influence of graphene nanoplatelets addition on the electrical and mechanical properties of pure aluminum used in high-capacity conductors. Metals 12(11): 1883.

Becker, H., Bulut, N., Kortus, J. & Leineweber, A. 2022. β-Al4.5FeSi: Hierarchical crystal and defect structure: Reconciling experimental and theoretical evidence including the influence of Al vs. Si ordering on the crystal structure. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 911: 165015.

Boppana, S.B., Dayanand, S., Anil Kumar, M., Kumar, V. & Aravinda, T. 2020. Synthesis and characterization of nano graphene and ZrO2 reinforced Al 6061 metal matrix composites. Journal of Materials Research and Technology 9(4): 7354-7362.

Borand, G. & Uzunsoy, D. 2022. Fabrication of functionally graded few-layered graphene reinforced Al-4.5Cu alloy by powder metallurgy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 923: 166348.

Cai, Q., Mendis, C.L., Chang, I.T.H. & Fan, Z. 2020. Effect of short T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of newly developed die-cast Al–Si–Mg–Mn alloys. Materials Science and Engineering: A 788: 139610.

Chen, L., Zhao, Y., Jing, J. & Hou, H. 2023. Microstructural evolution in graphene nanoplatelets reinforced magnesium matrix composites fabricated through thixomolding process. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 940: 168824.

Chen, Y., Wang, L., Feng, Z. & Zhang, W. 2021. Effects of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of SLMed Sc-modified AlSi10Mg alloy. Progress in Natural Science: Materials International 31(5): 714-721.

Dwivedi, S.P., Sharma, S. & Mishra, K.R. 2014. A356 Aluminum alloy and applications - A Review. International Journal of Advanced Materials Manufacturing & Characterization 4(2): 81-86.

Gecu, R., Acar, S., Kisasoz, A., Altug Guler, K. & Karaaslan, A. 2018. Influence of T6 heat treatment on A356 and A380 aluminium alloys manufactured by thixoforging combined with low superheat casting. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 28(3): 385-392.

Ghazanlou, S.I., Ghazanlou, S.I., Ghazanlou, S.I., Hosseinpour, S., Liao, Y. & Javidani, M. 2023. Improving the properties of an Al matrix composite fabricated by laser powder bed fusion using graphene–TiO2 nanohybrid. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 938: 168596.

Grilo, J., Carneiro, V.H., Teixeira, J.C. & Puga, H. 2021. Manufacturing methodology on casting-based aluminium matrix composites: Systematic review. Metals 11(3): 436.

Güler, Ö. & Bağcı, N. 2020. A short review on mechanical properties of graphene reinforced metal matrix composites. Journal of Materials Research and Technology 9(3): 6808-6833.

Han, T., Wang, F., Li, J., He, C. & Zhao, N. 2021. Effect of GNPs on microstructures and mechanical properties of GNPs/Al-Cu composites with different heat treatment status. Journal of Materials Science and Technology 92: 1-10.

Han, Y., Ke, Y., Shi, Y., Liu, Y., Yang, G., Li, Z., Xiong, D.B., Zou, J. & Guo, Q. 2020. Improved mechanical property of nanolaminated graphene (reduced graphene oxide)/Al–Mg–Si composite rendered by facilitated ageing process. Materials Science and Engineering A 787: 139541.

Hanizam, H., Salleh, M.S., Omar, M.Z. & Sulong, A.B. 2019. Effects of mechanical stirring and short heat treatment on thixoformed of carbon nanotube aluminium alloy composite. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 788: 83-90.

Hanizam, H., Salleh, M.S., Omar, M.Z., Sulong, A.B. & Arif, M.A.M. 2020. Effects of hybrid processing on microstructural and mechanical properties of thixoformed aluminum matrix composite. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 836: 155378.

Jiang, J., Yan, J., Liu, Y., Hu, G., Wang, Y., Ding, C. & Zou, D. 2022. Investigation on heat treatment of large-sized and complex AlSi9Mg aluminum alloy components formed by squeeze casting. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 924: 166504.

Kabir, H., Munir, K., Wen, C. & Li, Y. 2023. Microstructures, mechanical and corrosion properties of graphene nanoplatelet–reinforced zinc matrix composites for implant applications. Acta Biomaterialia 157: 701-719.

Khan, M., Ud Din, R., Wadood, A., Syed, W.H., Akhtar, S. & Aune, R.E. 2019. Effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the physical and mechanical properties of Al6061 in fabricated and T6 thermal conditions. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 790: 1076-1091.

Khanna, V., Kumar, V., Bansal, S.A., Prakash, C., Ubaidullah, M., Shaikh, S.F., Pramanik, A., Basak, A. & Shankar, S. 2023. Fabrication of efficient aluminium/graphene nanosheets (Al-GNP) composite by powder metallurgy for strength applications. Journal of Materials Research and Technology 22: 3402-3412.

Kim, W., Jang, K., Ji, C. & Lee, E. 2021. Effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and hardness of A356 (AlSi7Mg0.3) manufactured by vertical centrifugal casting. Applied Sciences 11(23): 11572.

Leng, J., Ren, B., Jin, Y., Zhu, Y. & Wang, K. 2021. Effects of graphene addition on the refinement of silicon phase in graphene/A356.2 composites. Materials Letters 292: 129610.

Li, J., Zhang, X. & Geng, L. 2019. Effect of heat treatment on interfacial bonding and strengthening efficiency of graphene in GNP/Al composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 121: 487-498.

Lin, F., Jia, F., Ren, M., Wang, J., Yang, M., Chen, Z. & Jiang, Z. 2022. Microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties of ultrafine-grained Al2024–TiC-GNPs nanocomposite. Materials Science and Engineering: A 841: 142855.

Lin, F., Ren, M., Wu, H., Jia, F., Lu, Y., Huo, M., Yang, M., Chen, Z. & Jiang, Z. 2023. Investigation of microstructure and tribological performances of high-fraction TiC/graphene reinforced self-lubricating Al matrix composites. Tribology International 177: 108018.

Liu, T., Karkkainen, M., Nastac, L., Arvikar, V., Levin, I. & Brewer, L.N. 2020. Iron-rich intermetallics in high pressure die cast A383 aluminum alloys. Intermetallics 126: 106814.

Md Ali, A., Omar, M.Z., Salleh, M.S., Hashim, H., Mohamed, I.F. & Wakhi Anuar, N.F.B. 2022. Mechanical behaviour and morphology of thixoformed aluminium alloy reinforced by graphene. Materials 15(19): 6791.

Moustafa, E.B., Melaibari, A., Alsoruji, G., Khalil, A.M. & Mosleh, A.O. 2022. Tribological and mechanical characteristics of AA5083 alloy reinforced by hybridising heavy ceramic particles Ta2C & VC with light GNP and Al2O3 nanoparticles. Ceramics International 48(4): 4710-4721.

Manjunath Naik, H.R., Manjunath, L.H., Vinayak, M., Manjunath Patel, G.C., Saxena, K.K. & Anivash, L. 2022. Effect of microstructure, mechanical and wear on Al-CNTs/graphene hybrid MMC’S. Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies 8(Sup 2): 366-379.

Novák, P., Benediktová, D., Mestek, S., Tsepeleva, A. & Kopeček, J. 2023. Aluminum alloys with natural ratio of alloying elements manufactured by powder metallurgy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 931: 167440.

Prashantha Kumar, H.G. & Anthony Xavior, M. 2017. Effect of graphene addition and tribological performance of Al 6061/graphene flake composite. Tribology - Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces 11(2): 88-97.

Putra, A.G., Manaf, A. & Prajitno, D.H. 2022. The effect of Ca and thixoforming process on hardness and microstructure of Mg–Al–Zn alloys. Journal of Materials Research and Technology 19: 643-652.

Sadhu, K.K., Mandal, N. & Sahoo, R.R. 2023. SiC/graphene reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites prepared by powder metallurgy: A review. Journal of Manufacturing Processes 91: 10-43.

Samat, S., Omar, M.Z., Baghdadi, A.H., Mohamed, I.F. & Aziz, A.M. 2021. Mechanical properties and microstructures of a modified Al–Si–Cu alloy prepared by thixoforming process for automotive connecting rods. Journal of Materials Research and Technology 10: 1086-1102.

Şenel, M.C. & Gürbüz, M. 2020. Microstructure and wear behaviour of graphene–Si3N4 binary particle-reinforced aluminium hybrid composites. Bulletin of Materials Science 43(1): 148.

Singh, H., Kumar, S., Kumar, D., Srivastav, M., Kumar, R., Jain, J., Chouhan, A. & Khatri, O.P. 2021. Reinforcing the near eutectic aluminum–silicon alloy with graphene: An approach toward self‐lubricating composite. Advanced Engineering Materials 23(3): 2000910.

Song, D., Wang, S., Zhao, Y., Liu, S., Du, Y., Kang, Y., Wang, Z. & Zhang, W. 2020. Effect of melt holding on morphological evolution and sedimentation behavior of iron-rich intermetallic phases in Al—Si—Fe—Mn—Mg alloy. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 30(1): 1-13.

Spierings, A.B., Ozherelkov, D.Y., Kneubühler, F., Eremin, S.A., Pelevin, I.A., Nalivaiko, A.Y., Petrov, E.A., Gromov, A.A. & Wegener, K. 2023. Laser powder bed fusion of AlSi10Mg-based composites with graphene and nanodiamond additions. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 947: 169421.

Talangkun, S., Potisawang, C. & Saenpong, P. 2020. Thixoforming and rheo-die-casting of A356/SiC composite. Metals 10(2): 251.

Vanzetti, M., Virgillito, E., Aversa, A., Manfredi, D., Bondioli, F., Lombardi, M. & Fino, P. 2021. Short heat treatments for the F357 aluminum alloy processed by laser powder bed fusion. Materials 14(20): 6157.

Venkatesan, S. & Anthony Xavior, M. 2018. Tensile behavior of aluminum alloy (AA7050) metal matrix composite reinforced with graphene fabricated by stir and squeeze cast processes. Science and Technology of Materials 30(2): 74-85.

Wang, J., Guo, L., Lin, W., Chen, J., Liu, C., Chen, S., Zhang, S. & Zhen, T. 2019. Effect of the graphene content on the microstructures and properties of graphene/aluminum composites. New Carbon Materials 34(3): 275-285.

Wang, L., Chen, T. & Pu, P. 2022. Synthesis of graphene oxide reinforced ZK60 magnesium matrix composite with high ductility via powder thixoforming. Materials Science and Engineering: A 830: 142307.

Wei, P., Chen, Z., Zhang, S., Li, B., Han, J. & Lu, B. 2023. Microstructure and mechanical properties of graphene and nano-zirconia reinforced AlSi10Mg composite fabricated by laser powder bed fusion. Materials Science and Engineering: A 864: 144574.

Yang, G., Han, Y., Liu, Y., Zheng, W., Ke, Y. & Guo, Q. 2023. Impact of graphene (reduced graphene oxide) incorporation on the aging behavior and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloy. Materials Science and Engineering: A 862: 144455.

Yehia, H.M., Nyanor, P. & Daoush, W.M. 2022. Characterization of Al-5Ni-0.5Mg/x (Al2O3-GNs) nanocomposites manufactured via hot pressing technique. Materials Characterization 191: 112139.

Yu, H., Zhang, S.Q., Xia, J.H., Su, Q., Ma, B.C., Wu, J.H., Zhou, J.X., Wang, X.T. & Hu, L.X. 2021. Microstructural evolution, mechanical and physical properties of graphene reinforced aluminum composites fabricated via powder metallurgy. Materials Science and Engineering: A 802: 140669.

Zhang, S., Wei, P., Chen, Z., Li, B., Huang, K., Zou, Y. & Lu, B. 2022. Graphene/ZrO2/aluminum alloy composite with enhanced strength and ductility fabricated by laser powder bed fusion. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 910: 164941.

 

*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: shukor@utem.edu.my

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

sebelumnya