Enhanced mechanical properties of 6082 aluminum alloy via SiC addition combined with squeeze casting

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2021.01.077

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to improve mechanical properties of 6082 aluminum alloy, the SiC_p/Al 6082 composites were prepared by the addition of the micron-sized SiC particles combined with the squeeze casting. The effects of the SiC_p content and squeeze casting on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the 6082 aluminum alloy were investigated by SEM, EDS, TEM, tensile testing and hardness testing analysis methods. Research results exhibited that the SiC_p content and squeeze casting had a significant impact on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the 6082 aluminum alloy. The addition of the SiC_p refined the grain size of the 6082 aluminum alloy while caused the increase of the porosity with increasing the SiC_p content, especially in the permanent mold casting condition. Compared to the permanent mold casting, the squeeze casting obviously reduced pore defects, refined grain size and made the SiC_p distribute evenly as well as bond tightly with the Al matrix. The tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, elastic modulus and hardness of the 6082 aluminum alloy obtained with the SiC_p and squeeze casting were remarkably improved, and the optimal mechanical properties were obtained with a 2 wt.% SiC_p, and they increased 10.73 %, 72.7 %, 193.9 %, 23.5 % and 25.2 %, respectively, compared to those of the 6082 aluminum alloy obtained without SiC_p and squeeze casting. The fracture surface of the SiC_p/Al 6082 composites obtained with the squeeze casting was dense and exhibited a ductile fracture mode.

Key words: 6082 aluminum alloy, SiC_p, Aluminum matrix composites, Squeeze casting, Microstructure, Mechanical properties

Wenming Jiang, Junwen Zhu, Guangyu Li, Feng Guan, Yang Yu, Zitian Fan. Enhanced mechanical properties of 6082 aluminum alloy via SiC addition combined with squeeze casting[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2021, 88: 119-131.

Figures/Tables 18

Table 1 Chemical compositions of the 6082 aluminum alloy.

Si	Ti	Fe	Mn	Zn	Mg	Cr	Cu	Ga	Ni	Al
1.37	0.04	0.24	0.58	0.02	1.09	0.03	0.04	0.02	0.01	Bal.

Fig. 1. The size, component and morphology of the SiCp: (a) particle size; (b) XRD pattern; (c) morphology.

Fig. 2. The sketch of fabrication of the SiCp/Al 6082 composites.

Fig. 3. Sketch diagram of the test samples.

Fig. 4. Shape and size of the tensile specimens.

Fig. 5. Densities and porosities of the 6082 matrix and SiCp/Al 6082 composites: (a) density; (b) porosity.

Fig. 6. Metallographs and average grain sizes of the 6082 alloys and SiCp/Al 6082 composites with different SiCp contents and casting methods: (a, c, e, g) metallographs of the PMC samples with 0, 1, 2 and 3?wt.% SiC, respectively; (b, d, f, h) metallographs of the SC samples with 0, 1, 2 and 3?wt.% SiC, respectively; (i) average grain sizes.

Fig. 7. SEM images of the SiCp/Al 6082 composites with different SiC contents prepared by the PMC and SC methods: (a, c, e) SEM images and EDS results of the PMC samples with 1, 2 and 3?wt.% SiC, respectively; (b, d, f) SEM images and EDS results of the SC samples with 1, 2 and 3?wt.% SiC, respectively.

Fig. 8. TEM images of the SiCp/Al 6082 composites with 3?wt.% SiC obtained by the PMC and SC methods: (a) PMC sample; (b) A region in Fig. 8(a); (c) SC sample; (d) B region in Fig. 8(c); (e, f) SAED patterns corresponding to region C and D in Fig. 8(d); (g) HRTEM image of E region in Fig. 8(d); (h) FFT image corresponding to F region in Fig. 8(g).

Fig. 9. The mechanical properties of different samples: (a) tensile curve; (b) tensile strength; (c) yield strength; (d) elongation; (e) elasticity modulus.

Fig. 10. Tensile fracture morphologies of the 6082 alloy matrix and SiCp/Al 6082 composites obtained with 2?wt.% SiCp and different casting methods: (a) 6082 alloy with the PMC method; (b) SiCp/Al 6082 composites with the PMC method; (c) 6082 alloy with the SC method; (d) SiCp/Al 6082 composites with the SC method.

Fig. 11. Vickers hardness of different samples.

Table 2 Mechanical properties of the SiCp/Al 6082 composites of the other researchers.

Number	Reinforcement	Preparation technique	Tensile strength (MPa)	Yield strength (MPa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness (HV)	References
1	SiC (5.86 μm)	Squeeze casting	335.3	160.3	8.17	121.1	Present work
2	SiC (20-30 nm)	Friction stir welding	167.6	106.0	6.0	80.0	[49]
3	SiC + B₄C (35 μm)	Stir casting	385.0	-	7.0	113	[50]
4	SiC (63 μm) + ZrO₂ (22 μm)	Squeeze casting	281	-	-	64.0	[45]
5	SiC (25 μm)	Stir casting	149.3	-	-	52.3	[51]
6	SiC (2-25 μm)	Hot rolling	320	-	-	-	[52]
7	SiC (3-22 μm)	Forging	375.0	343.4	14.4	132.2	[53]

Fig. 12. Schematic diagram of the effect of the SC method on the wettability between the SiCp and Al liquid.

Fig. 13. Schematic diagram of the effect of the SC method on the elimination of defects and the uniform dispersion of the SiCp.

Table 3 Related parameters of the increment of the yield strength estimated by different strengthening mechanisms.

Symbol	Values	Unit	References
S	1	-	[62]
V_r	0.0085, 0.017 and 0.026	-	Present work
σ_matrix	92.84	MPa	Present work
β	1.25	-	[60]
G	25.94	GPa	[60]
b	0.286	nm	[63]
Δα	19.5	10^-6 K^-1	Calculated value
ΔT	710	K	Present work
d_p	5.86	μm	Present work
k	74	10^-3 MPam	[62]

Table 4 The enhancive yield strength calculated by different strengthening mechanisms.

SiC content (wt.%)	Enhancive yield strength (MPa)
SiC content (wt.%)	Δσ_load	Δσ_CTE	Δσ_Orowan	Δσ_Hall-Petch
1	0.39	10.16	0.33	11.80
2	0.79	14.44	0.67	18.98
3	1.18	17.77	1.02	17.50

Fig. 14. The increment of the yield strength calculated by different strengthening.

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