Investigation of Tensile and Surface indentation of Carbon fiber reinforced Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Composite materials are increasingly replacing traditional engineering material because of
their advantages over monolithic materials. The metal matrix composites are a new class of advanced
materials used in applications where conventional materials and alloys are not suitable for use.
Aluminium-Zinc-Silicon alloys are in use of tribological application like piston, liners, master
cylinder, slave cylinders in clutches and brakes of internal combustion engines. Hence requirements
of enhancements in weight reduction, wear resistance and service loads of materials in all these
applications have forced researchers to develop and synthesise aluminium based composites.
Addition of silicon carbide, alumina, titanium carbide and fly-ash to aluminium increase the strength,
hardness and wear resistance. However with the addition of hard dispersoids to these composites,
different problems are encountered during machining. The process involves the strengthening of
carbon fiber by coating the fiber with nickel using electrolysis coating technique. In the present
study, Al7075 alloy is reinforced with nickel coated short carbon fibers of 2, 4, 6 & 8 wt%. These
composites were prepared by stir casting method. All the mechanical tests have been conducted
according to the ASTM standards. It has been observed that addition of carbon fibers improve the
elastic and hardness properties.