Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites
This study examines the use of ultrafine (~128 nm) microsilica (composed of a mixture of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon dioxide phases) particles, an industrial waste product, as a reinforcing material to create aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) via ultrasonic-assisted stir casting followed...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1329 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850200236524306432 |
|---|---|
| author | Maxat Abishkenov Ilgar Tavshanov Nikita Lutchenko Kayrosh Nogaev Daniyar Kalmyrzayev Assylbek Abdirashit Nazira Aikenbayeva |
| author_facet | Maxat Abishkenov Ilgar Tavshanov Nikita Lutchenko Kayrosh Nogaev Daniyar Kalmyrzayev Assylbek Abdirashit Nazira Aikenbayeva |
| author_sort | Maxat Abishkenov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the use of ultrafine (~128 nm) microsilica (composed of a mixture of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon dioxide phases) particles, an industrial waste product, as a reinforcing material to create aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) via ultrasonic-assisted stir casting followed by T6 heat treatment. This study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of pure aluminum, which has insufficient strength for most engineering applications. The main objective of this study is to develop environmentally and economically efficient AMCs with improved properties, namely, the balance between strength and ductility, for further application in caliber rolling processes. Attention is also paid to minor reinforcements using a low concentration of microsilica (~0.36%wt), which minimizes the problems with the wettability of the reinforcing material particles. The composites reinforced with ultrafine microsilica exhibited enhanced mechanical performance, including a 59.7% increase in Vickers microhardness and a significant improvement in tensile strength, reaching 73 MPa. Additionally, T6 heat treatment synergistically improved ductility to 60.3% elongation while maintaining high strength, achieving a balanced performance suitable for forming processes. The study results confirm that using microsilica as a reinforcing material is an effective way to improve the performance of aluminum alloys, while minimizing costs and solving environmental problems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a0b5da56b8e43ffa80169818eb8cd48 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a0b5da56b8e43ffa80169818eb8cd482025-08-20T02:12:24ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-01153132910.3390/app15031329Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix CompositesMaxat Abishkenov0Ilgar Tavshanov1Nikita Lutchenko2Kayrosh Nogaev3Daniyar Kalmyrzayev4Assylbek Abdirashit5Nazira Aikenbayeva6Department of Technological Machines and Transportation, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau 101400, KazakhstanDepartment of Technological Machines and Transportation, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau 101400, KazakhstanCore Facilities—Office the Provost, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Technological Machines and Transportation, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau 101400, KazakhstanQarmet Joint Stock Company, Temirtau 101407, KazakhstanDepartment of Metallurgy and Mining, K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University, Aktobe 030000, KazakhstanDepartment of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Karaganda Industrial University, Temirtau 101400, KazakhstanThis study examines the use of ultrafine (~128 nm) microsilica (composed of a mixture of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon dioxide phases) particles, an industrial waste product, as a reinforcing material to create aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) via ultrasonic-assisted stir casting followed by T6 heat treatment. This study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of pure aluminum, which has insufficient strength for most engineering applications. The main objective of this study is to develop environmentally and economically efficient AMCs with improved properties, namely, the balance between strength and ductility, for further application in caliber rolling processes. Attention is also paid to minor reinforcements using a low concentration of microsilica (~0.36%wt), which minimizes the problems with the wettability of the reinforcing material particles. The composites reinforced with ultrafine microsilica exhibited enhanced mechanical performance, including a 59.7% increase in Vickers microhardness and a significant improvement in tensile strength, reaching 73 MPa. Additionally, T6 heat treatment synergistically improved ductility to 60.3% elongation while maintaining high strength, achieving a balanced performance suitable for forming processes. The study results confirm that using microsilica as a reinforcing material is an effective way to improve the performance of aluminum alloys, while minimizing costs and solving environmental problems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1329aluminum matrix composites (AMCs)pure aluminummicrosilicaT6 heat treatmentmechanical propertiesultrasonic-assisted stir casting |
| spellingShingle | Maxat Abishkenov Ilgar Tavshanov Nikita Lutchenko Kayrosh Nogaev Daniyar Kalmyrzayev Assylbek Abdirashit Nazira Aikenbayeva Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites Applied Sciences aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) pure aluminum microsilica T6 heat treatment mechanical properties ultrasonic-assisted stir casting |
| title | Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites |
| title_full | Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites |
| title_short | Effect of Minor Reinforcement with Ultrafine Industrial Microsilica Particles and T6 Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites |
| title_sort | effect of minor reinforcement with ultrafine industrial microsilica particles and t6 heat treatment on mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites |
| topic | aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) pure aluminum microsilica T6 heat treatment mechanical properties ultrasonic-assisted stir casting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1329 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maxatabishkenov effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites AT ilgartavshanov effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites AT nikitalutchenko effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites AT kayroshnogaev effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites AT daniyarkalmyrzayev effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites AT assylbekabdirashit effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites AT naziraaikenbayeva effectofminorreinforcementwithultrafineindustrialmicrosilicaparticlesandt6heattreatmentonmechanicalpropertiesofaluminummatrixcomposites |