Tensile and Compression Behaviour of Boron Carbide Reinforced 6061Al MMC’s processed through Conventional Melt Stirring

Metal matrix composites have large application in various fields like aerospace and automobile applications due to higher strength to weight ratio owing to their excellent combination properties. Considering this fact, the present work is taken up with objective of evaluating tensile and compressive behavior of 6061Al-B4C composite at room temperature. The composite is prepared via melt stirring method with 9wt% of boron carbide particulates of size 8 microns at processing temperature of 750°C. Microstructural studies of prepared composites were carried out using SEM analysis. Hardness measurements of the composite were carried out using micro-Vickers hardness tester with a load of 250gm and dwell time of 30sec. Tensile and compressive behaviors were studied using universal testing machine at room temperature condition. Microstructural studies revealed fairly uniform distribution of B4C particles in 6061Al matrix. Al-B4C composite has exhibited better tensile and compressive strength in comparison with matrix alone, which increases its durability and load carrying capacity. Therefore, 6061Al-B4C system could be used as replacement of steel and other ferrous materials in structural applications.