Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Reduced Stress Localized Aluminium Composites for Automobile Applications

The modern-day development in the field of mobility demands the development of advanced engineering materials for various engineering applications. Composite materials play a pivotal role in the advancement of mobility by achieving overall weight reduction and thereby contributing to the sustainability of the environment. Metal matrix composites has played a crucial role over the last few decades in the automotive industry replacing the conventional metal in achieving a better strength to weight ratio. Metal matrix composites can be a combination of a metal and a ceramic combined at a macroscopic level to achieve better mechanical and tribological properties at a reduced weight to strength ratio. Aluminium being one of the largest metals widely used in automobiles, are gradually being replaced with Aluminium metal matrix composites. Aluminium – silicon carbide composite is a key interest among the researchers due to the attractive mechanical and tribological properties that enhance the performance of automobiles. The most common applications of aluminium silicon carbide composites in automobiles are pistons, cardan shaft, connecting rods etc. This study is focused on the chemical interfacial reaction between silicon carbide and aluminium matrix which occurs during the elevated temperature of casting process and thereby creating stress localization due to the formation of aluminium carbide in the matrix. The chemical reaction also results in the degradation of silicon carbide which can lead to poor performance of the composite. Hence it is very important to keep this chemical reaction to a minimum level. This research is centered on finding out an effective solution for hindering this chemical reaction by adding a material which is cheap, easily available and existing as an industrial waste material. Utilizing it for the composites can contribute to the sustainability of nature as well. Various mechanical properties are evaluated for this hybrid composites to evaluate the performances.