Impact, Tensile and Fatigue Failure Analysis of Boron Carbide Particles Reinforced Al-Mg-Si (Al6061) Alloy Composites

The current work intended to synthesize Al-Mg-Si (Al6061)-B 4 C particulate metal matrix composites by varying weight percentage of B 4 C particulates (0, 3 and 6 wt.%) with an average particle size of 80 to 90 microns by vortex process (melt technique). The incorporated B 4 C particles distribution in the Al6061 alloy matrix was studied by SEM micrographs and confirmed the thorough distribution of carbide particles in the matrix. EDS spectrums and XRD patterns were obtained for Al6061 and its composites to identify various elements and phases present in the Al6061-B 4 C composites. Al6061 alloy with 3 and 6 wt.% of B 4 C composites was subjected to hardness, tensile, impact and fatigue behavior evaluation. By adding boron carbide particles hardness, tensile and impact strength of Al6061 alloy was improved with slight decrease in fatigue strength. Further, various fracture morphologies were studied on tensile, impact and fatigue fractured surfaces using SEM micrographs.