Title: Combined effects of composite making, ageing and extrusion on property improvements in Al-7075-based alloy

Authors: Rupa Dasgupta; Sudhanshu Chaturvedi; Amol Kumar Jha

Addresses: CSIR-AMPRI, Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Bhopal 462064, Madhya Pradesh, India ' CSIR-AMPRI, Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Bhopal 462064, Madhya Pradesh, India ' CSIR-AMPRI, Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Bhopal 462064, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: The present paper reports attempts made at enhancing the mechanical and wear resistance properties of a commonly used aluminium alloy, the 7075 alloy by different routes. They include: 1) making composites; 2) ageing of the alloy and composite; 3) extruding the alloy and composite to rods. A comparison in the properties including microstructure, hardness, mechanical and sliding wear resistant properties attained by the different routes have been attempted. It has been found that making composites drastically increases the hardness of the alloy and extruding them further increases the value marginally. Homogenisation increases the UTS for both the alloy and composite; however, extrusion does not show any positive effect especially for the composite. The presence of dispersoid particles changes the ductile behaviour of the alloy to a brittle failure for composites. This type of an analysis and study would help find the extent to which the properties in this alloy system can be improved and the additive enhancement if any vis-à-vis only ageing, extrusion or composite making.

Keywords: extrusion; aluminium alloys; composites manufacturing; microstructure; mechanical resistance; wear resistance; ageing; rods; hardness; sliding wear; dispersoid particles; ductile behaviour; brittle failure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2012.051228

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2012 Vol.7 No.6, pp.475 - 490

Published online: 28 Dec 2012 *

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