Effect of quenching agent on dimension stability of Al 6061-Al₂O₃composite

Abstract

Al 6061-Al2O3 composite is a lightweight materials that can be used as an alternative material in automotive parts. T6 heat treatment is generally used on aluminium alloy series 6xxx . On T6 heat treatment process, material heated to temperature for obtaining a single phase of α, quenched and then continued by artificial ageing. Quenching is critical step because distortion can be occur in material. The aim of this research is to investigated effect of quenching agent and electroless coating treatment of Al2O3 in distortion at Al 6061-Al2O3 composite . The distortion was measured by dimensional change in the specimen. Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) was used to measured distortion based on coordinate change. Lower distortion are occur on 10E and 10N specimens. Electroless coating process on the reinforcement is more effective to obtain lower distortion on Al 6061-Al2O3 composite. The severity (H) of quenchant influenced distortion on specimen. Higher H value produce higher distortion on Al 6061-Al2O3 composite.