Influence of Vanadium and Niobium Carbide Particles on the Mechanical, Microstructural, and Physical Properties of AA6061 Aluminum-Based Mono- and Hybrid Composite Using FSP

Abstract

The ceramic particle reinforcement process is one of the most utilized techniques to enhance the metal surface. The current investigation uses vanadium and niobium carbides to reinforce the AA6061 alloy using the friction stir process (FSP). The mechanical properties are evaluated using ultrasound and conventional compressive tests; furthermore, the microstructure and physical properties are carried out to show the effect of single and hybrid additives of ceramic particles on the surface composites of aluminum alloy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is utilized to examine the presence and distribution of the reinforcement VC and NbC particles inside the composite matrix. The microstructure examination revealed a good dispersion and homogenized distribution of the reinforcement particles. The results indicated that reinforcement particles significantly enhanced the mechanical and physical properties. The VC and NbC particles play an important role in improving the surface hardening behavior and grain refinement by restricting grain growth during the dynamic recrystallization process in the FSP action. The hybrid composited AA6061/NbC + VC recorded an increase in the compressive stress, yield stress, and hardness of 25%, 20%, and 50%, respectively, relative to the base metal, in addition to a 55% decrease in the coefficient of the thermal expansion (CTE) was reported. Moreover, the hybrid composite AA6061/NbC + VC significantly affected the corrosion rate with a reduction of 45%.

Friction Stir Processing of AA6061 Aluminum Alloy Reinforced with Ceramic Particles for Enhanced Mechanical Properties

“…Ceramic particles provide a synergistic method for improving the tribological and mechanical properties of AA6061 due to its excellent hardness, high melting temperatures, and improved wear resistance [12]. Tungsten Carbide (WC), Tantalum Carbide (TaC), Niobium Carbide (NbC), Vanadium (VC), Silicon Carbide (SiC), Aluminum Oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), Boron Carbide (B 4 C), Titanium Carbide (TiC), and Zirconium Carbide (ZrC) are notable options due to their strong compatibility with AA6061 [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. These particles are used in metal matrices as either mono-composite or hybridcomposite materials.…”

A Comprehensive Investigation of BN and VC Reinforcements on the Properties of FSP AA6061 Composites

“…The utilization of ceramic reinforcements in AA6061 by Friction Stir Processing (FSP) has substantially improved its characteristics. In a study conducted by [8], it was shown that the incorporation of vanadium and niobium carbides resulted in enhanced mechanical and physical characteristics. These improvements encompassed heightened compressive and yield stress, higher hardness, and a lowered coefficient of thermal expansion.…”

“…The investigation of the influence of vanadium carbide VC on the mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics of aluminum composite matrices represents a significant focal point within the realm of materials science research [27,28]. The properties of the aluminum matrix can be greatly modified, and its overall performance can be improved by the incorporation of vanadium carbide particles [8]. The influence of VC particles on the microstructural characteristics of aluminum alloy composites is contingent upon various elements, encompassing the size of the particles, their presence within the composite, and the employed processing technique.…”