Modeling and experimental analysis of Al2219/n-TiC/Gr powder-based process parameters using desirability approach and genetic algorithm

Abstract

In this experimental investigation, an Al2219 alloy matrix reinforced with 6 % of titanium carbide (TiC particulates of £ 200 nm) and 2 % of graphite (Gr particulates of £ 2μm) were manufactured using a powder-metallurgy process. Mechanical properties such as microhardness and sintered density were improved by varying the production parameters such as compaction pressure (MPa), sintering temperature (°C) and sintering time (hr) at three different levels using the desirability approach integrated with a genetic algorithm (GA). The microstructures and phase compositions of the produced materials were examined with a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FSEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The probability greater than F-test values less than 0.05 indicates that the model terms are significant. The predicted desirability results revealed that the maximum density (2.867 g/ cm 3) and microhardness (140.20 HV) were achieved at optimized parameter values such as the compaction pressure A (479.45 MPa), sintering temperature B (400.30°C) and sintering time C (1.003 h). The geneticalgorithm result showed a good agreement between the experimental and GA-predicted values.