Titanium diboride reinforced aluminum composite as a robust material for automobile applications

Abstract

Aluminum composites are largely used in automobile industries in light of their lightweight and corrosion free characteristics. In this work, Titanium diboride (TiB2) particles were reinforced in Aluminum (Al) metal matrix via in-situ salt metal reaction technique. The composite samples were prepared by reinforcing TiB2 particles of 4% and 8% (by wt.) in Al 6061 alloy matrix and subsequently the composites were characterized for their microstructure, tensile strength, hardness and wear resistance. The Aluminum 6061 alloy is found to have tensile strength 114 N/mm2, hardness 30 (Rockwell number) and wear loss of 159 µm. It was observed that the mechanical properties of TiB2 reinforced Al 6061 alloys, especially tensile strength and hardness have been improved to 172 N/mm2 and 54, respectively, up on addition of 8% TiB2. Moreover, the samples having highest weight percentage of reinforcement show remarkable wear resistance by pin-on-disc method. Thus TiB2-Aluminum composites are in foster competition with high performance materials used as disc brake in automobiles.Aluminum composites are largely used in automobile industries in light of their lightweight and corrosion free characteristics. In this work, Titanium diboride (TiB2) particles were reinforced in Aluminum (Al) metal matrix via in-situ salt metal reaction technique. The composite samples were prepared by reinforcing TiB2 particles of 4% and 8% (by wt.) in Al 6061 alloy matrix and subsequently the composites were characterized for their microstructure, tensile strength, hardness and wear resistance. The Aluminum 6061 alloy is found to have tensile strength 114 N/mm2, hardness 30 (Rockwell number) and wear loss of 159 µm. It was observed that the mechanical properties of TiB2 reinforced Al 6061 alloys, especially tensile strength and hardness have been improved to 172 N/mm2 and 54, respectively, up on addition of 8% TiB2. Moreover, the samples having highest weight percentage of reinforcement show remarkable wear resistance by pin-on-disc method. Thus TiB2-Aluminum composites are in foster competition with h...