Prediction of hardness of stir cast LM13 aluminum alloy ‐ copper coated short steel fiber reinforced composites using response surface methodology

• Published in: Materialwissenschaft und Werkstofftechnik Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 221 - 229
• Main Authors: Chelladurai, S.J.S., Arthanari, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Aluminiumlegierung; Aluminum alloy; Aluminum alloys; Aluminum base alloys; Cast copper alloys; Casting; Copper; Fiber composites; Gefüge; Hardness; Härte; microstructure; Pouring; Process parameters; Regression analysis; Reinforcement; Response surface methodology; Rührgießen; Stahlfasern; Steel fibers; stir casting; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0933-5137; 1521-4052
• DOI: 10.1002/mawe.201900068

Copper coated steel fibers reinforced LM13 aluminum alloy composites have been prepared using stir casting process. Experiments have been designed using response surface methodology (RSM) by varying wt % of reinforcement (0–10), stirrer speed (350 min−1–800 min−1) and pouring temperature (700 °C–800 °C). Microstructure and hardness of composites have been investigated. Analysis of variance, significance test and confirmation tests have been performed and regressions model has been developed to predict the hardness of composites. Response surface plots reveal that hardness of composites increases with increasing wt % of reinforcement and stirrer speed. The optimum stir cast process parameters for obtaining higher hardness are found to be the wt % of reinforcement of 8.2, pouring temperature of 748 °C and stirrer speed of 708 min−1. Copper coated steel fibers reinforced LM13 aluminum alloy composites are prepared using stir casting process. The effect of wt% of reinforcement, stirrer speed and pouring temperature on hardness of composites has been investigated. The process parameters are optimised for obtaining higher hardness.