Investigating microstructural and mechanical behavior of stir-squeeze cast TiO2–SiC/Al6082 bimodal hybrid composites

Greater advantages of employing hybrid reinforced advanced aluminum matrix composites over single particle reinforced composites have been the highlights of recent times. Herein, Al6082 bimodal hybrid composites embedded with different proportions of SiC and TiO2 particles were fabricated via modified stir-squeeze cast technique. A transmission electron microscopy was used for morphological evaluation of TiO2 particles while microstructure of fabricated composites and fractured surfaces were analyzed by using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used for evaluation of elements and phase analysis was done by using X-ray diffraction technique. Microstructural analysis confirms the homogeneous dispersion of SiC particles up to 3 wt.% and beyond that, clusters of SiC were observed which deteriorates the properties of composites. Maximum enhancement in mechanical properties of Al6082 alloy was noticed for incorporation of 3 wt.% of SiC and 0.5 wt.% of TiO2. 0.5 wt.%TiO2-3 wt.% SiC reinforced Al6082 composites enhanced yield strength, Ultimate tensile strength, and compressive strength by 215.84 ± 1.43 MPa, 268.84 ± 1.75 Mpa and 321.42 MPa, respectively, over as-cast Al6082 alloy.