Effects of inorganic reinforcements on microstructural, mechanical, tribological, and machining characteristics of stir cast Al7075 composite: A review

Since Al7075 aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have desirable material qualities that meet consumer demands, such as high hardness, high stiffness, improved yield strength, strength-to-weight ratio, high thermal conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, superior wear, and corrosion resistance, their use has steadily increased over time. These are also lightweight and have better properties as compared to alloys. Due to these characteristics, researchers have recently become very interested in various possible uses in space, automotive, aircraft, submarine, and other structural applications. The present work reviews all the research on inorganic reinforcement-based stir cast Al7075 composites and focuses on their microstructural, mechanical, tribological, and machining properties. Single inorganic reinforcement, which improves material properties, is used when synthesizing stir-cast Al7075 metal matrix composites (MMCs). Generally, the reinforcements based on inorganic in their stir-cast Al7075 MMCs are highlighted with their feasible applications. The effects of different reinforcements with different sizes and weight percentages (wt%) of oxides, nitrides, carbides, borides, and other inorganic particles are analyzed. Further stir cast Al7075 composite’s properties like microstructural, mechanical, tribological, and machining process parameters, and their outcomes studied by various researchers are thoroughly discussed.