Experimental Investigation And Optimization Of Process Parameters In Electrical Discharge Machining Of AZ31B Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been investigated after 1980s with the newlinepractical advancement in nuclear and automobile area due to the largest technological newlinedevelopment, materials with their higher specific strength, toughness, wear and newlinecorrosion resistance, exceptional operation in high temperature regions and good newlinemachinability. For many years, magnesium alloys especially Mg-Si, Al-Mg and MgCu have been frequently used in industries for variety of applications due to their newlineadmirable properties. AZ31B are being used in automobile industry for different newlineapplications. The major requirement for this material to be used in the automotive newlinesector due to its mechanical properties. In order to improve the properties of alloy, the newlineresearch work has shifted to composite materials. Hence there is a need for the newlineproduction of new material. In this research work AZ31B based composites are newlineprepared and their mechanical and machinability characteristics are studied. newlineParticulate reinforced MMCs have overcome the disadvantages such as newlineasymmetry of microstructure, contact with the matrix material and thus, they become newlinethe most desirable material in industrial production and applications. In this present newlinework, AZ31B-alloy is selected as a matrix material and Silicon carbide (SiC) and newlineGraphite (Gn) are selected as reinforcement particulates. MMCs are prepared by newlineblending of 2 wt. %, 3wt % and 5 wt. % of SiC particles with AZ31B and hybrid newlinemetal matrix composites (HMMCs) are prepared by adding 3 wt. % of SiC particles and newline3 wt. % of Gn particles and 5 wt. % of SiC particles and 3 wt. % of Gn particles with newlineAZ31B. The fabrication of composite materials have been fabricated through stir newlinecasting method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination along with EDAX newlineand mapping has been done on the composite materials to authenticate the consistent newlinedispersal of reinforcements along with the matrix. newlineThe MMCs materials are extremely challengeable to machine in the newlineconventional machining process due to the presence of reinforcement parti