Development of Aluminium Matrix Nano Composite Through Polymeric Method

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2017, pp. 244–248, Article ID: IJCIET_08_09_027 Available online at http://http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJCIET?Volume=8&Issue=9 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

DEVELOPMENT OF ALUMINIUM MATRIX NANO COMPOSITE THROUGH POLYMERIC METHOD

P. Prashanth, A. S. Pradeep, S. Ramanathan, P. Karthi Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India

R.D.Rishi Kumar Department of Mechanical Engineering, Valliammai Engineering College, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

ABSTRACT Multiwalled Carbon nano tubes have emerged as promising reinforcement for metallic matrix for their exiting strength, stiffness as well as conductivity property. In this present work, Aluminium composites were produced by combining pure Aluminium powder and Multiwalled carbon nano tubes through Mechanical milling and polymeric method. Compaction was performed by using Hydraulic Press Equipment. Controlled Sintering Process can be used to strength of composites throughout the structure. Mechanical properties of aluminium composites at various proportions of reinforcements were investigated. Microstructure analysis was carried out to identify the in-situ formed particles present in the composites. Key words: Metal Matrix Composites, Multiwalled Carbon Nano Tubes, Sintering, Compaction. Cite this Article: P. Prashanth, A. S. Pradeep, S. Ramanathan, P. Karthi and R.D.Rishi Kumar, Development of Aluminium Matrix Nano Composite Through Polymeric Method, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(9), 2017, pp. 244–248. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJCIET?Volume=8&Issue=9

1. INTRODUCTION Carbon nano tubes are increasingly attracting scientific and industrial interest because of their outstanding mechanical, electrical and thermal properties1. Nowadays, MWCNT have emerged as promising reinforcement component for polymeric, metallic and ceramic matrices because of their high strength and stiffness as well as high conductivity2. The only difficulties facing in MWCNT is formation of clusters in matrix. But, Functionalization of MWCNT will reduce these defects incurred in it which also makes more stable dispersion.

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Functionalization is done by dispersion of MWCNT in Polar groups (-COOH, -OH, -C=O). The reason behind every composites is to achieve high strength in less weight material3,4,5,6,7.Preheating of matrix and reinforcement has to be done for the removal of moisture and gases from their surfaces. The Matrix is base material which bind reinforcement as it is monolithic material. Discontinuous reinforcement will improve strength of the matrix in all directions because of their isotropic property whereas Continuous reinforcement will improve strength in only one direction because of their anisotropic property8,9,10. Polymer route technique is new method for producing metal matrix composites. Pure Aluminium Powder and MWCNT are mixed with Epoxy Resin by means of Mechanical Stirring or Magnetic Stirring or Ultrasonic Stirring. Another way is produced through dispersion of Aluminium and MWCNT in Iso-Propyl Alcohol by means of same mechanical or magnetic or ultrasonic stirring. The microstructure study should be done to ensure their dispersion effect and mechanical properties has to be evaluated in order to impart their strength11.

2. MATERIALS AND METHOD Pure Aluminium with 99.9% purity with average particle size 40µm and Multi-walled Carbon Nano tubes were used in this present study. The First Stage involves Mixing up of metal matrix with reinforcement as powders with few chemicals. Mixing of Pure Aluminium with Isopropyl Alcohol in the ratio of 1:1 and 2.5:1, Binder ethyl cellulose (5% of Al) and MWCNT (0.1% of Al) by using Magnetic Stirrer and Mechanical Stirrer. The stirrer is rotated at speed of 450 rpm for 1 hr. The Second stage involves pre-heating of mixed powders with chemicals at temperature of 400oC.The Third stage involves compaction of prepared specimens at load of 4 tons for oneminute.The Final stage is controlled sintering process. Sintering is done at 600 oC at controlled atmosphere. The microstructure study is done by using Scanning Electron Microscope. Hardness of Al- CNT composite was measured by usingboth Vickers hardness tester and Rockwell hardness tester for micro and macro level testing respectively. The three fabricated samples are shown in the below figure.

a) b c ) )

Figure 1 The Fabricated Composites: a) Al, b) Al+IPA+5%Binder+0.1%CNT and c) Al+2.5%IPA+5%Binder+0.1%CNT

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3. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The Analysis of SEM has been done in order to insist the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nano tubes in aluminium matrix. The Microscopic scale was fixed upto 10µ푚 and 20 µ푚 for both composites in order to sort out differences among two samples. This fixed scale used to differentiate integrity of the microstructure. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) has been utilized for better visualization as their intensity and magnification was high compared to normal SEM apparatus The below figure shows the images of Scanning Electron Microscope of fabricated specimens.

CNT

b) b

Figure 2 SEM images of fabricated composites a) Al+2.5%IPA+5%Binder+0.1%CNT (2.5:1) and b) Al+IPA+5%Binder+0.1%CNT (1:1) Dispersion of carbon nano tubes in the aluminium matrix is one of the difficult task when it comes for Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). The Figure2 shows SEM images of the fabricated specimens. Fig.2.a) shows proper dispersion of Multiwalled Carbon nano tubes in Aluminium matrix. But, in the case of fig.2.b) the dispersion is not proper. The percentage of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) playsa major role in proper mixing of Al and CNT. Binder used in this study is ethyl cellulose which binds the Al and CNT. Curing process is performed to evaporate IPA and Binder. After curing was done, the ethyl cellulose gets evaporated because of the evaporation temperature of ethyl cellulose is 200oC. As curing was done at 400oC, the isopropyl alcohol and ethyl cellulose gets evaporated. Aluminium and MWCNT gets bonded. Compaction should be done at 4 tons for one minute. The composite has been formed by optimized sintering temperature of 600oC. Sintering should be done at controlled atmosphere in order to prevent oxidation of aluminium matrix. Sintering is done for about 2 hours at argon atmosphere.

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4. DISPERSION OF MWCNT IN AL MATRIX SEM images of the fabricated composites were investigated. In Figure 2, The CNT is well distributed in (a) compared to (b). This is meant that Isopropyl alcohol should be 2.5 wt% of Aluminium. The Composite to Resin (CTR) ratio of figure.2.a) is 2.5:1. The reason behind this percentage is for better dispersion of MWCNT in AluminiumMatrix. Figure 2.b. shows that 1:1 CTR ratio doesn’t suit for dispersion of Al in MWCNT. 5. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES The Mechanical properties were investigated for both micro-hardness and macro-hardness by using Vickers Hardness Tester and Rockwell Hardness tester respectively. The Scale of Vickers Hardness tester is set at 0.2Kgf (HVC). Whereas, The Scale for Rockwell hardness tester is B- Scale (HRB). The Following table shows mechanical properties:

Table 1 The Mechanical Properties of the fabricated samples.

Composites Hardness Property Rockwell Vickers Hardness Hardness MPa MPa Al (Pure) 65 68 Al+IPA+5% B +0.1% CNT 58 57 Al+2.5 % IPA+5% B +0.1%CNT76 73

The above table clearly shows that mixture ratio plays paramount role in producing metal matrix composites through polymer route. The Properties variation of composites between 1:1 and 2.5:1 shows us that mixing ratio of composite to resin (CTR ratio) is better for2.5:1 of Al and IPA than 1:1 of Al and IPA. It seems that 1:1 ratio has less micro-hardness as well as macro- hardness. The Properties of Pure Aluminium is higher than 1:1 ratio. The properties of 2.5:1 ratio is higher than Pure Aluminium. So, 2.5:1 ratio of Al and IPA is good CTR for dispersion of Aluminium in CNT.

6. CONCLUSION An Implication of MWCNT in Aluminium powder has been evaluated in terms of microstructure as well as mechanical properties. There is 31% and 25% increase of macro hardness and micro hardness for 2.5:1 CTR comparing to 1:1 CTR respectively. In Addition to mechanical properties, the microstructure study has also been investigated. The speed of the magnetic stirrer should be at 450 rpm for one hour. MWCNT should be dispersed in Aluminium by using sonication equipment because to disperse nano particles. Otherwise, CNT gets agglomerated in the Aluminium matrix. It seems that compaction load and sintering temperature plays vital role in producing metal matrix composites. In this study, 4 tons of load has been applied by using Hydraulic Press Equipment. Sintering has been performed at 600oC for 2 hours under argon atmosphere. Experimental results also shows that 2.5:1 ratio is the best CTR ratio to disperse MWCNT in Al matrix. So, it is suggested to utilize 2.5:1 CTR ratio of Al and IPA in order to form metal matrix composite through polymer route.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This Research has studied with the help of Students Research Cell (Ré) at Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore-641049, Tamilnadu, India and VB Ceramics Consultants, Chennai- 600041, Tamilnadu, India.

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