Investigation on Effect of Activated Carbon and Friction Stir Welding of Similar Dissimilar Aluminium Matrix Composites

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineA composite material is a combination of two or more chemically distinct and insoluble newlinephases; its properties and structural performance are superior to those of the constituents newlineacting independently. Metals and ceramics, as well, can be embedded with particles or newlinefibers, to improve their properties; these combinations are known as Metal-Matrix composites. newlineAluminum 6061 and 7075 alloy constitutes a very important engineering material newlinewidely employed in the aircraft and aerospace industry for the manufacturing of different newlineparts and components. It is due to its high strength to density ratio that it a sought after newlinemetal matrix composite. Among the various reinforcements activated carbon is used due to newlineits high degree of micro porosity, its activation level sufficient for useful application may newlinebe attained solely from high surface area; i.e. it has very good adsorption properties, cheap newlineand readily available. In this work stir casting is employed to cast Aluminum 6061 and newline7075 with various weight percentage of activated carbon. Mechanical and morphological newlinetests are taken in fabricated composites. Based on the test results composites are welded newlineusing friction stir welding process. The selection of appropriate parameters in friction stir newlinewelding is essential, not only to optimize the welding process in order to maintain the newlinehighest level of productivity, but also to obtain the most desirable mechanical properties newlineof the weld. The process parameters identified for friction stir welding are tool rotational newlinespeed, axial load, tool pin profile and material used. Friction stir welding is carried out newlineusing response surface method design of experiments of four parameters, five level and 31 newlinesets of experiment. The weld quality is measured in terms of ultimate tensile strength and newlinehardness. newlineEmpirical relation is developed to validate and predict the process parameters of friction newlinestir welding process. Predictive models of artificial neural network, fuzzy logic and newlineadaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system are developed