World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

Ijomah A.I. and Emembolu L. N.

ABSTRACT

The effects of Al203 particulate reinforcement on fatigue, impact strength, hardness, tensile and shear response of Al-Cu piston alloys have been investigated. Permanent steel mold was used to cast the specimen in which 0 vol%, 5 vol%, 10 vol%, 15 vol%, 20 vol%, 30 vol%, 40 vol% and 50 vol% additions of Al203 were made. The cast specimens were then machined to the required dimensions for the various test carried out. The avery dimension 7305 machine was used for the fatigue tests, horizontal charpy method was used for the impact tests, the Vickers testing machine was used for the hardness test, the hounsefield tensometer was used for tensile testing, and the punch machine was used for shear tests, finally, the scanning electro-microscope was used for the micrographs. The 20 vol% addition gave the best fatigue strength. The impact strength and hardness increased as the additions increased. The result for the tensile strength showed that strength increase up to a maximum of fat 20 vol% addition and then started to decrease. The shear strength increased up to a maximum at 40 vol% addition of Al203 before it started decreasing. Scanning electron microscope observations of the microstrutures revealed uniform distribution of particles and in some small areas agglomeration of particles and porosity. In general 20 vol% addition of Al203 gave the best mechanical property. The findings may be profitable applied in the fabrication of engine piston where a marked improvement in the durability is required.

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