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Sains Malaysiana 53(3)(2024): 705-717 http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5303-17
Effect of Short Heat Treatments on the Microstructural Evolution and
Hardness of Thixoformed Graphene Reinforced Aluminium Composites
(Kesan Rawatan Haba Singkat terhadap Evolusi Mikrostruktur dan Kekerasan
Komposit Aluminium Diperkuat Grafen Pembentukan Tikso)
NUR FARAH BAZILAH WAKHI ANUAR1,2, MOHD ZAIDI OMAR1,
MOHD SHUKOR SALLEH2,*, WAN FATHUL HAKIM W. ZAMRI1 &
AFIFAH MD ALI1
1Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM
Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
2Fakulti Teknologi dan Kejuruteraan Industri dan Pembuatan, Universiti
Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka,
Malaysia
Received: 26 September 2023/Accepted: 15 February 2024
Abstract
Aluminium metal matrix composites are increasingly being used in numerous
industries due to their lightweight nature and high strength. The incorporation
of graphene into aluminium metal matrix composites has garnered significant
interest owing to graphene's capacity to enhance numerous properties
concurrently. Hence, this study aimed to fabricate a 0.3 wt.% graphene
nanoplatelets reinforced A356 alloy (GNP-A356) composite through stir casting
followed by thixoforming and short T6 heat treatment processes. It also evaluated
the microstructure and mechanical properties of GNP-A356 after the thixoforming
process and short T6 heat treatment. The microstructure of alloy and composite
was confirmed by optical microstructure, field emission scanning electron
microscopy images, and X-ray diffraction. Microstructure investigations
demonstrate the impact of the stirring process on the structural transformation
of the 𝛼-Al phase from the dendritic into a rosette-like and globular-like
structure. The result also indicated that there was a transformation of
eutectic silicon from the shape of a needle-like to spheroid structure after a
short heat treatment, showing the efficiency of T6 heat treatment with a
shorter time of solution treatment and ageing. Moreover, the increase in relative
density and addition of reinforcement led to a significant increment in
hardness. The result shows the hardness improved by 35.77% and 77.8% for
as-cast and heat-treated composites, respectively, compared to A356 alloy.
Keywords: Aluminum alloy; aluminium matrix composite; graphene; short T6
heat treatment; Thixoforming
Abstrak
Penggunaan komposit matriks logam aluminium semakin meningkat dalam
pelbagai industri kerana sifatnya yang ringan dan kekuatan yang tinggi.
Penggabungan grafen ke dalam komposit matriks logam aluminium telah mendapat
kepentingan yang ketara kerana keupayaan grafen dalam meningkatkan keupayaan
pelbagai sifat secara serentak. Komposit matriks logam aluminium semakin
meningkat dalam pelbagai industri kerana cirinya yang ringan dan kekuatan
tinggi. Penggabungan grafen ke dalam komposit matriks logam aluminium telah
menarik minat kerana keupayaan grafen meningkatkan pelbagai ciri secara
serentak. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan menghasilkan komposit aloi A356
diperkuat 0.3 bt.% grafen nanoplatelet (GNP-A356) melalui adukan tuangan
diikuti dengan proses pembentukan-tikso dan rawatan haba T6 singkat. Kajian ini
juga menilai mikrostruktur dan sifat mekanik GNP-A356 selepas pembentukan-tikso
dan rawatan haba T6 singkat. Mikrostruktur dikaji menggunakan mikrostruktur
optik, imej mikroskop elektron pengimbasan pelepasan medan, dan pembelauan
sinar-X. Penyelidikan mikrostruktur menunjukkan kesan proses adukan ke atas
transformasi struktur fasa 𝛼-Al daripada dendritik kepada
struktur seakan roset dan sfera. Hasil kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa terdapat
transformasi eutektik silikon daripada bentuk seakan jarum kepada struktur
sferoid selepas rawatan haba singkat yang menunjukkan kecekapan rawatan haba T6
dengan masa larutan rawatan dan masa penuaan yang singkat. Selain itu,
peningkatan dalam ketumpatan relatif dan penambahan tetulang membawa kepada
peningkatan yang ketara dalam kekerasan Keputusan menunjukkan terdapat
peningkatan kekerasan sebanyak 35.77% dan 77.8% untuk komposit tuangan dan
komposit dirawat haba, masing-masing, berbanding aloi A356.
Kata kunci: Aloi aluminum; grafen; komposit matriks aluminium; pembentukan
tikso; rawatan haba T6 singkat
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*Corresponding author; email: shukor@utem.edu.my
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