Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites
AA5051 is lightweight and has excellent corrosion resistance, but it loses strength at higher temperatures as magnesium atoms diffuse more readily within the aluminium matrix, reducing the uniformity of the solid solution and weakening the alloy's strengthening mechanism. Incorporating ZrO2 add...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425002017 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832576477713924096 |
|---|---|
| author | G. Anbuchezhiyan G. Ananth Vignesh M K. Logesh Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak Elango Natarajan |
| author_facet | G. Anbuchezhiyan G. Ananth Vignesh M K. Logesh Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak Elango Natarajan |
| author_sort | G. Anbuchezhiyan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AA5051 is lightweight and has excellent corrosion resistance, but it loses strength at higher temperatures as magnesium atoms diffuse more readily within the aluminium matrix, reducing the uniformity of the solid solution and weakening the alloy's strengthening mechanism. Incorporating ZrO2 addresses these challenges by refining the grain structure, generating thermally stable secondary phases, and minimising diffusion processes which influence mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. In the current scenario, ZrO2-reinforced AA5051 alloy composites were synthesised by the squeeze casting process, and its microstructure and mechanical characteristics were analysed for high-performance components. Microstructural observations show that ZrO2 particles distribute evenly throughout the alloy matrix without yielding residual pores, and they thrive as nucleation sites during solidification to inhibit recrystallisation. The tensile (24.12 ± 0.01%), compressive (22.55 ± 0.02%), flexural (21.42 ± 0.01%), and impact (32.39 ± 0.01%) characteristics are enhanced by good interfacial bonding, better stress distribution and increases in dislocation density between the intermixture. Al2O3 forms on the alloy surface with the aid of ZrO2, and it functions as a protective barrier against corrosion and further oxidation. The inclusion of hard ZrO₂ particles minimised wear loss percentage in synthesised composites by reducing direct contact between the matrix and wear surface, resulting in less adhesive wear. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b92147289024a61b3bdb57112e2fe14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2238-7854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b92147289024a61b3bdb57112e2fe142025-01-31T05:11:24ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-03-013523772384Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 compositesG. Anbuchezhiyan0G. Ananth1Vignesh M2K. Logesh3Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak4Elango Natarajan5Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602105, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRM Valliammai Engineering College, Kattankulathur, Chennai, 603203, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Chennai, India; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaChemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Physical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India; Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, IndiaFaculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaAA5051 is lightweight and has excellent corrosion resistance, but it loses strength at higher temperatures as magnesium atoms diffuse more readily within the aluminium matrix, reducing the uniformity of the solid solution and weakening the alloy's strengthening mechanism. Incorporating ZrO2 addresses these challenges by refining the grain structure, generating thermally stable secondary phases, and minimising diffusion processes which influence mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. In the current scenario, ZrO2-reinforced AA5051 alloy composites were synthesised by the squeeze casting process, and its microstructure and mechanical characteristics were analysed for high-performance components. Microstructural observations show that ZrO2 particles distribute evenly throughout the alloy matrix without yielding residual pores, and they thrive as nucleation sites during solidification to inhibit recrystallisation. The tensile (24.12 ± 0.01%), compressive (22.55 ± 0.02%), flexural (21.42 ± 0.01%), and impact (32.39 ± 0.01%) characteristics are enhanced by good interfacial bonding, better stress distribution and increases in dislocation density between the intermixture. Al2O3 forms on the alloy surface with the aid of ZrO2, and it functions as a protective barrier against corrosion and further oxidation. The inclusion of hard ZrO₂ particles minimised wear loss percentage in synthesised composites by reducing direct contact between the matrix and wear surface, resulting in less adhesive wear.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425002017Al5051 alloySqueeze castingGrain refinementMechanical propertiesCorrosionWear rate |
| spellingShingle | G. Anbuchezhiyan G. Ananth Vignesh M K. Logesh Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak Elango Natarajan Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites Journal of Materials Research and Technology Al5051 alloy Squeeze casting Grain refinement Mechanical properties Corrosion Wear rate |
| title | Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites |
| title_full | Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites |
| title_fullStr | Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites |
| title_short | Microstructural transition from ZrO₂ to Zr–Al intermetallics and property evolution in AA5051 composites |
| title_sort | microstructural transition from zro₂ to zr al intermetallics and property evolution in aa5051 composites |
| topic | Al5051 alloy Squeeze casting Grain refinement Mechanical properties Corrosion Wear rate |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425002017 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ganbuchezhiyan microstructuraltransitionfromzro2tozralintermetallicsandpropertyevolutioninaa5051composites AT gananth microstructuraltransitionfromzro2tozralintermetallicsandpropertyevolutioninaa5051composites AT vigneshm microstructuraltransitionfromzro2tozralintermetallicsandpropertyevolutioninaa5051composites AT klogesh microstructuraltransitionfromzro2tozralintermetallicsandpropertyevolutioninaa5051composites AT nabisabmujawarmubarak microstructuraltransitionfromzro2tozralintermetallicsandpropertyevolutioninaa5051composites AT elangonatarajan microstructuraltransitionfromzro2tozralintermetallicsandpropertyevolutioninaa5051composites |