Aluminium-6061 Composites Produced Through Powder Metallurgy Method – A Critical Review

Abstract

Modern era demands sophisticated materials which has enhanced properties. So, process of developing lightweight materials come into existence. Such alternative lightweight and high strength composite material can be used for aerospace launch vehicle, external fuel tank, and structural components. These materials show better material performance and can be used in various purposes. Aluminium 6061 is widely used due to its superb properties. The current study gives a review of Aluminium 6061 composites reinforced with different reinforcements such as Graphene SiC, B4C, etc. produced through powder metallurgy method. It focusses on process parameters, various reinforcements used, and the mechanical properties composites. In most of studies it has been found that there is increase in mechanical and tribological properties of the composites such as the tensile test, compression test, hardness, microhardness etc. with increase in reinforcement content, compaction pressure, compaction time, sintering time and sintering temperature. Moreover, hybrid composites showed better material properties than single reinforcement composites. Future studies could focus on the fabrication of Aluminium 6061 composites through powder metallurgy method and their material characterisation, since they have great potential as advanced materials the literature provides evidence that in recent years the powder metallurgy method has attracted the interest of many researches.