Influence of T6-heat treatment on mechanical properties of Al7075 alloy reinforced with Cenosphere

Cenospheres are light weight, inert and hollow spheres filled with air with main constituents of silica and alumina. It is a byproduct obtained after combustion of pulverized coal in thermal power plants. Due to its light weight and hollow in nature, Cenospheres are used as reinforcement in metal matrix composites to enhance the mechanical and microstructural properties. The 7xxx series are heat treatable aluminium alloys used in high performance structural, aerospace and transportation applications. The present paper reports the effect of heat treatment on mechanical properties of Cenosphere incorporated Al-7075 composites produced by stir casting technique. The composites were subjected to T6 type heat treatment, subsequently the heat treated specimen of different composition and different heat treatment duration were tested for evaluation of mechanical properties and same has been compared with the results of as cast (un heat-treated) composite specimens. The mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength, compression strength and hardness are analyzed as a function of heat treatment duration. The results of heat treated samples are then compared with as cast samples. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.