International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 06 | Jun 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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DEVELOPMENT OF LM26 AL ALLOY REINFORCED WITH SIC PARTICLE FOR ASSESSING TENSILE, COMPRESSION AND HARDNESS PROPERTIES Bhaskar G1, Dr. C S Ravindra Sagar2, Sudarshan B B3, Prem4, Nandeesha R5, Prajwal C R6, 1Assistent Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SSIT, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India 2Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SSIT, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India
3-6Research Scholars, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SSIT, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India
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Abstract - The study of metal matrix composite materials
researched for its potential applications in automotive, aerospace. This alloy when reinforced with SiC, exhibits significant improvement in mechanical properties like tensile strength, compression, and hardness properties, making it an ideal candidate for various industrial applications, automotive parts especially in Electric vehicles.
has gained significant attention in the field of materials science due to their enhanced mechanical properties like specific strength, light weight, specific toughness etc. Aluminium alloy is widely used material as matrix because of its unique characteristics like light weight, low cast, easy to cast etc. Among Aluminium alloy LM26 is unique in nature because of its alloying elements is Si, CU, Mg which makes it suitable for automobile and aerospace industries. In the present work, LM26 Al alloy is reinforced with SiC particle to study its mechanical properties. The stir casting method was followed to cast specimens from 0 to 10% at a steps of 2% weight percentage of SiC reinforcement. The specimens were machined to make tensile compression and hardness specimens as per ASTM standards. The specimens were tested in a laboratory equipment’s having NABL accreditation. The results shows that overall mechanical properties in uptrend as reinforcement percentage increases up to 8% SiC. Then there is a down trend as increasing reinforcement induced brittleness. These observations were confirmed by micro structure study in optical microscope at 100X and 500X.
Incorporating ceramic particles such as silicon carbide (SiC) into LM26 alloy forms a composite material that leverages the overall mechanical properties. This reinforcement significantly improves the mechanical properties of the base aluminium alloy, making it an attractive option for future applications especially advanced automotive body parts. By analysing these properties, the research seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the benefits and potential applications of LM26/SiC composites. The findings will not only highlight the improved performance metrics but also discuss the practicality of integrating such materials into existing manufacturing processes.[4] This research work aims to assess the mechanical behaviour of LM26 aluminium alloy reinforced with SiC particles at 0% to 10 % at steps of 2% increasing. This work focus on its tensile strength, compressive strength, and hardness. By understanding these properties, the study seeks to provide insights into the potential applications and benefits of using such composites in sectors that demand high strength and reliability.
Key Words: LM26, SIC, Tensile Strength, Compression Strength, BHN, Stir Casting, MMC’s, Microstructure.
1. INTRODUCTION The study of metal matrix composite materials has gained significant attention in the field of materials science due to their enhanced mechanical properties like specific strength, light weight, specific toughness etc. Among these, aluminium alloys reinforced with ceramic particles such as silicon carbide (SiC) particles have shown promising improvements in strength, hardness, durability, light weight, easy to cast, and many more.[1,2] The development of composite materials has revolutionized various industries by providing materials with superior mechanical properties. Among these, aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) are particularly noteworthy due to their lightweight nature combined with enhanced strength and durability.[3,4]
1.1 LM26 Aluminium alloy LM26 aluminum alloy is a cast aluminum alloy renowned for its excellent casting characteristics and balanced mechanical properties. It is part of the Al–Si–Cu family, meaning that while aluminum is the principal component, significant amounts of silicon and copper (along with minor additions of magnesium, iron, and others) are incorporated to optimize its performance. This composition gives LM26 superior fluidity during casting—a result of the high silicon content (typically around 8.5–10.5%)—and strength enhancements from copper (commonly around 2– 4%), making it especially suited for applications where both intricate castings and robust properties are required. [3,4]
LM26, a high-performance aluminium alloy a special alloy which have many benefitting properties like low weight, Corrosion resistant, easy to cast, low cost etc. LM26, a high-strength aluminium alloy, has been extensively
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