Influence of TiO2 and WC Particles on the Hardness and Corrosion Behavior of the AA6063 Alloy Reinforced Hybrid Composite

Singh, S. Prathap and Raja, D. Elil and Gnanasekaran, K. and Basha, I. Ameeth and Sonar, Tushar and Ajith, V. S. and Elvish, S. (2025) Influence of TiO2 and WC Particles on the Hardness and Corrosion Behavior of the AA6063 Alloy Reinforced Hybrid Composite. ADVANCES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE, 25.0 (3). pp. 67-84. ISSN 2083-4799

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Abstract

This work focuses on improving the mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of Aluminum (Al) AA6063 alloy, which is limited by its moderate hardness and exposure to acidic conditions. The main aim of this study is to examine the effect of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Tungsten Carbide (WC) particles on the hardness and acidic immersion corrosion of AA6063 alloy-based monolithic and hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs), which were manufactured via stir casting with a fixed 5 wt.% TiO2 and varying wt.% of WC (0, 0.5, and 1 wt.%), followed by T6 heat treatment at different aging temperatures of 145 degrees C, 165 degrees C, and 185 degrees C. The microstructural exploration using Hi-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) showed an even dissemination of reinforcements. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) observed the occurrence of Al, TiO2, WC, and Mg2Si phases. Taguchi's methodology optimized the Vicker's hardness and Corrosion Rate (CR), considering aging temperature and wt.% of WC as the input variables. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results indicated that the variation in WC content had a more significant effect on both hardness and CR than the aging temperature. The 165 degrees C aged samples produced high hardness and lower CR due to the Silicon (Si) spheroidization. The HRSEM examination of corroded surfaces revealed fewer signs of deep pits at lower CR conditions. The results indicate that the selective incorporation of WC and TiO2 can improve the performance of AA6063 composites in corrosive environments.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Hybrid MMCs, stir casting, Vicker's hardness, corrosion rate, Taguchi technique
Subjects: Material Science > Materials Science
Multi-Disciplinary Studies > Multidisciplinary
Divisions: Arts and Science > Vinayaka Mission's Kirupananda Variyar Arts and Science College, Salem, India > Tamil
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email techsupport@mosys.org
Last Modified: 06 Feb 2026 07:12
URI: https://ir.vmrfdu.edu.in/id/eprint/6962

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