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This paper gives a review of the finite element techniques (FE) applied in the area of material processing. The latest trends in metal forming, non‐metal forming, powder metallurgy and composite material processing are briefly discussed. The range of applications of finite elements on these subjects is extremely wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore the aim of the paper is to give FE researchers/users only an encyclopaedic view of the different possibilities that exist today in the various fields mentioned above. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on finite element applications in material processing for 1994‐1996, where 1,370 references are listed. This bibliography is an updating of the paper written by Brannberg and Mackerle which has been published in Engineering Computations, Vol. 11 No. 5, 1994, pp. 413‐55.

This paper aims to investigate the wear behaviors of aged metal matrix composites and of the as-cast Al-Si alloy by using a pin-on-disk wear testing machine at room temperature.

Hypoeutectic (Al-7Si) alloy reinforced with low volume fractions of SiC particles (SiC_p) and graphite (Gr) particles were prepared by the stir-casting process. It was found that the addition of 9 Wt.% of SiC_p and 3 Wt.% of Gr particles conferred a beneficial effect in reducing the wear rate of the composites.

The worn-out surfaces of the specimens were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the extensive micro cracking occurs on the surface of the Al-7Si alloy tested at lower loads. The growth of these microcracks finally led to the delamination of the base alloy surface. The reinforcements (SiCp and Gr) particles tended to reduce the extent of plastic deformation in the surface layer, thereby reducing extensively the occurrence of micro cracking in the composites.

From the results, it is revealed that the quantity of wear rate was less for aged specimens compared to the as-cast specimens. The worn-out surfaces were studied using electron dispersive spectroscopy, and wear debris was analyzed using SEM.

The purpose of this paper is to find out the optimal level as well as the influence of end mill cutter geometrical and machining parameters while machining metal matrix composite. End milling is carried out on Al 356/SiC metal matrix composites (MMC) using high-speed steel (HSS) end mill cutter. The optimum level of input parameters such as helix angle, nose radius, rake angle, cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut are calculated for minimum temperature rise.

L27 Taguchi orthogonal design, signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, are applied for conducting experiments, and to find the optimal level of input parameters for minimum temperature rise, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to analyze the significance of input parameters on temperature rise.

It is found that the optimal combination of helix angle 400, nose radius 0.8 mm, rake angle 80, cutting speed 30 m/min, feed rate 0.04 mm/rev and depth of cut 0.5 mm have generated minimum temperature rise. From ANOVA analysis, it is found that rake angle influence is more on output performance followed by cutting speed and nose radius compared with other machining and geometrical parameters.

The influence of geometrical parameters such as helix angle, nose radius and rake angle of end mill cutter on temperature rise while machining MMC has not been explored previously.

The purpose of this study to find an alternate method to minimize waste i.e., eggshell and rice husk ash. In this paper, eggshell (ES) and rice husk ash (RHA) particles are used as reinforcements for examining their effect on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), grain size (GS) and corrosion behavior for developed composite material.

In this investigation, 5 Wt.% each of ES and RHA reinforcement particles have been introduced. To investigate the microstructures of the developed composite material, scanning electron microscope was used. Physical and mechanical properties of composite material are tensile strength and hardness that have been examined.

The result of this paper shows that number of grains per square inch for composition Al/5% ES/5% RHA composite was found to be 1,243. Minimum value of the volume CTE was found to be 6.67 × 10–6/°C for Al/5% ES/5% RHA composite. The distribution of hard phases of ES particles in metal matrix is responsible for improvements in tensile strength and hardness. These findings demonstrated that using carbonized ES as reinforcement provides superior mechanical and physical properties than using uncarbonized ES particles.

There are several articles examining the impact of varying Wt.% of carbonized ES and rice husk reinforcement on the microstructures and mechanical characteristics of metal composites. CTE, GS and corrosion behavior are among of the features that are examined in this paper.

This study aims to attempt to make an aluminum-based composite using reinforcement such as graphite and fly ash. Pollution is an enhanced serious issue of concern for global. Industries play a major role in disturbing the balance of the environment system. Composite is made by using the stir casting technique. The waste that is generated by the industries if left untreated or left to be rotten at some place may prove fatal to invite various types of diseases. Proper treatment of these wastes is the need of the hour, the best way to get rid of such kinds of hazardous wastes is to use them by recycling.

Stir casting technique was used to make a composite. Graphite and fly ash were mixed with equal amounts of 2.5% to 15% in aluminum. The microstructure of composite formed after composite was noticed. After seeing the microstructure it was understood that reinforcement particles are very well-mixed in aluminum.

When graphite was mixed with 3.75% and 3.75% fly ash in aluminum, the strength of the composite came to about 171.12 MPa. As a result, the strength of the composite increased by about 16.10% with respect to the base material. In the same way, when 3.75% graphite and 3.75% fly ash were added to aluminum, the hardness of the composite increased by about 26.60%.

In this work, graphite and fly ash have been used to develop green metal matrix composite to support the green revolution as promoted/suggested by United Nations, thus reducing the environmental pollution. The addition of graphite and fly ash to aluminum reduced toughness. The thermal expansion of the composite has also been observed to know whether the composite made is worth using in higher temperatures.

Recent advances in modern technology have generated the need to develop newer materials for better antifriction and wear properties. The objective is to analyse the significance of design parameters that significantly affects the dry sliding wear.

The tribological behaviour of aluminium alloy (Al‐Si10Mg) reinforced with alumina and graphite produced by liquid metallurgy is studied using pin‐on‐disc wear test apparatus under dry sliding condition. Experiments are conducted based on the plan of experiments generated through Taguchi technique. A L27 Orthogonal array is selected for analysis of the data. Influence of applied load, sliding speed and weight percentage of reinforcements on wear rate as well as the coefficient of friction during wearing process is studied using analysis of variance technique and regression equations for each response are developed. Finally, confirmation tests are carried out to verify the experimental results.

Mechanical property such as hardness has been evaluated and it was found that the hardness increases as reinforcement content increases. The wear rate and coefficient of friction increases by increasing load and decreases by increasing sliding speed and weight percentage of reinforcements. Results from analysis of variance reveals that the applied load has the highest influence on both wear rate and coefficient of friction, followed by sliding speed and weight percentage of reinforcement.

Aluminium hybrid metal matrix composites showing ample success in improving strength and wear resistance by utilising the optimal process condition.

The results obtained by this method are useful in improving the dry sliding wear resistance.

Nowadays, the applications of metal matrix composites are tremendously increasing in engineering fields. Consequently, the demand for precise machining of composites has also grown enormously. The purpose of this paper is to reduce production cost and simultaneously improve desired product quality through optimal parameter setting using WASPAS and MOORA.

Metal matrix composites were fabricated using stir casting process, with aluminum 6063 as matrix and titanium carbide as reinforcement. Fabricated composite samples were machined on medium duty lathe using cemented carbide tool. All the experiments were carried out based on Box–Behnken design. Comparison of multi objective optimization based on ratio analysis and weighted aggregated sum product assessment in optimizing four parameters, namely, “cutting speed,” “feed rate,” “depth of cut” and “reinforcement weight percent of composite samples”; evaluating their influence on material removal rate, cutting force and surface roughness were carried out.

The output achieved by both MOORA and WASPAS are in similar MCDM) techniques in the selection of machining parameters.

The results obtained in the present paper will be helpful for decision makers in manufacturing industries, who work in metal cutting area, to select the suitable levels for the parameters by implementing the MCDM techniques.

The novelty of this paper is making an attempt to select better MCDM technique based on the comparison of results obtained for the individual technique.

This paper describes some of the benefits of electronic packages manufactured from silicon carbide reinforced aluminium composites. The housings which were analysed and tested consisted of iron‐nickel alloy sidewalls soldered to composite bases. The metal matrix composite bases were produced using Lanxide's PRIMEX™ pressureless metal infiltration process. Hermeticity test results on the base to sidewall seals are presented along with comparative electrical performance of the composite versus conventional base materials. Analysis of the thermal, mechanical and weight performance of this approach is also provided.

Aluminium alloys are frequently applied in automotive and other industries, since they provide mass reduction. Besides positive effects, aluminium alloys have their shortcomings reflected, first of all, in inappropriate tribological properties of these materials. The aim of this research was to enable the production of cheap aluminium alloy matrix composite with favourable combination of structural, mechanical and tribological properties, focusing on the tribological behaviour.

The A356 Al-Si alloy was used as a matrix for producing metal matrix composites in compocasting process. Three different materials, in form of particles, were added to the matrix (Al₂O₃, SiC and graphite). Hardness and tribological properties (wear, friction and wear mechanism) of heat-treated (T6) samples were examined and compared. Tribological tests were carried out on ball-on-block tribometer under dry sliding conditions. Sliding was linear (reciprocating). Counter body was alumina ball. Average velocity was 0.038 m/s (max. 0.06 m/s), sliding distance was 500 m and normal load was 1 N.

The effect of two different ceramic particles and graphite particles on tribological properties of obtained composites was evaluated. Wear resistance of composites reinforced with SiC particles was higher and coefficient of friction was lower compared to the composite reinforced with Al₂O₃ particles. A dual hybrid composite (with SiC and graphite particles) showed the lowest value of wear rate and friction coefficient. Dominant wear mechanism for all tested material was adhesion.

It seems useful to continue the work on developing hybrid composites containing soft graphite particles with A356 Al-Si alloy as matrix. The major task should be to improve particles distribution (especially with higher graphite content) and to explore tribological behaviour in diverse working conditions.

Particulate composites with A356 aluminium alloy as a matrix produced in compocasting process using ceramic particles (Al₂O₃, SiC) were investigated in many researches, but there are only few detailed analyses of dual composites (with the addition of ceramic and graphite particles). In some previous studies, it was shown that compocasting process, as relatively cheap technology, can obtain good structural and mechanical characteristics of composites. In this study, it was shown that even a low graphite content, under specified conditions, can improve tribological properties.

Mechanical properties are highly sensitive to the microstructure, and these are indirectly related to solidification parameters and processing conditions. AA7075 possesses lightweight and excellent properties as structural material which can be optimized with SiCp addition and a good fabrication technique.

7000 series aluminium alloys exhibit the highest mechanical properties. They are used for high-strength structural applications such as aircraft parts and sporting goods. The desirable properties of these alloys are: low density, high stiffness, specific strength, good wear resistance and creep resistance. The focus of this work is to investigate the microstructure of composites formed by the dispersion of silicon carbide particles (SiC) into AA7075 by stir casting processes. 7075 Al alloy is reinforced with 10 and 15 wt.% SiCp of size 10–20 µm by stir casting process. The composites have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis and electron probe microscopic analysis.

SiCp distribution and interaction with AA7075 matrix have been studied. AA7075/10 wt.%/SiCp (10–20 µm) and AA7075/15 wt.%/SiCp (10–20 µm) composites microstructure showed excellent SiCp distribution into AA7075 matrix. In addition, no evidence of secondary chemical reactions has been observed in X-ray diffraction and electron probe microscopic analysis.

Little experimental work has been reported so far about effect of addition of 10 and 15 wt.% SiCp of size (10–20 µm) on the microstructure of 7075 Al alloy fabricated by stir casting process. The present investigation has been carried out to study the microstructure and carry out XRD, DTA and EPMA analysis of 7075 Al alloy, 10 and 15 wt.% SiCp of size (10–20 µm) composite and detect the interfacial reactions with the objective to minimize the formation of Al4C3.