There is a massive demand for low-weight high strength materials in automotive, space aerospace, and even structural industries in this present engineering world. These industries attract composites only because of their high strength, resistance to wear, and low weight. Among these composites, metal matrix composite finds wide applications due to its elevated properties, excellent resistance property, corrosion resistance, etc. The reinforcements exist in particles, fiber, and whiskers. Among the three, particles play an important role because of their availability and wettability with the metal matrix. Additionally, among the various metal matrices such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, titanium, etc., aluminum plays a vital role among metal matrices because of its cost, availability in abundance, and castability. Stir casting is the most inexpensive and straightforward composite fabrication technique among the prevailing techniques. Even though so many factors contribute to the elevated property of composites, metal matrix, and reinforcement phase, uniform distribution and wettability are essential factors among all the other factors. This review aims to develop a composite with elevated property in a cost-effective manner. Cost includes metal matrix, reinforcement, and processing technique. Various works have been tabulated to achieve the above objective, and analysis was carried out on tensile strength concerning microstructure. This review paper explores the challenges in composite fabrication and finds a solution to overcome them.

In this present work an effort has been made to fabricate and compare the properties of aluminium metal matrix composites. Two specimens were fabricated by adding 10wt % of SiC and TiB2 with aluminium metal matrix. The two specimens were fabricated using stir casting route with bottom pouring technique. Morphology of the cast composites reinforced with SiC 10wt % and TiB2 10wt % were studied in detail by optical microscopy to analyze particle distribution in the aluminium metal phase. The hardness test was carried out to find out the hardness of the cast composites using Vickers hardness testing machine. The hardness test and its comparison show that the hardness value of SiC composite is higher than TiB2 composite. Mechanical testing was carried out on the tensile samples prepared from the two cast composite specimens. From tensile test results it has been observed that the tensile strength of TiB2 composite is 30% higher than SiC composite. Wear test was carried out to study the wear resistance behavior of cast composites. Wear test analysis proves that the wear resistance behavior of TiB2 composite is higher than SiC composite

Aluminium metal matrix replaces high melting point and high density conventional materials, thus minimizing the usage of energy and supporting the environment. This work develops a low-weight, high-strength composite material with the help of AA 6061 and ZrO₂ through a stir casting route incorporated with a squeeze casting setup. Machining and machining tools create impacts on clean environments, as they deal with lubricants and power consumption. Having taken this issue into consideration, this research studies the effect of machining parameters on surface roughness, tool wear, and cutting force, while turning the developed metal matrix composite in dry and minimum quantity lubrication conditions. The turning experiment was performed by designing parameters using an L₂₇ orthogonal array. The turning condition was dry and with minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). The responses obtained in the turning process were analysed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique to find the most influential factor and its percentage contribution. Optimal machining parameters were investigated and tabulated with the help of main effect plots and S/N ratio graphs. Studies prove that there is a linear relationship between MQL versus surface roughness and tool wear, and there was no substantial effect on cutting force.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a less weight high wear resistant material to fabricate brake components especially in automotive sector. Design/methodology/approach: Effort was initiated to design and develop aluminium metal matrix composite by combining aluminium alloy AA6061 and zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) with the help of stir casting coupled with squeeze casting unit. Morphology analysis of advanced composite has been carried out by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hardness of composites having different compositions was tested using Vickers micro hardness tester. The tribological property of the developed three specimens having different composition has been tested using pin-on-disc wear test equipment under dry sliding conditions. To obtain better understanding of wear mechanism, SEM image of worn-out surface was captured and analysed. SEM images and the corresponding Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) on the wear surface were carried out. Findings: The optical and SEM images evidenced the existence of ZrO₂ particles along the metal matrix composite. Porosity values shows that the porosity level is acceptable as it falls below 7 per cent. Also, the finding proves that increase in the percentage of reinforcement particle instigates agglomeration on the AA6061 composites. Hardness test demonstrated that the inclusion of hard ZrO₂ particles leads to substantial improvement in hardness and the hardness value started deteriorating when the composition reaches 15 per cent. The wear test results substantiated the enhancement of tribological property due to the inclusion of distinct ZrO₂ particles. Also, despite of addition of reinforcements, the wear rate increased when the load increases. SEM images proved that AA6061/ZrO2-5 per cent composite fashioned steady-state mild and smooth wear. EDX spectrum analysis revealed the existence of ZrO₂ particles along with wear debris, which caused wear of 685 µm in AA6061/ZrO₂-15 per cent composite. Originality/value: The developed material possesses low wear rate which is the unique property of composite and frictional force which is directly proportional to load but the coefficient of friction remains apparently constant. As a whole, investigations on developed composites introduce a new material which is suitable for manufacturing of brake components for automobile industry.