Title: Characterisation of four-layered Al-Al₂O₃ functionally graded material prepared through powder metallurgy and pressureless sintering

Authors: Farah Fazira Kamaruzaman; Dewan Muhammad Nuruzzaman; Mohammad Asaduzzaman Chowdhury; Siti Nur Sakinah Jamaludin; Shahnor Basri; Noor Mazni Ismail

Addresses: Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia ' Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur 1700, Bangladesh ' Faculty of Engineering, DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia, 26607 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia ' Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, University Malaysia Kelantan, 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia ' Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

Abstract: In this research study, four-layered aluminium-aluminium oxide (Al-Al₂O₃) functionally graded material (FGM) was prepared through powder metallurgy (PM) route considering 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% weight percentage of ceramic concentration. The sintering temperature and time used are 620°C and 120 min following two-step sintering cycle. The prepared FGM samples were characterised by densification and shrinkage. Microstructural and elemental analyses were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Mechanical characterisation was carried out using Vickers microhardness tests. It was observed that cylindrical FGM specimens (green compact) were successfully prepared and diameter of cylindrical structure was decreased after sintering process. It was also observed that there was no existence of macro-crack or micro-crack within the individual layer or at the interface and smooth transition occurred from one layer to next layer. Elemental analyses confirmed the gradient distribution of material composition layer by layer.

Keywords: characterisation; functionally graded material; FGM; pressureless sintering; aluminium; aluminium oxide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2019.100832

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2019 Vol.59 No.1, pp.48 - 62

Received: 31 May 2018
Accepted: 28 Jan 2019
Published online: 18 Jul 2019 *

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