# Advances in Metallurgical and Material Engineering

ISSN: 2689-8705

### Article Outline

RESEARCH ARTICLE | VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 1 | DOI: 10.36959/508/398 OPEN ACCESS

# Application of Response Surface Methodology in Optimizing the Cold Compaction Parameters of Al-4Cu-xAl2O3 Composites

Ahmed E. Nassef, S. M. El-Katatny, and W.H. El_Garaihy

• Ahmed E. Nassef 1,2
• S. M. El-Katatny 3
• W.H. El_Garaihy 3,4
• Department of Production Engineering & Mechanical Design, Faculty of Engineering, Port-Said University, Egypt
• Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology, Al-Arish, Egypt
• Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Suez Canal University, Egypt
• Mechanical Engineering Department, Unaizah College of Engineering, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Nassef AE, El Garaihy WH (2019) Application of Response Surface Methodology in Optimizing the Cold Compaction Parameters of Al-4Cu-xAl2O3 Composites. Adv Metallurg Mater Eng 2(1):71-80.

Accepted: July 10, 2019 | Published Online: July 12, 2019

# Application of Response Surface Methodology in Optimizing the Cold Compaction Parameters of Al-4Cu-xAl2O3 Composites

## Abstract

In this study, a quantitative evaluation approach is introduced to depict the effect of compact height to diameter ratio (H/D), compacting pressure, and alumina (Al2O3) content of cold compacted discs on the relative density, Vickers hardness values, and compression properties of Al-4Cu-xAl203 composites. A central composite design is used for this experimental design. A full factorial core type of the central composite design is adopted. An empirical relationship has been formulated using response surface methodology to reflect the relevant function interrelations and optimize the different parameters. The developed relationships are examined for their adequacy and significance using several statistical criteria. Perfect agreement is found between the experiments and the numerical predictions in the range in which the results from design expert simulations are valid. The empirical relationship indicates that the compact H/D ratio was found to be the most significant factor affecting the output parameters such as relative density and hardness. The experimental outcomes such as hardness value and yield strength showed a considerable enhancement by decreasing the compact H/D ratio increasing the compacting pressure, and increasing the alumina content.

## Keywords

Response surface methodology, Non-linear regression procedures, Al-4Cu

## Introduction

In recent decades, the powder metallurgy (PM) techniques have expanded more rapidly and are being widely used for sophisticated industrial applications. This is mainly due to the outstanding advantages, such as, facility of parts manufacture, material utilization, and economical advantages for large production [1,2]. Another significant advantage is the possibility to design the material properties by mixing different powder materials so that the final product achieves a specifically desired mechanical behavior [3]. Die powder compaction followed by densification of the compacted powder by sintering is a common process route in the production of industrial ceramics and hard metal components [4-6]. The process involves filling a powder formulation into a die, compression using rigid punches, and ejection from the die. Post-compaction operations such as sizing, sintering, coating, etc. are usually also applied depending on the application. One merit of PM is its high material usage as the parts are produced to near finished dimensions from the powder [7,8]. The compaction process can be undergoing a number of stages. In the first stage, namely, initial compaction, this involves particle rearrangements. The physical properties such as particle size, shape greatly influence this initial stage. This is followed by the elastic-plastic deformation, and here the mechanical properties and the quality of the particles are important factors, which control the compressibility behavior of the powder. This stage ends at packing densities around 80% to 90%. The final stage of compaction is almost totally an upsetting of the bulk material. Hence, the work hardening of the particle affects the hardness of the final product [1,4].

Metal matrix composites (MMC) have enhanced material properties in wear resistance, creep resistance, specific strength and specific modulus than pure metal matrix [9]. In manufacturing processes for composite powders, MMCs fabricated by PM routes exhibit superior mechanical properties due to lower manufacturing temperatures that lead to less destructive interfacial reactions between the matrix and reinforcement. In addition, PM has merits such as less residual voids and dissolved gases in products, a good interface between inclusions and metal matrix, and near-net shape forming of compacts [9-11]. Accordingly, the growing demand for light and high-performance materials has driven the proliferation of advanced aluminum alloys processed by PM [12].

The use of aluminum alloys is growing continuously in vehicles as a consequence of their low density and great corrosion resistance. These alloys, however, have limitations to use because of their inferior mechanical strength [13]. It is worth to mentioning here that, copper is an effective reinforcing element for aluminum, which forms with it different compounds and micro- and nanostructures [14]. Recent developments in the automobile, aerospace, defense and construction industries have led to increased interest in developing Al-Cu alloys with improved elevated temperature strength, stiffness and reduced density [15]. Addition of Cu up to about 5wt.% in Al has resulted in good toughness and increased strength subjected to aging conditions [16,17]. It is worth to mentioning here that, ceramic particles such as alumina (Al2O3) the most widely used materials for reinforcement of aluminum [18]. Aluminum matrix composite powders mainly reinforced with Al2O3 additions have been obtained in order to improve the wear behavior of aluminum alloy matrix and increase the hardness and compatibility of the matrix [18,19]. Accordingly, Short fiber or whisker reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composites have shown more advantages in mechanical and thermal properties because of the higher load transfer between reinforcement and matrix [20]. Normally, alumina particles are suspended in aluminum melts through PM process resulting in increasing the mechanical properties of the matrix [21].

In PM and ceramic industries, numerical modeling has been extensively used to optimize the compaction process, punch forces and tool design and to control the properties of the final product. The understanding, simulation and prediction of behavior of frictional contact are very important in both theory and practical applications [22]. In the current study, a quantitative procedure is adopted to explore the effect of the Al2O3 weight fraction, pressing pressure, and H/D ratio on the physical and mechanical properties of Al-4Cu-xAl2O3 composites, and to develop a general approach describing the dependence of the relative density, compressive properties and hardness of the composite on Al2O3 content and processing parameters. Response surface in terms of three dimensions and contours graphs were accordingly developed to enhance understanding of the functional dependence of the intended variables so as to be considered as database reference indicators in the design stages.

## Materials and Methods

The matrix powder used consists of elemental blend of Al-4Cu and fine particles of Al2O3 were used as reinforcement. The matrix used in this work is based on micron-powders of aluminum powders (99.9% purity, ≈ 25 μm in average particles size) mixed with 4% wt. copper powders (99.9% purity, ≈ 10 in average particles size) and reinforcement of Al2O3 powders (99.99% purity) with average particles size of 10 μm. The production of the Al-4Cu-xAl2O3 composite was prepared by mixing the powders in a vacuum ambient within a glove box. The next step was to employ a turbula blender in mixing at a 96 rpm rotational speed for three hours processing interval. The reinforcement contents used for the preparation of the composites were 2.5wt.%, 5.0wt.%, 7.5wt.%, and 10wt.% based on previous experimental methodology [23,24].

The alloy and the blended composites were uniaxially cold compacted in hardened steel molds under a hydraulic press, into cylindrical disc 20 mm in diameter with different height to diameter ratios (H/D) of (0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0). A high strength steel (w302) die with an inner diameter of 20 mm was used for powder pressing at room temperature. The compaction process was carried out at different compaction pressures of (500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 MPa) for 60 min. After compaction, sintering processes were carried out. Subsequently, heat treatment (solution heat treatment, natural aging) of the compacted composite was carried out. The sintering was performed by heating the discs at 560 ℃ for duration of 2 hours; the heating process was followed by furnace cooling process. Ageing process at a temperature of 160 ℃ for 2 hours followed by air cooling process was applied as a second sintering process.

Following the sintering process, the discs polished to a mirror-like shape. Density measurements were carried out on the Al-4Cu and reinforced discs using a digital densitometer using the Archimedean principle for density measurements. The theoretical density was calculated using the rule of mixtures. Vickers hardness ( ${H}_{v}$ ) values were measured on the disc's cross-sections using digital metallic Vickers's hardness tester. Testing was carried out on the surfaces under applied load of 10 N and a dwell time 15 sec for each separate measurement. Compression tests were conducted on a 500 KN universal testing machine. The discs were compressed at a strain rate of 1 × 10-3 S-1 at room temperature.

The presented experimental design is obtained through Design Expert 11 ­, which is a well-known specialized program in conducting design of experiments. A central composite design is used for this experimental design, where 3 numeric input factors were used: H/D (named as factor A), P (named as factor B), and Al2O3 wt.% (Named as factor C). Each numeric input factor was set to 5 levels: plus, and minus alpha (axial points) set at 2, plus and minus 1 (factorial points) and the center point. A full factorial core type of the central composite design is adopted, having 4 center points and 20 non-center points, making the total number of required runs reach 24. The replications were designed to replicate the factorial points once, axial points twice, and the center points 4 times.

The responses were the 5 tested outputs as follow:

Vicker's hardness, yield stress, compressive strength, fracture strain, and relative density. The central composite design for three variables with five levels was shown in Table 1. Based on the set of experimental data obtained from relative density, hardness and compression tests, the appropriate models were postulated, developed, and finally examined against its adequacy and significance.

## Results and Discussion

### Effect of the processing parameters on the composite relative density

A relationship was created between the Al-4Cu/Al2O3 composites disc relative density (RD), and other three independent variables, represented in H/D, P, and Al2O3 %, using the fitting strategy mentioned previously, with the adoption of a set of experimental system described in Table 1. Numerical calculation and testing were taking place for the derivatives of the model versus the specified values of criteria. Iteration continued till reaching the finest model having the least residuals squares, related to the intended criteria. The results of this process led to the model:

The model F-value of 17.55 implies the model is significant. P-values less than 0.0500 indicate model terms are significant. The predicted R2 of 0.6892. Such excellent values confirmed the significance and adequacy of the developed model.

Figure 1 examines the goodness of the resulting equation where predicted (estimated) values yielded from Equation 1 were compared to the experimental counterparts RD. It can observe from Figure 1a that predicted values are close to its counterparts the experimental ones. The residuals distribution for the cold compacted discs RD is shown in Figure 1b where noting was observed against hypothesis that residuals are randomly distributed with zero mean.

Figure 2 indicates response surfaces expected values using model (1) for the Al-4Cu-5Al2O3 wt.%. The functional RD-H/D-P relationships are well qualitatively explained. It is shown a strong influence of both H/D and P on the compacted disc. However, surfaces indicate that RD nonlinearly increases as the H/D decreases and P increases.

From Figure 2, it is clear that the RD increases monotonically with increasing the compacting pressure, but the slope of the curve decreased, indicating a lower compressibility at higher pressure in the range of this study. Accordingly, increasing the compacting pressure can assist all three porosity reduction mechanisms (movement of particles into voids, deformation of particles, and flatting of the microscopic and submicroscopic features on the particle surface). As compaction pressure increases, the distance between powder particles gets closer and the destruction of the oxide layer on the surface of powders is accelerated, resulting in increased the RD . Also it can be realized that, Figure 2 revealed improvement in the composites RD with the decrease of H/D. This is due to the pore closure during deformation and also performs the experienced rate of damping and resistance during deformation. Accordingly, as the applied die pressure increased, the density of samples decreased with increasing aspect ratios due to higher frictional force between the powder and the die-wall. In addition, from equation (1) it is clear that the lower the Al2O3 content, the higher of the densification for all compaction conditions. Accordingly, increasing of Al2O3 content leads to a decrease in relative density. This can be attributed to the introduction of the brittle of Al2O3 into the ductile matrix of Al-4Cu which leads to increasing the segregation between the reinforcement and matrix by increasing the reinforcement content. The possible mechanism may be explained by means of porosity evolution such that the fine pores at the particles interfaces have prevented the progress of densification which agreed with [25]. Accordingly, the Al2O3 reinforcement resulted in the formation of voids. In addition, the volumetric voids increased by increasing the Al2O3 content. This reflected the decrease in the relative density as increasing the Al2O3 content.

In fact, for increased the hard particles content in the powder mixtures, soft Al alloy must undergo extra deformation to fill the voids between the hard inclusions. In other words, since there are fewer deforming particles in composite powders, the plastic particles must deform more severely to achieve a given amount of densification requiring higher pressures. In addition, the formation of a continuous network of hard particles supports a portion of applied pressure and reduces the transmitted load to the soft plastic particles [26].

### Effect of the processing parameters on the composite hardness

A functional interrelationship (2) was established between the dependent variable, the alloy of ${H}_{v}$ -values, and the influential independent variables, H/D, P, and Al2O3 %. The best model was in the form:

With good statistical criteria of R2 of 0.9452. The model F-value of 95.47 implies the model is significant. The P-value is less than 0.0500 which indicate that the model terms are significant. Figure 3a is dedicated to indicating how predicted (estimated) values are close to its counterpart experimental values. In addition, the residuals distribution for the -values is shown in Figure 3b.

Figure 4 indicates response surfaces expected values using model (2) for the Al-4Cu-5Al2O3 wt.%. The functional ${H}_{v}$ -H/D-P relationships are well qualitatively explained. It is shown a strong influence of both H/D and P on the compacted disc. However, surfaces indicate that ${H}_{v}$ nonlinearly increases as the H/D decreases and P increases. Figure 4 revealed that, increasing of the compacting pressure resulted in a significant increase in the ${H}_{v}$ -value of the cold compacted discs. Moreover, decreasing the H/D ratio demonstrated an additional improvement in the ${H}_{v}$ -value of the Al-4Cu-Al2O3 composite discs. The increase in the hardness value of the deformed specimen by increasing the compacting pressure and decreasing the H/D ratio can be attributed to grain interlocking and reduction in the pore size. From equation (2) it is clear that all composite alloys are characterized by a higher hardness compared to the non-reinforced one. In addition, increasing the reinforcement content resulted in increasing the ${H}_{v}$ -values. The presence of the Al2O3 increased the composite hardness as they carry some of the load applied to the material (load transfer from the matrix to the reinforcement due to the difference in the elastic constant). The increase in the ${H}_{v}$ -values of the composite can be attributed to the high hardness of the reinforcement. So mainly the interaction is either aluminum with aluminum particles which adhere properly or aluminum with Al2O3 in which adhesion is enhanced by the presence of Al2O3 particle which agreed with Khairaldien, et al. [27].

### Effect of the processing parameters on the composite compressive properties

Similar fitting procedures and strategy were employed to develop a functional interrelationship between ${\sigma }_{y}$ ; model (3), the CS; model (4), and ${\epsilon }_{f}$ ; model (5) as dependent variables and H/D, P, and Al2O3 % as influential independent variables for AA6061- Al2O3 composites.

with good statistical criteria of R2 of 0.8739. The model F-value of 41.52 implies the model is significant. The P-value is less than 0.0500 which indicate that the model terms are significant. Figure 5a is dedicated to indicating how predicted (estimated) values are close to its counterpart experimental values. In addition, the residuals distribution for the ${\sigma }_{y}$ is shown in Figure 5b. In addition, Figure 6 indicates response surfaces expected values using model (3) for the Al-4Cu-5Al2O3 wt.%. The functional ${\sigma }_{y}$ -H/D-P relationships are well qualitatively explained.

The compressive strength results led to the model:

With R2 of 0.5918. The model F-value of 18.73 implies the model is significant. The P-value is less than 0.0500 which indicate that the model terms are significant. Figure 7 shows the experimental and the counterpart predicted results comparison. Also, residual values and distribution for each parameter are included. In addition, Figure 8 indicates response surfaces expected values using model (4) for the Al-4Cu-5Al2O3 wt.%.

In addition, the fracture strain results led to the model:

with R2 of 0.9087. The model F-value of 55.45 implies the model is significant. The P-value is less than 0.0500 which indicate that the model terms are significant. Accordingly, it is clear that the developed models (3-to-5) are regarded as significant and satisfactory for the relevant functional interrelationship representation. Figure 9a, shows the similarity between the predicted (estimated) values and experimental values for the fracture strain. In addition, the residuals distribution of the fracture strain is shown in Figure 9b. In addition, Figure 10 indicates contours maps expected values using model (5) for the Al-4Cu-5Al2O3 wt.%.

From models (3-5) it can be concluded that, increasing the compacting pressure resulted in an increase in both yield and the compressive strength coupled with decreasing of the fracture strain of the cold compacted discs. Out of contrary, decreasing the value of H/D of the compacted discs resulted in increasing both yield and compressive strength of the Al-4Cu-Al2O3 discs. Accordingly, the improvement of the hardness and the compressive strength can be attributed to the enhancement of the density due to increasing the compacting pressure or decreasing the H/D ratio. In addition, it is clear that the results of compressive properties characterization showed that the Al2O3 particles are helpful in enhancing the compressive strength. The significant increase in compressive strength of alumina reinforced Al-4Cu composite could be attributed to the grain refinement resulted from the addition of the alumina particles, the presence of reasonably distributed harder particulates, strengthening arises from increase in dislocation density of the matrix, and load transfer from matrix to reinforcement/second phases [28]. The Al2O3 particles distort the crystal lattice of the Al-4Cu matrix, hinder dislocation mobility and hence strengthen the alloy. On the other hand, the compression test results revealed that the ceramic phase addition significantly lowered the plasticity of the composite.

## Conclusions

In this study, an evaluation quantitative approach is introduced not only to depict the plain individual effect of the influence of compact aspect ratio, compaction pressure, and alumina content on the relative density, Vickers hardness values, and compression properties of the sintered Al-4Cu-xAl2O3 composites is obtained. A central composite design is used for this experimental design. The developed relationships are examined for its adequacy and significance using several statistical criteria. Excellent agreement is found between the experiments and the numerical predictions in the range where results from design expert simulations are valid. The next deductions could be concluded out of the performed effort of this article:

1. The empirical relationship indicates that the compact aspect ratio was found to be the most significant factor affecting the output parameters such as relative density and hardness.

2. The experimental outcomes such as hardness value, and yield strength recorded a considerable enhancement by decreasing the compact aspect ratio, increasing the compacting pressure.

3. Increasing Al2O3 content is found to reduce the relative density and to increase the hardness of the composites.

## Abstract

In this study, a quantitative evaluation approach is introduced to depict the effect of compact height to diameter ratio (H/D), compacting pressure, and alumina (Al2O3) content of cold compacted discs on the relative density, Vickers hardness values, and compression properties of Al-4Cu-xAl203 composites. A central composite design is used for this experimental design. A full factorial core type of the central composite design is adopted. An empirical relationship has been formulated using response surface methodology to reflect the relevant function interrelations and optimize the different parameters. The developed relationships are examined for their adequacy and significance using several statistical criteria. Perfect agreement is found between the experiments and the numerical predictions in the range in which the results from design expert simulations are valid. The empirical relationship indicates that the compact H/D ratio was found to be the most significant factor affecting the output parameters such as relative density and hardness. The experimental outcomes such as hardness value and yield strength showed a considerable enhancement by decreasing the compact H/D ratio increasing the compacting pressure, and increasing the alumina content.