Fracture and Structural Integrity e-ISSN 1971-8993 Open access
Integrity of materials and structures Vol. 19, No. 74 (2025)

Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates

Author and affiliation details
  • Nagaraj S. Dhongade School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India
  • Vinod Kumar V. Meti Department of Automation & Robotics, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India ORCID iD0000-0001-5692-9693
  • I. G. Siddhalingeshwar School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India ORCID iD0000-0002-2361-596X
  • G. U. Raju School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India
  • M. A. Umarfarooq Corresponding author Department of Mechanical Engg. Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Center for Material Science, Department of Mechanical Engg. Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. ORCID iD0000-0002-9369-7913 umarfarooq.ma@gmail.com
  • N.R. Banapurmath Centre of Excellence in Material Science, School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi-580031, India ORCID iD0000-0002-1280-6234
  • Ashok M. Sajjan Centre of Excellence in Material Science, School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi-580031, India ORCID iD0000-0003-1251-8803
  • Vinayak S. Uppin Department of Mechanical Engineering, SDM College of Engineering & Technology, Dharwad, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Karnataka, India ORCID iD0000-0001-9093-2757
  • Balbir Singh Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
DOI
10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01
Pages
1-19
Published
Licence
CC BY 4.0
Published inVol. 19, No. 74 (2025)Go to the issue

Abstract

Hybrid metal matrix composites (MMCs), recognized for their superior strength-to-weight ratios and synergistic property enhancements, are emerging as advanced materials capable of mitigating the inherent limitations observed in conventional monolithic composites. While traditional composites offer structural benefits, their susceptibility to creep deformation and abrasive wear restricts their broader applicability. In sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and marine engineering, aluminum-based hybrid MMCs reinforced with ceramic particulates like titanium diboride (TiB2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) have garnered considerable interest due to their enhanced mechanical integrity and tribological performance. This investigation is an extension of previous work by authors AA7075 MMCs. This work systematically examines the influence of TiB2 (fixed at 5 wt%) coupled with incremental ZrO₂ reinforcement levels (2, 4, and 6 wt%) on the microstructure, mechanical strength, hardness, and wear resistance of AA7075 alloys fabricated via the stir casting process. The study aims to elucidate the compositional optimization of hybrid reinforcements to tailor material properties for high-performance applications. Microstructural analysis revealed an equiaxed grain structure with uniform reinforcement distribution, particularly in AA7075/5% TiB2/4% ZrO2 composition. The addition of reinforcements improved hardness up to 85.45%, increasing from 55 Hv (base alloy) to 102.40 Hv. And, also the yield strength increased from 107 MPa (base alloy) to 123 MPa, an increase of 15%, attributed to the improved particle detachment resistance. Introducing TiB2 and ZrO2 particles remarkably enhanced wear resistance with a wear rate of 155 µm with 10N load due to reinforcements that act as the lubricating agent between the metal matrix and the rotating disc. Among the compositions studied, AA7075/5% TiB2/4% ZrO2 exhibited superior performance, highlighting the potential of tailored hybrid composites for advanced mechanical and tribological applications in automotive, aerospace and marine industries.

Keywords

Article history

  1. ReceivedUntil the next stage: 26 days
  2. RevisedUntil the next stage: 8 days
  3. AcceptedUntil the next stage: 8 days
  4. Published

How to cite

APA

Dhongade, N. S., Meti, V. K. V., Siddhalingeshwar, I. G., Raju, G. U., Umarfarooq, M. A., Banapurmath, N., Sajjan, A. M., Uppin, V. S., & Singh, B. (2025). Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates. Fracture and Structural Integrity, 19(74), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01

IEEE

N. S. Dhongade et al., “Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates,” Fracture and Structural Integrity, vol. 19, no. 74, pp. 1–19, 2025, doi: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01.

MLA

Dhongade, Nagaraj S., et al. “Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates.” Fracture and Structural Integrity, vol. 19, no. 74, 2025, pp. 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01.

Chicago

Dhongade, Nagaraj S., Vinod Kumar V. Meti, I. G. Siddhalingeshwar, G. U. Raju, M. A. Umarfarooq, N.R. Banapurmath, Ashok M. Sajjan, Vinayak S. Uppin, and Balbir Singh. 2025. “Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates.” Fracture and Structural Integrity 19 (74): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01.

Harvard

Dhongade, N.S., Meti, V.K.V., Siddhalingeshwar, I.G., Raju, G.U., Umarfarooq, M.A., Banapurmath, N., Sajjan, A.M., Uppin, V.S. and Singh, B. (2025) ‘Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates’, Fracture and Structural Integrity, 19(74), pp. 1–19. doi: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01.

Vancouver

Dhongade NS, Meti VKV, Siddhalingeshwar IG, Raju GU, Umarfarooq MA, Banapurmath N, et al. Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates. Fracture and Structural Integrity. 2025;19(74):1-19. doi:10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01

BibTeX

@article{dhongade2025, author = {Dhongade, Nagaraj S. and Meti, Vinod Kumar V. and Siddhalingeshwar, I. G. and Raju, G. U. and Umarfarooq, M. A. and Banapurmath, N.R. and Sajjan, Ashok M. and Uppin, Vinayak S. and Singh, Balbir}, title = {Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates}, journal = {Fracture and Structural Integrity}, year = {2025}, volume = {19}, number = {74}, pages = {1--19}, doi = {10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01}, issn = {1971-8993} }

RIS

TY - JOUR AU - Dhongade, Nagaraj S. AU - Meti, Vinod Kumar V. AU - Siddhalingeshwar, I. G. AU - Raju, G. U. AU - Umarfarooq, M. A. AU - Banapurmath, N.R. AU - Sajjan, Ashok M. AU - Uppin, Vinayak S. AU - Singh, Balbir TI - Optimizing mechanical properties of AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites reinforced with TiB2 and ZrO2 particulates JO - Fracture and Structural Integrity T2 - Fracture and Structural Integrity PY - 2025 DA - 2025/07/03 VL - 19 IS - 74 SP - 1 EP - 19 DO - 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01 UR - https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.74.01 SN - 1971-8993 ER -

Licence

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

May be shared and adapted, provided appropriate credit is given. Copyright © 2025 Nagaraj S. Dhongade, Vinod Kumar V. Meti, I. G. Siddhalingeshwar, G. U. Raju, M. A. Umarfarooq, N.R. Banapurmath, Ashok M. Sajjan, Vinayak S. Uppin, Balbir Singh.

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