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Journals / Osmaniye Korkut Ata Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 3

Effect of Heat Treatment Type and Nano Zirconia Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al6061 Matrix Composites

Isıl İşlem Türünün ve Nano Zirkonya Katkısının Al6061 Matrisli Kompozitlerin Mikroyapısına ve Mekanik Özelliklerine Etkisi

Mahmut Can Şenel(ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7897-1366
Rana Şevval Soydemirci(ONDOKUZ MAYIS ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0008-3971-0700
Pages
1464–1480
Publication Date
2026-06-16
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It was also concluded that the hot-pressing process applied after sintering facilitated grain refinement, thus improving mechanical properties.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:In this research, the effects of nanozirconia (ZrO2) addition (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 wt%) to Al6061 matrix and heat treatment (sintering, hot pressing) on the microstructure and mechanical properties (density, porosity ratio, hardness, compressive strength) of composites were investigated.
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Key Findings & Data:As a result of the mechanical tests; the highest experimental density (2.71 g/cm³), hardness (157 HV) and compressive strength (328 MPa) were obtained in the sintered and induction hot-pressed Al6061-4%ZrO2 nanocomposite.
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Conclusion & Impact:It was also concluded that the hot-pressing process applied after sintering facilitated grain refinement, thus improving mechanical properties.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Toz metalürjisi · Al6061 alaşımı · Zirkonya

Abstract

In this research, the effects of nanozirconia (ZrO2) addition (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 wt%) to Al6061 matrix and heat treatment (sintering, hot pressing) on the microstructure and mechanical properties (density, porosity ratio, hardness, compressive strength) of composites were investigated. As a result of the mechanical tests; the highest experimental density (2.71 g/cm³), hardness (157 HV) and compressive strength (328 MPa) were obtained in the sintered and induction hot-pressed Al6061-4%ZrO2 nanocomposite. It was determined that the density, hardness, and compressive strength increased by 2.3%, 75.5% and 56.2%, respectively, compared to Al6061 alloy. However, a decrease in mechanical properties was observed at 5%ZrO2 addition due to agglomeration of nanoparticles. Microscopic examinations revealed that nanozirconia particles in the Al6061-4%ZrO2 nanocomposite structure were distributed almost homogeneously and settled at grain boundaries. It was also concluded that the hot-pressing process applied after sintering facilitated grain refinement, thus improving mechanical properties.

Özet

Bu araştırmada, Al6061 matrise nanozirkonya (ZrO2) katkısının (ağırlıkça %1, 2, 3, 4, 5) ve ısıl işlemin (sinterleme, sıcak presleme) kompozitlerin mikroyapıları ve mekanik özellikleri (yoğunluk, gözeneklilik oranı, sertlik, basma dayanımı) üzerine olan etkisi incelenmiştir. Mekanik testler sonucunda; en yüksek deneysel yoğunluk (2,71 g/cm³), sertlik (157±2 HV) ve basma dayanımı (328 MPa) sinterlenmiş ve indüksiyonla sıcak preslenmiş Al6061-%4ZrO2 nanokompozitte elde edilmiştir. Al6061 alaşımına kıyasla yoğunluğun, sertliğin ve basma dayanımının sırasıyla; %2.3, %75.5 ve %56.2 oranında arttığı belirlenmiştir. Ancak, %5 ZrO2 takviyesinde nanopartiküllerin topaklanması nedeniyle mekanik özelliklerde bir düşüş gözlemlenmiştir. Yürütülen mikroskobik incelemeler neticesinde Al6061-%4ZrO2 nanokompozit yapıda nano zirkonya partiküllerin homojene yakın dağıldığı ve tane sınırlarına yerleştiği tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca sinterleme sonrası uygulanan sıcak presleme işleminin tanelerin incelmesini sağlayarak mekanik özelliklerin iyileşmesini desteklediği sonucuna varılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Şenel, M. C., Soydemirci, R. Ş. (2026). Effect of Heat Treatment Type and Nano Zirconia Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al6061 Matrix Composites. Osmaniye Korkut Ata Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 3, 1464–1480. https://doi.org/10.47495/okufbed.1800117

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