Enhanced energy absorption and microstructural studies on hollow glass microsphere filled closed cell aluminum matrix syntactic foam

The research on lightweight materials for advanced engineering applications attracted the development of metal matrix syntactic foams. The automobile sector has started using Al-based alloys in structural components such as crash-box, underride-guard, fenders, dampers, A, B, and C Pillars. The prese...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part C, Journal of mechanical engineering science Journal of mechanical engineering science, 2023-04, Vol.237 (8), p.1887-1900
Main Authors: Thiyagarajan, Raja, Senthil Kumar, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Aluminum base alloys
Aluminum silicates
Bonding agents
Casting
Chemical reactions
Compressive strength
Dampers
Energy absorption
Foamed metals
Fractions
Microspheres
Reagents
Silicon dioxide
Syntactic foams
Thickening agents
Weight reduction
X-ray diffraction
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Summary:The research on lightweight materials for advanced engineering applications attracted the development of metal matrix syntactic foams. The automobile sector has started using Al-based alloys in structural components such as crash-box, underride-guard, fenders, dampers, A, B, and C Pillars. The present study explores the energy absorption behavior; microstructural characterization such as SEM, EDS, and XRD analysis of hollow glass microsphere (HGM) filled aluminum matrix syntactic foam. A380 aluminum alloy reinforced with different volume fractions 10%, 20%, 30%, and 35% of hollow glass microspheres were used in the fabrication of syntactic foam using the stir casting technique. The quasi-static compression test conducted, evaluated the plateau strength, which improved from 284.14 to 341.69 MPa, and energy absorption capacity was observed in the range 139.25–187.92 MJ/m3. The plateau strength and energy absorption capacity were improved by 16.82% and 25.89% for the 35 vol.% HGM sample as compared with 10 vol.% HGM filled aluminum matrix syntactic foam. The addition of a calcium thickening agent in the casting process improved the bonding between aluminum and HGM particle and also the homogeneous distribution of HGM. The XRD analysis revealed the chemical reaction that occurred between aluminum and SiO2 that produced the AlSiO2 and Al2SiO5 interfacial compounds. This reaction tends to collapse the HGM cell wall and fills it with matrix material.
ISSN:0954-4062
2041-2983
DOI:10.1177/09544062221134984