Mechanical and microstructural characterization of TiB\(_{2}\)/ZrO\(_{2}\) reinforced Al\(_{5}\)0\(_{52}\) nanocomposites for structural applications

This study investigates the fabrication and mechanical characterization of Al5052 composites reinforced with nanosized TiB2 and ZrO2 particles via stir casting. Al5052 was chosen for its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for marine and automotive applications. The addition of hard ceramic reinforcements aimed to enhance mechanical properties without severely affecting ductility. Composite samples were tested as per ASTM standards. SEM analysis confirmed sound metallurgical bonding and generally uniform particle distribution. Density tests showed slight differences between theoretical and experimental values, with porosity generally increasing with reinforcement addition, attributed to particle agglomeration at higher loadings. Mechanical testing revealed an 18% increase in ultimate tensile strength for the hybrid composite with 1% TiB2 and 1.5% ZrO2. However, higher ZrO2 content reduced ductility. Hardness improved significantly, with up to a 42% increase with ZrO2 over the base alloy. Impact strength rose by over 69% with TiB2 but declined at high ZrO2 levels due to brittleness; hybrid composites showed moderate performance. Overall, the integration of nano-TiB2 and nano-ZrO2 into Al5052 enhanced strength and hardness, indicating strong potential for lightweight, high-performance applications in structural engineering, particularly in marine and automotive fields.