Tensile Strength, Fractograph and Microstructure of Aluminium Alloy (Al-Si) Reinforced by Nickel Oxide (NiO) at Various Temperature of Stir Casting Method

Nanometres-sized particles such as ZnO, Fe2O3, TiO, ZrO2, and Al2O3, can improve the mechanical properties of the Al-Si matrix. Nickel Oxide (NiO) has many potential applications, including semiconductors, solid oxide fuel electrodes, liquid carbonate fuel cells, and electrochemistry. It can replace the expensive precious metal such as Pt, Au, Pd, and Ag that very common in high temperatures application. Furthermore, NiO can be synthesized through the sol-gel method, involving a stirring process. However, NiO has not been used as nano reinforce material in Al-Si Alloy with stir casting process. In this study, Al-Si reinforced with NiO nanomaterials sintered at 400 ℃ for 1 h can improve ductility and morphology. The method used was a stir casting process, which was known to be flexible, simple, and economical. The results of the addition of NiO reinforcing particles to the Al-Si matrix were very effective in increasing the ductility and decreasing the density. These results were proven by the brittle fracture morphology with several ductile appearances.