Development and Mechanical characterisation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and hydroxyapatite reinforced ADC12 aluminium alloy hybrid metal matrix composite

Metal matrix composites represent an advanced class of materials with enhanced properties over conventional monolithic alloys. This study aims to investigate the mechanical characteristics of ADC12 aluminium alloy reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and hydroxyapatite under a systematic varied process condition using Taguchi optimisation approach. Four specimens of different composition and melt temperatures, and its mechanical properties were fabricated and evaluated for Impact strength, Rockwell hardness, Vickers micro hardness. The test results revealed that the specimen AL-232 absorbed the maximum impact energy of 2.13 J under Charpy V-notch impact test, highlighting optimal balance between reinforcements and metal matrix, maximizing toughness. Micro-Vickers hardness shows the highest hardness value of 157.5 HV is observed in specimen AL-213 and Rockwell hardness value of around 56HRB exhibited in specimen AL-312 and AL-213. This research aims to carry strategic process parameter optimisation along hybrid reinforcement composition to design and develop aluminium ADC12 based hybrid metal matrix composites.