Development of metal matrix composites suitable for hulls and ship decks

This study investigated the fabrication of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites based on the AA5083-H111 alloy, specifically reinforcing the joint region using Friction Stir Processing for potential application in marine and aerospace structures like ship hulls. The research aimed to address the critical gap concerning AA5083 reinforced with coal as an alternative, cost-effective, and sustainable material, using Silicon Carbide as a benchmark for comparison. The fabrication resulted in two composite types, AA5083/SiC and AA5083/Coal, which were compared to the unreinforced base alloy through a comprehensive suite of tests, including tensile, flexural, hardness, and microstructural analysis .