Enhancement of Mechanical Properties in 7050 Aluminum Alloy Using Zirconia Nanoparticle Reinforcements

Authors

• Ahmed A. Ebraheem, College of Technical Engineering, Al-Farahidi UniversityFollow
• Tahseen F. Abbas, College of Technical Engineering, Al-Farahidi UniversityFollow
• Talib A. Jasim, College of Technical Engineering, Al-Farahidi UniversityFollow

Keywords

Aluminum 7050 alloy, Metal matrix composite (MMC), Zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles, Mechanical properties, Stir casting

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs), particularly those reinforced with ceramic nanoparticles, are critical materials for aerospace, automotive, and defense applications due to their superior strength-to-weight ratio. This study investigates the effect of zirconia (ZrO₂) nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of a 7050 aluminum alloy matrix. Composites were fabricated via the stir-casting technique with ZrO₂ reinforcements incorporated at varying weight fractions (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt.%). A comprehensive mechanical characterization was conducted, evaluating hardness, tensile strength, and surface roughness. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of ZrO₂ nanoparticles significantly enhances all measured properties. Hardness increased from 66.4 to 80.1 HBN, ultimate tensile strength improved from 318 to 385 MPa, and surface roughness decreased from 0.92 to 0.57 μm, indicating a smoother surface. The composite with 4 wt.% ZrO₂ exhibited the most superior performance, conclusively proving that ZrO₂ nanoparticle reinforcement is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical characteristics of 7050 aluminum alloy.

Recommended Citation

Ebraheem, Ahmed A.; Abbas, Tahseen F.; and Jasim, Talib A. (2026) "Enhancement of Mechanical Properties in 7050 Aluminum Alloy Using Zirconia Nanoparticle Reinforcements," Al-Farahidi Expert Systems Journal: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.65645/3105-9104.1020

DOI

10.65645/3105-9104.1020