Tensile and Microstructural Behaviour of Friction Stir Welded Al7050 Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Multani Mitti and Cow Dung Ash

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 03 | Page :
    By

    Alok Kumar,

  • Sunny Chandra,

  • Shiv Kumar Ray,

  • Aahish Kumar Aman,

  • Ashish Ranjan,

  • Md Parwez Alam,

  • Raushan Kumar,

  1. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nalanda College of Engineering, Chandi (Nalanda), Bihar Engineering University, Patna, Bihar, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bihar Engineering University, Patna, Bihar, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bihar Engineering University, Patna, Bihar, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government Engineering College, Buxar, Bihar Engineering University, Patna, Bihar, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department of electrical and Electronics Engineering, Nalanda College of Engineering, Chandi (Nalanda), Bihar Engineering University, Patna, Bihar, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sandip University, Madhubani, Bihar, India
  7. Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Gaya College of Engineering, Gaya, Bihar Engineering University, Patna, Bihar, India

Abstract

The study examines Al7050 aluminum alloy composites made by stir casting and bonded by friction stir welding (FSW), supplemented with environmentally friendly Multani Mitti (MM) and cow dung ash (CDA). The study assesses the effects of different hybrid reinforcement contents (0–8 vol%) on the microstructural properties, hardness, and tensile behavior of the base alloy and its FSW joints. Tensile testing reveals an initial decline at 2% reinforcement but a notable gain in ultimate tensile strength and stiffness at 6–8 vol%, when the joints show significantly increased Young’s modulus and ductility as well as up to 64% more strength than the unreinforced alloy. The successful solid-state joining of the hybrid composites and sound weld integrity are confirmed by the failure of every specimen outside the weld zone.SEM and EDAX analyses reveal generally uniform dispersion of MM and CDA and confirm the presence of mineral-rich phases that contribute to grain refinement and improved load transfer. In contrast, Rockwell hardness decreases by roughly 20% with increasing reinforcement, indicating a softening effect of the natural particulates and possible porosity or interfacial defects. Overall, the results demonstrate that agro‑waste‑derived MM and CDA are viable green reinforcements for developing lightweight, higher-strength Al7050 FSW joints, while highlighting the need for future strategies (e.g., surface treatments or hybridization with hard ceramics) to recover surface hardness for wear-critical applications.

Keywords: Friction Stir Welding (FSW), Al7050 alloy, Cow Dung Ash (CDA), Composite materials, Multani Mitti (MM).

How to cite this article:
Alok Kumar, Sunny Chandra, Shiv Kumar Ray, Aahish Kumar Aman, Ashish Ranjan, Md Parwez Alam, Raushan Kumar. Tensile and Microstructural Behaviour of Friction Stir Welded Al7050 Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Multani Mitti and Cow Dung Ash. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(03):-.
How to cite this URL:
Alok Kumar, Sunny Chandra, Shiv Kumar Ray, Aahish Kumar Aman, Ashish Ranjan, Md Parwez Alam, Raushan Kumar. Tensile and Microstructural Behaviour of Friction Stir Welded Al7050 Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Multani Mitti and Cow Dung Ash. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(03):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=243042


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
03
Received 17/12/2025
Accepted 04/02/2026
Published 06/05/2026
Publication Time 140 Days
52

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