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Top1. Introduction
MMC’s have been used in almost all sectors primarily due to its excellent mechanical properties and finds its significance in ventures where strength and mass are of crucial implication. Amongst other MMCs, aluminium based MMCs are being utilized as a material system. Al6061 alloy owes its significance due to its resistance to corrosion and fantastic wear properties. AA6061 is heat treatable and accordingly auxiliary increment in strength can be normally expected (Boppana, 2020; Boppana & Chennakeshavalu, 2009; Boppana & Dayanand, 2020b; Gouda et al., 2015; Handbook, 2001). Significant spotlight is related to handling and portrayal of aluminium related MMCs. The kind of various reinforcement and impact of heat treatment relates to a predominant stage in deciding mechanical properties; however meager data is accessible, relating to the heat treatment of Al alloy centered materials. Considering this, the present analysis is planned for contemplating the impact of ageing and using various quench media on the hardness of Al6061 base medium and Al6061-AlB2 particle reinforced blends (Callister William, 2007; Ramesh et al., 2002; Sallari, 2006). Heat treatment attributes to an activity in the creation of designing engineering and industrial material systems. Solution heat treatment of aluminum composites permits the most extreme centralization of solidifying solute to break down into solution. This procedure is deliberately done by the above said process. By using this heat treatment process, the solute particles that were initially part of a two stage strong solutions break down into single solution and begins as one single stage. When an alloy combination has been excited to commendable solutionizing temperature, it is immediately quenched with a quick degree; because of the quench, an overly soaked solution currently exists among solute and aluminum system (Cottu et al., 1992; Fallah Tafti et al., 2018; Hegde et al., 2019). Quenching deals with the technique of fast chilling of material to a working temperature. The most elevated level of resistance to corrosion have been acquired through the greatest rates of quenching (Bhat & Mahesh, 2014; Rajan et al., 1998; Rajesh et al., 2019). Sharma et al. (2019) examined the age solidifying conduct of Al with 4.5wt. %Cu and ZrSiO4 composite. Prabhu Swamy et.al. (2010) have processed Al6061-SiC particle composites utilizing fluid metallurgy course. The composites prepared were presented to solutionizing heat treatment (530°C) for a duration of one hour. Subsequently quenching was done in different media including water, ice and air. The quenched specimens were then presented to normal and artificial ageing and reasoned that heat treatment has huge impact on the wear and mechanical properties. Reddappa et.al, (2010) manufactured Al6061-Beryl composites, and presented to solutionizing heat treatment for a duration of 18hr. The composite was then quenched in ice. Ramesh et.al., (2011) created Al6061 with frit reinforcement particle composites conveyed using vortex technique with different wt.% of frit particulate and exposed to solutionizing heat treatment. Quenching was carried out in media like ice, water and air. Under indistinct heat treatment conditions composites exhibited gigantic enhancement in hardness and augmentations. Manjunatha et.al.,(2012) have studied on impact of heat treatment in water quench, on wear properties and microstructure of Al6061reinforced with Multi Walled Carbon Nano Tube (MWCNT). The composites were exposed to solutionizing heat treatment. The heat treated composites showed superior hardness with improved wear resistance when equated with base alloy. Mohammed Naveed et.al.,(2013) saw that, heat treatment impacts mechanical properties of heat treatable aluminum compounds at 530°C, solutionizing range of 1hr and ageing temperature of 175°C.Ageing term and types of quenching media basically modifies mechanical properties of aluminum base alloy and the related composites. Keshavamurthy et.al.,(2015) announced that the heat treatment impressively influences hardness, grinding and wear characteristics of composites. Heat treated composites shows higher miniaturized scale hardness, better wear opposition and lower coefficient of friction (COF) and stood out from ascast composites. Amongst all the various quenching media, specimens under ice quench showed improvement in hardness and wear obstruction with lower COF rate.