Fabrication, Characterization and Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Aluminium Hybrid Matrix Composite (Al6063/SiC-Bagasse Fly-Ash)

Abstract

The fabrication and mechanical performance of Al-Mg-Si alloy matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) and bagasse fly-ash has been explored in this work. The fabrication and experimental investigation of mechanical properties of aluminium matrix (Al/SiC) composite with and without addition of bagasse fly-ash by varying wt% of reinforcements were investigated. Chemical composition of reinforcement, weighted required amount of matrix and reinforcements, powder mixing, stirring the slurry at 500 rpm speed and 5–10 min were the parameters used to develop the Al/SiC-bagasse fly-ash hybrid composite. Bagasse fly-ash particulates added with 7.5, 10, and 12 wt% SiC were utilized to prepare 10 and 12 wt% of the reinforcing phase with Al-Mg-Si alloy as matrix using stir casting method. The cast samples were machined for evaluating the properties by performing tensile testing, compression strength testing, and micro-hardness measurement. The results disclosed that the hardness of the hybrid composites increased with increase in bagasse fly-ash content with a maximum increment of 17% observed for the Al6063-7.5% SiC-10% bagasse ash composition (in comparison with the Al-10 wt% SiC-7.5 fly-ash reinforced composition). Tensile strength reduced of maximum value of 90–68 MPa at 7.5 SiC-7.5 bagasse ash compositions.