Effect of Fly ash and SiC Particulates Addition on Mechanical Properties of Al - 4.5wt.% Cu Alloy Composites

摘要

In the present investigation an attempt has been made to investigate and study the mechanical properties of of Al - 4.5wt. % Cu Alloy reinforced with Fly ash and Silicon Carbide metal matrix composites produced by stir cast technique. In this study Al - 4.5wt. % Cu Alloy was considered as the base matrix to which Fly ash and SiC particulates were used as reinforcements. 3 wt. % of SiC and 3 wt. % of Fly Ash was added to the base matrix. In the preparation of the hybrid composite the reinforcements namely Fly Ash and SiC were preheated to a temperature of 400 degree Celsius and dispersed in two steps into the vortex of molten Al-4.5 wt. % Cu alloy. To improve the wettability 0.6 wt. % of Mg was added into the molten metal. The Microstructural study was carried out using optical microscopy which resulted in uniform distribution of reinforced particles in matrix alloy. The objective was to investigate the process feasibility and the resulting mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength and hardness. The results indicated a significant improvement in ultimate tensile strength and hardness of the composite with the addition of Fly ash and SiC particulates in Al-Cu alloy.