ISSN: 2277-9655
[George* et al., 7(4): April, 2018] Impact Factor: 5.164
IC™ Value: 3.00 CODEN: IJESS7
http: // www.ijesrt.com© International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology
[437]
IJESRT
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES & RESEARCH
TECHNOLOGY
FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALUMINIUM HYBRID
COMPOSITE
Basil George
1
, Anoop Sankar
2
, Bibin K.T
3
1
PG scholar, Mechanical Engineering, Mar Baselios Institute of Technology and Science, India
2
Asst. Prof, Mechanical Engineering, Mar Baselios Institute of Technology and Science, India
3
Asst. Prof, Mechanical Engineering, Mar Baselios Institute of Technology and Science, India
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1218679
ABSTRACT
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) constitute an important class of design and weight-efficient structural
materials that are encouraging every sphere of engineering applications. There has been an increasing interest in
composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements. Among various discontinuously dispersed
solids used, fly ash is one of the most inexpensive and low density reinforcement available in large quantities as
solid waste by-product during combustion of coal in thermal power plants. Hence, composites with fly ash as
reinforcement are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small
engine applications. To produce Al matrix cast particle composites, wettaility of the ceramic particles by liquid
Al is essential. To improve wettabilty, elements such as Mg and Si are added into Al melt to incorporate the
ceramic particles. The present investigation has been focused on the utilization of abundant available industrial
waste fly ash in useful manner by dispersing it into aluminium matrix by liquid metallurgy route. Wide size
range (0.1-100μm) fly ash particles are used. To increase lubrication 5% of graphite is added as extra
reinforcement. These composites were analyzed and tested the mechanical properties. The result reveals that the
addition of flyash and graphit particles in aluminium matrix improves the mechanical properties.
KEYWORDS: Composites, Mechanical Testing, Stir Casting, Wear behaviour
I. INTRODUCTION
Composite is the tailor made material, which means that two or more materials are combined together to get the
required physical and mechanical properties. The characteristics of the developed material are totally different
from its individual constituent materials. The individual constituent materials are remains distinct within the
finished structure. The development of composites has reflected the requirement to accomplish property
combinations beyond those achievable in monolithic metals alone. Thus, customized composites resulting from
the addition of reinforcements to a matrix may give improved specific stiffness together with improved wear
resistance, fatigue and toughness [2]. The composite materials are less expensive than the conventional
materials.
The matrix is the continuous phase binding and keeping the reinforcements in position and orientation,
transferring the load to and between the reinforcements and protecting reinforcement from the environment and
handling. Further, the matrix determines the overall service temperature limitations of composites as well as
their resistance to environment. The major metal matrices used for the fabrication of composites include
aluminium, magnesium, titanium and copper based alloys [3]. The other matrices studied are based on zinc, tin,
steel, super alloys and inter-metallics. Among the various matrix materials available, aluminium and its alloys
are widely used for the fabrication of MMC due to the fact that they are light in weight, economically viable,
amenable for production of composites by various processing techniques and possess high specific strength and
good corrosion resistance. In the case of aluminium, both cast and wrought alloys are commonly used.
The important characteristics of the reinforcement in a composite material are to increase the mechanical
properties. Reinforcements are the second phase materials added to the matrix alloy, which normally enhance
the strength, stiffness, wear and creep resistance of the composites. The choice of reinforcements always