Development and Characterization of the Mechanical Properties of Al2024 alloy Reinforced with SiO2 and Bagasse Ash Composite
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Date
2021-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Silica sand and sugarcane bagasse-ash (BA) are used as reinforcement for Aluminum alloy (Al2024)
based hybrid composites. The Aluminum matrix hybrid composites were fabricated by stir cast at
750°C. The reinforcement weighted by volume fraction ratio 5%, 10% & 15% of matrix and
reinforcements, <63μm particle size, stirring the slurry at 650rpm for 10 minutes were the parameters
used for the fabrications of aluminum matrix hybrid composites. The development and experimental
findings of aluminum matrix hybrid composite mechanical properties were performed by adding
silica sand and bagasse ash as reinforcement with different composition proportions. The addition of
this reinforcement with nine compositions proportion, in range of 5-15% with 5% interval. For a
maximum improvement of the material properties, solution heat-treatment (T3-temper) was
performed. The effects of the reinforcements have been examined through different mechanical tests.
These tests were implemented using Rockwell hardness indenter, bending, and tensile strength by
universal testing machines, and optical microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of
composite specimens. Specimens were prepared as per the ASTM E18-15 for Rockwell hardness and
E8M/16a for tensile, E290 for bending test specimen standards. The samples are modeled using Solid
works 2017, and its analysis was performed by ANSYS 19.2. The analysis result showed a higher
effect of the reinforcing bagasse-ash with different compositions in aluminum matrix reinforced
composites. Enhanced mechanical properties have been achieved in the 3rd case compared to the 1st
and the 2nd BA & SiO2 combination. It shows that the selection of BA & SiO2 as reinforcement has
one of the essential criteria for fabricating aluminum matrix reinforced composites. The result showed
that the hardness of the composites increased slightly with an increase in bagasse ash content with a
maximum increment of 15%. The maximum mechanical properties were observed for the Al2024
reinforced composite at 5% bagasse ash and10% silicon dioxide compositions. Tensile strength
increased to a maximum value of 560MPa, and also flexural strength increased to a maximum value
of 482MPa at 10% SiO2 and 5% bagasse ash compositions. Hybrid composite superior properties are
observed in tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness than single reinforced Al2024/ SiO2 metal
matrix composites. Also, for the application of fuselage-skin panels, the reinforced and heat-treated
Al2024/SiO2/BA-T3 improved a better stress resistance performance than the unreinforced Al2024-
T3/T351 through FEA.
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Keywords
Al-2024, SiO2, Bagasse Ash, ASTM, Stir Casting, Optical Microscope, FEA