Aluminum Dross Particles as Cost Effective Reinforcement for Aluminum Composites

Abstract

In this work, the potential of Finely powdered aluminum dross by-product (d50 = 67 (μm) as a cost effective reinforcement in discontinuously reinforced aluminum matrix composites (A356) was investigated on the basis of quality-cost modeling. Using a standard rheocasting procedure, samples of composite material were obtained consisting of 20 vol.% of as-received and laboratory processed grades of dross particles which differed mainly in particle size and level of impurities. Inspection of the tensile properties of these different composite materials showed that a slight improvement in strength over the unreinforced matrix is achievable only by the introduction of fine dross particles with an average particle size less than 10 μm. In composites with larger dross particles the strengthening effect was not observed. In contrast, evaluation of the wear properties demonstrated that the introduction of coarse and as-received dross particles in an aluminum matrix results in a significant improvement in the wear resistance of the composite material. However, in that case, there is a sacrifice in strength. Quality-cost modeling of these two grades of dross reinforced aluminum based composites indicates that both may be applicable for some less critical engineered and wear resistant components, with possible widespread application in the transportation industry.