Effect of Stirrer model in Production of Al–fly ash Composites

Abstract

Problem statement: Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) has provided the potential applications in aerospace and automotive industries owing to their superior strength to weight ratio. Commercial Al and fly ash particles are chosen as matrix and reinforcement material respectively to produce composites by stir casting process. Achieving homogeneous distribution of reinforcement within the matrix is one such challenge in the stir casting process, which affects directly on the properties and quality of composites. In this research, an attempt has been made to study the influence of weight percentage of fly ash, wetting agent magnesium and the impeller model on the mechanical properties and achieving the effective flow pattern to uniformly disperse the fly ash particles in the molten Al matrix through modified two step stir casting method. Approach: Optimum parameters were identified for attaining the maximum mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength of composites by the application of Taguchi method, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).Results: It was found that the optimum parameters were weight percentage of fly ash (15%) and weight percentage of Mg (1.5%), impeller model (Radial ) for the tensile strength of composite materials and weight percentage of fly ash (20%) and weight percentage of Mg (1.5%), impeller model (Radial ) for the hardness of composite materials. validated The results were validated by the confirmation test. The microstructure of the produced composites was examined by scanning electron microscope. Conclusion: The proposed results would be useful for the industrial preparation of the metal matrix composites through stir casting method.