Fabrication and Characterization of A356-Basalt Ash-Fly Ash Composites Processed by Stir Casting Method

Abstract

This paper presents the characterization of A356 composite reinforced with fly ash and basalt ash produced by stir casting method. Aluminium metal matrix composites (AMC) are used in wide variety of applications such as structural, aerospace, marine, automotive etc. Stir casting is cost effective manufacturing process and it is useful to enhance the attractive properties of AMCs. Three sets of hybrid AMC are prepared by varying the weight fraction of the reinforcements (3% basalt + 7% fly ash, 5% basalt + 5% fly, 7% basalt + 3% fly ash). The effect of reinforcements on the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites such as hardness, tensile, compressive and impact strength were studied. The obtained results reveal that tensile, compressive and impact strength was increased when weight fraction of fly ash increased, whereas the hardness increases when weight fraction of the basalt ash increased. Microscopic study reveals the dispersion of the reinforcements in the matrix.