Influence of Nano-CuO on Synthesis and Mechanical Behavior of Spent Alumina Catalyst and Grinding Sludge Reinforced Aluminum Based Composite

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt has been made to utilize spent alumina catalyst (SAC) waste as well as grinding sludge (GS) waste in the development of aluminum-based composite material. Nano-CuO particles have been added to the Al/SAC/GS composite to further enhance the mechanical properties of composite material. The microstructure of the developed composite by the stir casting technique showed the uniform distribution of the reinforcement particles. Results showed that tensile strength, hardness, and compressive strength of composite material improved by about 21.39%, 34.20%, and 20.73%, respectively, after adding the 4.5% SAC, 4.5% GS, and 1.5% nano-CuO in the aluminum alloy. However, the toughness of the composite material is decreased with respect to the aluminum alloy after adding the reinforcement particles. XRD of the composite material shows the presence of Al, Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2, and CuO phases. The presence of these hard phases may be responsible for enhancing the tensile strength, hardness, and compressive strength of composite material. Corrosion weight loss and thermal expansion of the developed composite have been also investigated to identify the SAC, GS, and nano-CuO addition to the aluminum alloy.