Microstructural and thermal study of Al-Si-Mg/melon shell ash particulate composite

Abstract

The microstructural study via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal study via differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) study of Al-7%Si-0.3Mg/melon shell ash particulate composite has been carried out. The melon shell ash was used in the production of MMC ranging from 5% to 20% at interval of 5% addition using stir casting method. The melon shell ash was characterized using X-ray fluorescent (XRF) that reveal the presence of CaO, SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, and TiO2 as major compounds. The composite was machined and subjected to heat treatment. Microstructural analyses of the composite produced were done using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The microstructure obtained reveals a dark ceramic (reinforcer) and white metallic phase. Equally, the 5wt% DSC result gives better thermal conductivity than other proportions (10wt%, 15wt%, and 20wt%). These results showed that an improved property of Al-Si-Mg alloy was achieved using melon shell ash particles as reinforcement up to a maximum of 20wt% for microstructural and 5%wt DSC respectively.