Structural, Mechanical and Frictional Studies on Carbon-Fly ash-Ceramic Composites

Abstract

Carbon-fly ash-ceramic composites were developed by powder metallurgical route with phenolic resin and calcined petroleum coke as carbon precursor, and fly ash, silicon carbide, boron carbide, as reinforcements. The composites were heat treated at 1000° and 1400°C in inert atmosphere. Weight loss and volume shrinkage at 1000° and 1400°C were found to depend on the amount of phenolic resin used. The microstructure of the composites heat treated at these temperatures was studied using SEM and optical microscopy. The filler particles were found to be well distributed and bonded with the matrix. The porosity was found to increase with higher amount of fly ash. The structural changes in composites were also studied using XRD. The compressive strength and hardness of the carbon-fly ash-ceramic composites increased with incorporation of silicon carbide. The coefficient of friction was found to decrease with addition of higher amount of fly ash due to increased porosity but increase with increased amount of silicon carbide.