Sustainability in Production and Selection of Reinforcement particles in Aluminium Alloy Metal Matrix Composites: A Review

Abstract

This paper reviews relevant literature in the area of incorporating sustainable materials into the material selection process of metal matrix composites (MMCs) production. Agricultural and industrial waste materials used as reinforcements in MMCs have been reviewed to highlight the need for establishing a lean production process. The reviewed investigations have recorded improvements in both the microstructure, density and mechanical properties such as hardness, strength, tensile, and impact strength of the resulting MMC. The reviewed literature highlights stir casting as the most used method of producing aluminium and magnesium-based matrix composites due to its relatively low cost, simplicity, and efficiency. Based on the results of various studies, it is highly recommended that the use of these sustainable materials as reinforcements in MMCs possess the necessary properties to be used in engineering industrial applications.