Fabrication and mechanical behaviour evaluation of A7075 basalt fly ash MMCs prepared by stir casting method

Abstract

In this work an attempt is made to evaluate the behaviour of A7075 MMC strengthened using fly ash and basalt prepared by means of stir-casting method. Combination of strength with better resistance to corrosion, makes metal matrix composites as an attractive choice for engineering applications like connecting rod, pistons, cylinder liner and etc. The relatively economical stir casting technique is used for the production of fly ash/Basalt ash/aluminium alloy MMCs. Three Combinations of compound MMCs are processed by changing the weight fraction of the additives (3% basalt + 7% fly ash, 5% basalt + 5% fly ash, 7% basalt + 3% fly ash). The effect of strengtheners (reinforcements) upon the mechanical properties of the compounded composites such as tensile strength, Wear and hardness is analysed. The outcomes affirm that tensile strength and wear is increased proportional to weight fraction of fly ash and basalt, results also suggests that hardness is proportional to weight fraction of the basalt. Microscopic Examination confirms the even dispersion of the basalt and flyash reinforcements in the Al7075.