Synthesis and Characterization of Red Mud and Graphite Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Hybrid Composite

Abstract

v newlineABSTRACT newlineLightweight, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, low cost, high strength, thermal newlineconductivity, directional properties are the few desirable properties of materials newlinerequired for the various science and technology-based industries. The materials newlinehaving a combination of such properties have found many applications in electronics, newlineaerospace, automobile, marine, and sports industries. In recent years, metal matrix newlinecomposites (MMCs) have gained lot of scope due to their excellent mechanical, newlinetribological, and corrosion resistant properties. Due to its good formability, newlinemachinability, low density, high stiffness, and strength aluminum matrix composites newline(AMCs) are largely selected among other MMCs. Hybrid composites give freedom to newlinematerial engineer to tailor the properties as per the design specifications. newlineThe residue called red mud generated during the processing of alumina from bauxite newlineore has a lot of un used constituents like aluminum, oxides of iron, silica, titanium newlinealong with some minor elements. The issues regarding storage, disposal, newlineenvironmental concern, economics have gain world-wide attention and efforts to find newlinedifferent avenues to the utilization of the red mud. The well-known reinforcements newlinelike B4C, TiC, SiC Al203, TiO2, and other such carbides and oxides have exhibited newlinetheir capability in the field of MMCs even though they are not economically feasible. newlineDue to its abundance, availability, constituents, and low cost, the red mud can be as newlinereinforcement for the processing of MMCs at low cost without compromising desired newlinequalities. newlineSeveral combinations of red mud and graphite were added to Al-8011 alloy to newlinefabricate regular and hybrid composites using the most suitable conventional stir newlinecasting method. newlineThe optical microscope, SEM, and XRD confirm not only the presence of red mud newlineand graphite particles but also it shows that the conventional stir casting process is an newlineeconomic and suitable fabrication technique to get uniform distribution of newlinereinforcement in Al-8011 alloy. newlineThe prepar