Experimental studies on squeeze casting of hybrid aluminium matrix composite reinforced with silicon carbide and coconut shell ash

Abstract

The recent developments in composite materials involved with newlinethe usage of agro wastes (rice husk ash, coconut shell ash, bagasse ash, palm newlinekernel shell ash, maize stalk ash, corn cob ash and bean shell waste ash), newlineIndustrial waste (fly ash) or recycling materials. Reinforcements of agro newlinewaste materials are offering attractive features like low-cost, low-density and newlineless environmental pollution. Many researchers studied the enhancement of newlineMechanical properties of AMC s through the use of agro wastes, though the newlineusage of coconut shell ash (CSA) particles is very rare. The lack of literature newlinemotivated the authors to focus in the direction of developing high newlineperformance aluminium matrix composites with coconut shell ash newlinereinforcements, as they are available in large quantities.Generally, either Metal Matrix composites (MMCs) are processed by solid-state processes (powder metallurgy) or liquid state newlineprocesses (casting route). Both solid state and liquid state processes have newlinetheir own advantages and disadvantages. In the case of solid-state processes, newlinethe uniform distribution of particle reinforcement is possible and easy newlinecontrollability of interfacial reactions, but the process is expensive. The newlineliquid state processes are an economical way of producing near net shape newlinefrom raw materials and the use of a wide range of ceramic particles newlinereinforcement is possible. The major drawbacks of conventional casting newlineprocesses for the MMC s are the formation of porosities, hot tears, nonuniform newlinedispersion of reinforcements etc., it can be overcome by squeeze newlinecasting method economically in a single step. In addition, newline newline