Comparative Studies on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash Reinforced AA 2024 Composites

Inampudi Narasimha Murthy, Nallabelli Arun Babu, Jinugu Babu Rao

Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2014.24037                

Abstract

Composites are most promising materials of recent interest. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess significantly improved properties compared to unreinforced alloys. There has been an increasing interest in composites containing low density and low cost reinforcements. In view of the generation of large quantities of solid waste by products like fly ash and slags, the present expensive manner in which it is discarded, new methods for treating and using these solid wastes are required. Hence, composites with fly ash and granulated blast furnace (GBF) slag as reinforcements are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. In the present investigation, AA 2024 alloy-5 wt% fly ash and GBF slag composites separately were made by stir casting route. Phase identification and structural characterization were carried out on fly ash and GBF slag by X-ray diffraction studies. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy EDS was used for microstructure analysis. The hardness and compression tests were carried out on all these alloy and composites. The SEM studies reveal that there was a uniform distribution of fly ash and GBF slag particles in the matrix phase and also very good bonding existed between the matrix and reinforcement. Improved hardness and mechanical properties were observed for both the composites compared to alloy; this increase is higher for Al-fly ash composite than Al-GBF slag composite.

Keywords

Aluminum Alloys, MMCs, Fly Ash, Blast Furnace Slag, Stir Casting

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Akio, K., Atsushi, O., Toshiro, K. and Hiroyuki, T. (1999) Fabrication Process of Metal Matrix Composite with Nano Size SiC Particle Produced by Vortex Method. Journal of Japan Institute of Light Metals, 49, 149-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.2464/jilm.49.149
[2]	Rohatgi, P.K. (2001) Cast Metal Matrix Composites Past, Present and Future. In: Invited Silver Anniversary Lecture by American Foundry Society, AFS Transactions, 633.
[3]	Rohatgi, P.K., Gupta, N. and Daoud, A. (2008) Synthesis and Processing of Cast Metal Matrix Composites and Their Applications. ASM Handbook. Casting: Vol. 15. ASM International, 1149-1164.
[4]	Hosking, F.M., Folgar Portillo, F., Wunderlin, R. and Mehrabian, R. (1982) Composites of Aluminium Alloys: Fabrication and Wear Behaviour. Journal of Materials Science, 17, 477-498. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00591483
[5]	Weiss, D. (1996) Using Metal Matrix Composite Castings. Processing, Properties and Applications of Cast Metal Matrix Composites, Cincinnati, 289.
[6]	Rohatgi, P.K., Guo, R.Q., Huang, P. and Ray, S. (1997) Friction and Abrasion Resistance of Cast Aluminum Alloy-Fly Ash Composites. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 28, 245-250.
[7]	Flores-Vélez, L.M., Chávez, J., Hernández, L. and Dominguez, O. (2001) Characterization and Properties of Aluminium Composite Materials Prepared by Powder Metallurgy Techniques Using Ceramic Solid Wastes. Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 16, 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/AMP-100103693
[8]	Kumar, V., Abraham Zacharia, K. and Sharma, P. (2007) Fly Ash Utilization: Indian Scenario & Case Studies. http://www.tifac.org.in/news/flyindia.htm
[9]	Matsunaga, T., Kim, J.K., Hardcastle, S. and Rohatgi, P.K. (2002) Crystllinity and Selected Properties of Fly Ash Particles. Materials Science and Engineering A, 325, 333-343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(01)01466-6
[10]	http://www.nationalslag.org/
[11]	Reginald Bashforth, G. (1973) The Manufacture of Iron and Steel, Vol. 1. B.I. Publications, New Delhi, 122-136.
[12]	Wu, G.H., Dou, Z.Y., Jiang, L.T. and Cao, J.H. (2006) Damping Properties of Aluminium Matrix—Fly Ash Composites. Materials Letters, 60, 2945-2948. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2006.02.018
[13]	Ashby, M.F. and Jones, D.R.H. (1980) Engineering Materials: An Introduction to Their Properties and Applications. Pergamon Press, New York.
[14]	(2004) Indiana University. http://www.geology.iupui.edu/research/SoilsLab/procedures/bulk/Index.htm
[15]	Natarajan, N., Vijayarangan, S. and Rajendran, I. (2006) Wear Behaviour of A356/25SiCp Aluminium Matrix Composites Sliding against Automobile Friction Materials. Wear, 261, 812-822. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2006.01.011
[16]	Akhlaghi, F. and Zare-Bidaki, A. (2009) Influence of Graphite Content on the Dry Sliding and Oil Impregnated Sliding Wear Behavior of Al 2024-Graphite Composites Produced by in Situ Powder Metallurgy Method. Wear, 266, 37-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2008.05.013
[17]	Valdez, S., Campillo, B., Perez, R., Martinez, L. and Garcia, A. (2008) Synthesis and Micro Structural Characterization of Al-Mg Alloy-SiC Particle Composite. Materials Letters, 62, 2623-2625. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2008.01.002