Mechanical properties of cast aluminium alloy 6061-albite particulate composites

Abstract

Abstract

This paper aims to study the effects of albite reinforcement on the mechanical properties of cast aluminium alloy 6061 composites containing albite particles of content ranging from 0 to 4 per cent by weight in steps of 1 per cent. The composites were fabricated using the ‘compo-casting’ method in which the short albite particulates were introduced into the vortex created in the molten alloy through an impeller rotated at 500 r/min. The results of this study revealed that, as the albite particle content was increased, there were significant increases in the ultimate tensile strength, hardness and Young's modulus, accompanied by a reduction in its ductility. There was, however, only a very marginal increase in the compressive strength. An attempt is made in the paper to provide explanations for these phenomena.