Fabrication and experimental investigations on mechanical properties of stir cast aluminum MMC with the addition of ash

Abstract Aluminium alloys are lightweight and high strength materials which are extensively used in engineering applications. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on aluminium have significantly increased in the field of newer materials for high-performance mechanical uses. Aluminium metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) are more involved in mining, aerospace, marine, and automobile applications. Aluminium liquid casting is typically used to treat metal matrix for composites. Such casting is carried out using the liquid casting method. In this article, using the stir casting technique, an effort has been made to create a metal matrix composite by choosing aluminium (Al6061) as matrix material and silicon carbide, cow dung and buffalo dung ash as reinforcement. This ash is biodegradable in nature. Four types of samples were prepared from this composite for all the tests which were named S1, S2, S3, and S4, with Al6061 as 100%, 84%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. Four mechanical properties, i.e., micro hardness, density, tensile strength and compressive strength, were investigated and the effect of hybrid ash was studied. Maximum density, microhardness, tensile strength and compressive strength were achieved for sample S2 due to the highest percentage of silicon carbide and the lowest percentage of hybrid ash. Addition of ash proved good alternative as a sustainable reinforcement.