A review on the reinforcement of aluminium composites using industrial waste materials: Enhancing mechanical properties and tribological performance

Industrial processes, including mining, mineral processing, and thermal power plant operations, generate significant amounts of non-degradable waste, much of which is typically disposed of in landfills or released into the environment. These waste materials often contain oxide compounds such as silicon dioxide, iron oxide, and aluminium oxide, making them ideal candidates for reuse as reinforcements in aluminium matrix composites. This review paper examines recent experimental studies on the incorporation of industrial waste by-products into aluminium alloy matrices to enhance material properties. A comparative analysis of these studies shows that waste-reinforced aluminium composites exhibit notable improvements in mechanical strength, hardness, wear resistance, and other tribological properties. As a result, aluminium composites reinforced with industrial waste present promising alternatives to those reinforced with traditional synthetic ceramics. • Industrial waste effectively reinforces aluminium metal matrix composites. • Enhanced hardness, strength, and wear resistance in waste-reinforced AlMMCs. • Optimal particle size and wt% are key to composite performance. • Reinforced AlMMCs show potential in automotive and aerospace application.