MECHANICAL AND WEAR CHARACTERISATION OF QUARRY TAILINGS REINFORCED A6063 METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

Authors : Stephen Durowaye, Olatunde Sekunowo, Babatunde BOLASODUN, İsaac ODUARAN, Ganiyu LAWAL

Pages : 133-139

Doi:10.31127/tuje.490509

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Publication Date : 2019-07-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The viability of utilizing cheaply sourced quarry tailings insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(QTs); particles as reinforcing materials for the development of low cost high performance aluminium matrix composites for structural and industrial applications was explored. Aluminium alloy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(A6063); was reinforced with 2 – 10 wt. % of 80 µm QTs particulates using stir casting method. Microstructural, mechanical and wear characterisations were carried out on the composites. Micro hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the composites were improved with addition of reinforced particulate in the base matrix alloy. Addition of quarry tailings reinforcements also decreased the wear rate of the composites from 245 mm/Nm 3 to 180 mm/Nm 3 for 10 N and from 260 mm/Nm 3 to 135 mm/Nm 3 for 15 N. Optical and SEM examinations revealed uniform distributions of the QT particles in the molten matrix. 
Keywords : Aluminium matrix composites, Quarry tailings, Characterisation