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

Abstract

The viability of utilizing cheaply sourced quarry tailings (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 (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/Nm³ to 180 mm/Nm³ for 10N and from 260 mm/Nm³ to 135 mm/Nm³ 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

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