Fabrication and characterization of rice husk ash reinforced aluminum matrix composite

Abstract

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have advantageous properties like minimum weight, an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, and excellent thermal insulation, as well as robust durability to wear, rendering the material appropriate for rigorous usage in the construction, transportation, and aeronautical industries. A significant difficulty, subsequently, is the identification of reinforced materials offering that remains simultaneously economically viable and environmentally sustainable. Rice Husk Ash (RHA), a by-product of paddy processing sometimes seen as trash, presents a viable option. Integrating RHA into AMCs decreases ecological impact while offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional strengthening. This research included the fabrication of aluminum hybrids reinforced with 3 %, 6 %, and 9 % rice husk ash (RHA) by mass through stir casting. Mechanical assessments comprising tensile, compressive, impact, and hardness tests demonstrated a constant improvement in properties with increased RHA concentration. In comparison to unreinforced aluminum, tensile strength increased by 11.42 %, 17.02 %, and 47.12 %, and compressive strength augmented by 18.02 %, 26.98 %, and 41.12 % for the corresponding RHA additions. The hardness also impression strength engagement is significantly enhanced, by extreme improvements of 56.21 %, also 69.99 % at 9 % reinforcement. The results substantiate that RHA may significantly enhance the mechanical properties of AMCs while concurrently promoting globular low-cost initiatives through transmuting agricultural excess interested in high-value complex materials aimed at various operational engineering practices.