Author : Tarun Gupta, Shanti Prakash and Viney Sharma

Tailored material with conjugation of two or more dissimilar materials in order to obtain elevated properties terms as metal matrix composite. Alloy conversion to composites especially gives more independence to fabricate new engineering materials in accordance to basic desire of application where it is used. Degree of applications of composite material grown steadily, penetrating and concurring the new markets. Modern technologies demand unusual combination of properties which cannot be fulfilled by simple metals, ceramics and conventional alloys. In current experimental work industrial AB-1 grade alloy (Cu86Al8.9Fe2.6 as major constituent) was taken as matrix metal and rice husk ash (with main constituent silica) as particulate reinforcement. Rice husk ash was used because it is known for most economical source for obtaining experimental type silica, silica acted as hardening material. Fabrication process involve stir casting method. Percentages of rice husk ash used were 3%, 6%, 9% and 12%. Rods of these compositions produced. Under investigation it was observed that tensile strength maximum at 6% RHA whereas the hardness values increased with increase in RHA composition.

Keywords: Particulate, MMC, AB-1, industrial AB-1, RHA.

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.5, No.1 (Feb-2015)