RECYCLING OF ALUMINUM-BASED COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH FLY ASH AND ALUMINA VIA A STIR-SQUEEZE CASTING PROCESS

Abstract

The stir-squeeze casting technique generally alters a material’s physical and mechanical properties. This research investigates the effect of adding fly ash and alumina to the stir-squeeze casting of old aluminum cans. The stir-squeeze casting research parameters were carried out at a pouring temperature of 750oC with a stirring speed of 350 rpm for 3 minutes, with pressure variations ranging from 6 MPa, 8 MPa, and 10 MPa to fabricate Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMC) with an alumina weight fraction of 15% and fly ash of 12%. Aluminum Matrix Composites are metal matrix composites that use alumina and fly ash as reinforcing components. AMC development has also shown promise, owing to good mechanical qualities such as high hardness, impact strength, and relatively easy-to-find basic materials. On composites, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) testing or chemical composition testing, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), impact strength Brinell hardness, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was performed; the test results obtained the highest value of the highest hardness at the bottom, and on composites were obtained at a pressure of 6 MPa at 1.577 gr/cm3 and 0.577 percent, the highest impact value at