Mechanical Property Evaluation Aluminium 6061 Nickel Coated Cenosphere Composites

Abstract In recent years, among all the aluminium alloys, Al6061 is gaining much popularity as a matrix material to prepare MMCs owing to its excellent mechanical properties and good corrosion resistance. Fly ash cenospheres are primarily a by-product in power generation plants. Research is in progress to effectively use this byproduct to produce new usable and profitable materials as they pose major disposal and environmental problems. In the light of the above, the present investigation is aimed at development of metal coated cenosphere reinforced Al6061 composites and to characterize their mechanical properties. Al6061 nickel coated composites have been prepared by liquid metallurgy route by varying percentage of nickel coated cenospheres between 2–10% by weight in steps of 2%. Density, hardness and tensile behaviour of the composites is carried out. It is observed that there is an increase in the values of hardness, density of the composite with an increasing percentage of the nickel coated cenosphere reinforcements. There is also a notable increase in the tensile strength as well as reduction in ductility of the prepared composite. Fractographs to indicate the behaviour of the composites have also been depicted in the paper.