Mechanical properties of cast aluminium alloy 6061-albite particulate composites

This paper aims to study the effects of albite reinforcement on the mechani cal properties of cast aluminium alloy 6061 composites containing albite pa rticles of content ranging from 0 to 4 per cent by weight in steps of 1 per cent. The composites were fabricated using the 'compo-casting' method in w hich the short albite particulates were introduced into the vortex created in the molten alloy through an impeller rotated at 500 r/min. The results o f this study revealed that, as the albite particle content was increased, t here were significant increases in the ultimate tensile strength, hardness and Young's modulus, accompanied by a reduction in its ductility. There was , however, only a very marginal increase in the compressive strength. An at tempt is made in the paper to provide explanations for these phenomena.