Title: Microstructural and wear investigation of squeeze stir casted Al6061 composite reinforced with fly ash, coconut shell ash, and graphite

Authors: Vikas Chandra; Vikas Kumar Choubey

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, 800001, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, 800001, India

Abstract: The structural morphology of Al6061 metal matrix composites reinforced with graphite, coconut shell ash (CSA), and fly ash was developed using the squeeze stir casting method. The study aimed to analyse the distribution and integration of these reinforcements within the metal matrix. Results showed that optimised processing parameters significantly enhance the wear resistance of Al-6061 composites, making them ideal for applications requiring high durability and performance. Composites with 2% CSA, 2% fly ash, and 2% graphite exhibited superior wear resistance compared to those with 1% of each reinforcement. The optimal conditions identified through microscopic analysis included a load of 10.69 N, a sliding distance of 500.1 m, and a sliding velocity of 0.50 m/s, resulting in a volume loss of 0.005 mm³, a wear rate of 0.002 mm³/m, and a friction coefficient of 0.33.

Keywords: Al-6061; composite; graphite; fly ash; squeeze stir casting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2025.150853

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2025 Vol.18 No.3, pp.199 - 212

Received: 11 Jun 2024
Accepted: 04 Dec 2024
Published online: 24 Dec 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article