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Fabrication and characterization of aluminum matrix fly ash cenosphere composites using different stir casting routes

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Abstract

Aluminum matrix fly ash (AMFA) cenosphere composites were fabricated using the stir casting technique. The used type of fly ash cenosphere, which accounted for over 60% in all fly ash particles, was in narrow and small size (2–30 μm). During synthesis, effects of several key technological parameters on microstructure and properties were investigated using orthogonal experimental design. The optimal technological parameter was achieved as: melt temperature of 700 °C + stirring rate of 1200 r/min + stirring time of 6 min + fly ash cenosphere content of 13 wt%. With this optimal technological parameter, as-cast and forged composites were manufactured. Their tensile strengths were measured and improved maximally by 50% when the cenosphere content is 13 wt%. Such size and content of fly ash cenosphere and technological parameter could largely improve the properties of composites, which should be introduced into the production process of AMFA composites.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50472030). The views expressed in the article are of the authors and not of the funding agencies. The authors specially thank Prof. Chenxing Ren for his support in SEM-EDX observation. Prof. Jiujun Yang is also acknowledged for constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Yufu Sun, Yezhe Lyu, Airong Jiang & Jingyu Zhao

  2. Department of Machine Design, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-10044, Sweden

    Yezhe Lyu

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  1. Yufu Sun
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  2. Yezhe Lyu
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  3. Airong Jiang
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  4. Jingyu Zhao
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Correspondence to Yufu Sun.

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Sun, Y., Lyu, Y., Jiang, A. et al. Fabrication and characterization of aluminum matrix fly ash cenosphere composites using different stir casting routes. Journal of Materials Research 29, 260–266 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2013.372

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2013.372

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