Experimental Study of Ageing Behaviour of Al-Cu-Mg/Bagasse Ash Particulate Composites

The experimental correlation of ageing behaviour for Al-Cu-Mg/Bagasse ash particulate composites with 2-10wt% bagasse ash particles produced by double stir-casting method has been investigated. Hardness values measurement and microstructural analysis were used in determining the ageing behaviour, after solution and age-hardened heat-treatment. For comparison, the ageing characteristics of the unreinforced matrix alloy with an identical processing and ageing history were also examined. The results indicate that the composite exhibits an accelerated hardening response compared to the unreinforced matrix alloy at the three selected aging temperatures of 100, 200 and 300 °C. Ageing temperature has great influence on the hardening characteristics of the Al–Cu–Mg/BAp composite. TEM observations reveal that the addition of bagasse ash particles to the Al–Cu–Mg alloy can speed up the growth rate of precipitates S’ (Cu3Al2, and Al6CuMg4) phases. The accelerated precipitation of S’ phases is proposed to be responsible for the enhanced age-hardening of the Al–Cu–Mg/BAp composites.