Effects of MgO Powder addition on mechanical, physical and thermal properties of Al waste bagasse composite

Environmental pollution from various industries is a serious issue in most countries. Bagasse is a waste product from sugar factory industries. Bagasse pollutes the soil and the air. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to utilize bagasse waste as a primary reinforcement material in the development of an aluminum-based metal matrix composite. Magnesium oxide (MgO) powder was mixed with bagasse ash to enhance the wettability of the bagasse ash and the aluminum matrix. The microstructure results of the bagasse reinforced hybrid composite showed a proper distribution of carbonized bagasse ash and MgO powder in the aluminum base matrix material. Minimum porosity and minimum corrosion loss were measured at 1.43 % and 0.05 mg, respectively for a selected composition Al+2.5 wt.-% carbonized bagasse ash +12.5 wt.-% MgO hybrid metal matrix composite. The composition of the Al+10 wt.-% carbonized bagasse ash metal matrix composite exhibited the maximum specific strength of 39.59 kN × m × kg-1 which is much better than than that of the base matrix material. In addition, as the percentage of reinforcement in the casting increases, the cost and density of the final cast composite reinforced by bagasse, continually decrease. Sample G13 (Al+ 5 wt.-% carbonized bagasse ash + 10 wt.-% MgO powder) shows a small change in dimensions due to thermal expansion.