Investigation and Characterization of Novel Aluminium Matrix Composites Enhanced by Recycled Borosilicate Glass

This paper reports the feasibility of developing Al2024 alloy matrix composites reinforced with borosilicate glass wastes. The goal of this research work was to develop low-cost high-performance Al2024 alloy matrix composites with low densities. Al2024 alloy and borosilicate glass particulates with varying weight% (wt%) of 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% were used as the starting materials. Mechanical and tribological properties of the developed composites were investigated. The outcomes reveal that, incorporation of borosilicate glass particulates into aluminium alloy augmented the hardness and tensile strength of the developed composites. Analyses of the tensile fractured surfaces reveal the existence of both ductile and brittle mode of fracture of the borosilicate glass reinforced composites. Friction and wear behaviour of the developed composites changed as a function of borosilicate glass particulates content. The results show that the tribological performance of the developed composites augmented with increasing weight% of borosilicate glass particulates.