An experimental analysis of sugarcane-based hybrid aluminium metal matrix composites through powder metallurgy

Recent achievements in engineering include the development and production of hybrid aluminium metal matrix composites (AMMCs), which are widely employed in all automotive applications due to their significant weight reduction and better strength compared to the base metal used in various manufacturing processes. The present work used burnt sugarcane bagasse powder (SCBP) as the filler material in aluminum–alumina composite. This filler material is inexpensive, low in density, accessible and widely available, renewable and ecologically innocuous. The fabrication of various AMMCs has been implemented using SCBP and alumina at different weight percentage ratios by powder metallurgy process. The validity of elemental composition is tested using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and CHNS studies. The specimens are made using an Instron machine at a pressure of 474 MPa and sintered for various lengths of time and temperatures. All specimens were checked for microhardness, uniaxial compression and fractography using the FMV1-MC-AT model, the Instron 8801 MT model, and the JEOL JSM-7001F model, respectively. The outcomes were compared with the base composite. At 600°C and for 2.5 h with 3 wt% burned SCBP, it was observed that relative density, microhardness and ultimate compression strength improved by 1.98, 28.18 and 24.27%, respectively.