The study of the microstructure and interfacial reaction of Al-Cu-Mg/bagasse ash particulate composite

Bagasse ash reinforced Al-Cu-Mg composite particulate was produced by double stir casting method. The interfacial microstructure and microchemistry of the testing composite was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy disperse spectrum (EDS). The microstructure of the unreinforced alloy contains eutectic structure of CuMgAl₂ phase in α-aluminium matrix. The bagasse ash particles reinforced composite reveals that there are small discontinuities and a reasonably uniform distribution of bagasse ash particulates. The ceramic phase is shown as dark phase and the metal phase is white. There are some interfacial reactions of the matrix with SiO₂, SiC and Fe₂O₃ in the bagasse ash that led to the release of Si and Fe in the composite.