Mechanical properties and age hardening response of Al6061 alloy based composites reinforced with fly ash

Stir casting method was adapted to develop Al6061 alloy composite using plasma treated fly ash. Properties of this material were compared with the virgin Al6061 alloy and Al6061 alloy-fly ash composite. Differential scanning calorimetric study revealed precipitation of GP zone, βˈˈand βˈ phases for all systems. Characterization of different phases in the system was carried out using transmission electron microscopy. It has been revealed that plasma treated fly ash-Al6061 alloy composite exhibited maximum matrix strain and defect density and thus, yields faster response to age hardening when compared with parent Al alloy and Al alloy-fly ash composites. Mechanical properties of in-situ synthesized fly ash-Al alloy composite unveiled superiority in comparison to other two systems in cast condition. •Al6061alloy composite was prepared by stir casting method using plasma treated fly ash.•Mechanical properties of plasma synthesized fly ash-Al alloy composite unveiled superiority in comparison to Al6061 alloy and Al6061–flyash composite.•Plasma treated fly ash-Al6061 alloy composite exhibited maximum matrix strain and defect density and thus, yields faster response to age hardening when compared with parent Al alloy and Al alloy-fly ash composites.