Thermal cycling behaviour of stir cast Al-Mg alloy reinforced with fly ash

The thermal cycling behaviour of stir cast Al-Mg alloy A535 composites reinforced with various amounts of fly ash was investigated in this study. The test samples were subjected to 10 thermal cycles between 40 and 300 degrees C in a Seteram Setsys Evolution Thermomechanical Analyser(TMA). The results show that strain hysteresis loops developed during thermal cycling. The hysteresis and residual plastic strains induced in the alloy during thermal cycling decreased with the addition of fly ash. Also, the incorporation of fly ash in A535 improved its dimensional stability. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.