Development of metal matrix composites using recycled secondary raw materials from aluminium wastes

Abstract Metal matrix composites have proven to be a class of materials with high potential to replace a large number of materials used in the automotive, aerospace, electronics, defence and manufacturing industries, where the requirement for light and high-strength parts is increasing. The possibility of combining different materials (metal–ceramic–nonmetal) provides the opportunity to change the properties of metal matrix composites, which are mainly determined by the properties of the component materials. Therefore, there is the question of finding recycling technologies, replacing new materials with recycled materials in order to minimise the amount of waste, which does not involve too much expenditure with their implementation and at the same time does not raise particular problems when applying them in industrial practice. The purpose of this study is to highlight the most efficient methods of recycling aluminium alloys in order to be applied in the practice of composites. This research concerns the liquid mixing (Vortex method) processing of composite materials with metal matrix of aluminium alloys, reinforced with ceramic particles. This technology uses common and cheap raw materials, matrix alloys in the moulded state, from recycling. This process has general economic and technological advantages, consisting of a small number of operations, with low durations and low energy consumption. Also, liquid mixing can be obtained by composite materials with a homogeneous distribution of ceramic reinforcement particles in the metal matrix. This study was carried out using laboratory installations designed and carried out within the Department of Engineering and Management of the Faculty of Engineering Hunedoara, University Politehnica Timisoara, within a doctoral program.