Abstract
The stir-casting method was employed to study the effect of adding silicon carbide and the bamboo leaf ash into the Al-4.5wt.%Cu alloy. The standard procedure was followed in analysing the mechanical behaviour of the fabricated composites on parameters such as density, tensile strength, and hardness. Optical microscope, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive analysis of X-rays, and X-ray diffraction analysis helped in studying the microstructure of the composites. The study reveals that the reinforcement particles in the matrix alloy were distributed nearly homogeneously, and with a clear interface. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicate the presence of silicon carbide and bamboo leaf ash without an intermetallic reaction. The density of the hybrid composites reduces with the addition of bamboo leaf ash, but porosity increases. The fabricated composites gain in tensile strength and hardness as the reinforcement particles are added, but elongation was decreased.

Key words
bamboo leaf ash, silicon carbide, hybrid composite, stir casting, mechanical properties

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