Effect of Flyash Addition on the Quality of Al-11%Si Alloy Castings Produced by V-Process

Energy is important for modern civilization and the electrical power from thermal stations is a major source of energy on which hinges the functioning and growth of mankind. In almost all major countries of the world thermal power stations are getting bigger and are generating huge quantities of flyash as a waste from their mammoth boilers. Despite extensive research on flyash, its utilization level is still low although it is considered as a novel and useful material in various fields such as building and road construction, agriculture, refractory works, water treatment, foundry, etc. In the present work flyash has been used as an additive to the silica sand in the V-process molds and its effects on the surface finish and total solidification time of the Al-11%Si alloy castings have been studied. Results indicate that the surface finish of the castings improves by the addition of flyash. Total solidification time of the castings reduces when the flyash has been added beyond 25 percent.