Optimization of Thermal Conductivity in Sustainable AlN–Fly Ash Based Composite Materials

This paper investigates the optimization of thermal conductivity in sustainable aluminum nitride (AlN)–fly ash based composite materials aimed at eco-friendly thermal management applications. Fly ash, an industrial waste by-product, is incorporated to enhance sustainability and reduce material cost, while AlN is used to improve heat conduction due to its high intrinsic thermal conductivity. Composite samples were fabricated with varying AlN and fly ash compositions, and their thermal conductivity was experimentally evaluated using standard measurement techniques. The influence of material composition and microstructural characteristics, including particle dispersion, interfacial bonding, and porosity, on thermal performance was systematically analyzed. An optimization strategy was employed to determine the optimal reinforcement ratio that achieves a balance between enhanced thermal conductivity and environmental sustainability. The results indicate that increasing AlN content significantly improves thermal conductivity, while the presence of fly ash maintains eco-efficiency with acceptable performance trade-offs. The optimized composite demonstrates superior thermal behavior compared to conventional sustainable composites, highlighting its potential for applications in electronics cooling, energy systems, and environmentally conscious construction materials.

Aluminum nitride (AlN), Fly ash, Eco-thermal composites, Thermal conductivity optimization, Sustainable materials, Thermal management

1. Acharya, S. K., Dikshit, V., & Mishra, P. (2008). Erosive wear behaviour of red mud filled metal matrix composite. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 27(2), 145–152. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Agarwal, P., Kishore, A., Kumar, V., Soni, S. K., & Thomas, B. (2019). Fabrication and machinability analysis of squeeze cast Al 7075/h-BN/graphene hybrid nanocomposite. Engineering Research Express, 1(1), 015004. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Alagarsamy, S. V., Ravichandran, M., Raveendran, P., Karthikeyan, K., & Saravanan, H. (2018). Selection of end milling parameters on AA7075–15 wt.% B₄C metal matrix composites. International Journal of Techno Chem Research, 4(2), 117–124. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Alaneme, K. K., & Adewale, T. M. (2013). Influence of rice husk ash–silicon carbide weight ratios on the mechanical behavior of Al–Mg–Si alloy matrix hybrid composites. Tribology in Industry. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Alaneme, K. K., & Ajayi, O. J. (2017). Microstructure and mechanical behavior of stir-cast Zn–27Al based composites reinforced with rice husk ash, silicon carbide, and graphite. Journal of King Saud University – Engineering Sciences, 29(2), 172–177. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Alaneme, K. K., & Olubambi, P. A. (2013). Corrosion and wear behaviour of rice husk ash–alumina reinforced Al–Mg–Si alloy matrix hybrid composites. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2(2), 188–194. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Alaneme, K. K., & Sanusi, K. O. (2015). Microstructural characteristics, mechanical and wear behaviour of aluminum matrix hybrid composites reinforced with alumina, rice husk ash and graphite. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, 18(3), 416–422. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Alaneme, K. K., Ademilua, B. O., & Bodunrin, M. O. (2013). Mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of aluminum hybrid composites reinforced with silicon carbide and bamboo leaf ash. Tribology in Industry, 35(1), 25–35. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. A Comprehensive Analysis of Security Mechanisms and Threat Characterization in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks. (2025). International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science, 14(5), 732-737. https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2025. 140500079 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Allison, J. E., & Cole, G. S. (1993). Metal-matrix composites in the automotive industry: Opportunities and challenges. JOM, 45(1), 19–24. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Al-Mukhtar, A. M. (2019). Case studies of aircraft fuselage cracking. In Advanced Engineering Forum (Vol. 33, pp. 11–18). Trans Tech Publications Ltd. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Aribo, S., Fakorede, A., Ige, O., & Olubambi, P. (2017). Erosion–corrosion behaviour of aluminum alloy 6063 hybrid composite. Wear, 376, 608–614. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Arora, G., & Sharma, S. (2017). A review on monolithic and hybrid metal–matrix composites reinforced with industrial–agro wastes. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 39(11), 4819–4835. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Arora, G., & Sharma, S. (2018). A comparative study of AA6351 mono-composites reinforced with synthetic and agro waste reinforcement. International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, 19(4), 631–638. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Cheneke, S., & Karunakar, D. B. (2020). Microstructure characterization and evaluation of mechanical properties of stir rheocrats AA2024/TiB₂ composite. Journal of Composite Materials, 54(7), 981–997. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Chowdhury, M. A., Debnath, U. K., Nuruzzaman, D. M., & Islam, M. (2015). Experimental evaluation of erosion of gunmetal under asymmetrical shaped sand particle. Advances in Tribology, 2015, Article ID 172382. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Contreras, A., León, C. A., Drew, R. A. L., & Bedolla, E. (2003). Wettability and spreading kinetics of Al and Mg on TiC. Scripta Materialia, 48(12), 1625–1630. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Coste, V. M., Campbell, R. I., & Bâlc, N. (2019). Study of the influencing factors within the CNC dry milling of aluminum parts. Academic Journal of Manufacturing Engineering, 17(2), 45–52. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Dasari, B. L., Morshed, M., Nouri, J. M., Brabazon, D., & Naher, S. (2018). Mechanical properties of graphene oxide reinforced aluminum matrix composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 145, 136–144. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. David, R. S. J., Dinaharan, I., Rai, R. S., & Mashinini, P. M. (2019). Dry sliding wear behaviour of in-situ fabricated TiC particulate reinforced AA6061 aluminum alloy. Tribology – Materials, Surfaces & Interfaces, 13(1), 1–11. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Alidokht, S. A., Lengaigne, J., Klemberg-Sapieha, J. E., Yue, S., & Chromik, R. R. (2019). Effect of microstructure and properties of Ni–WC composite coatings on their solid particle erosion behavior. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 28(3), 1532–1543. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Predictive Health Monitoring Systems for Electric Vehicle Powertrains Using Edge AI and CAN Bus Data
• Internship Portals: A Systematic Review of Current Platforms and Future Directions
• Towards Better Urban Mobility: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pedestrian Infrastructure in Naval, Biliran Province, Philippines
• An Affordable and Sustainable Efficient Color Sorting System Using Arduino and TCS3200 Sensor
• Financial Stress and Mobility Patterns: Implication for Transportation Policy Among Jeepney Passengers