The study was carried out to determine the density and mechanical properties of Al-7%Si alloy-Bagasse Ash (BA) composite produced at 800 o C. BA obtained at 700 o C and having high silica and alumina contents of up to 77.29% and 10.95%, respectively was used as reinforcement and varied from 0vol% to 30vol%. The density and some mechanical properties of the produced composites were determined. The results showed that the density decreases with percentage increase in reinforcement from 2840.242kgm-3 to 2292.208kgm-3 with the minimum value at 30vol% BA. The results of the mechanical properties tests showed that, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) varies from 139.677MNm-2 to 176.683MNm-2 with maximum value at 10vol% BA, Young modulus varies from 1429.890MNm-2 to 1725.425MNm-2 with maximum value at 10vol% BA, impact strength varies from 75.401kJm-2 to 128.262kJm-2 with maximum value at 10vol% BA and hardness varies from 70.467RHV to 90.767HRV with maximum value at 20vol% BA and with all the hardness values better than that of the control sample. The results also showed that, the fatigue strength varies from 0.066x10 6 cycles to 1.797x10 6 cycles with maximum value at 15vol% BA and the percentage elongation having approximately the same value.The results of the statistical analysis showed that there are significant differences among the means of each property of the composites at various levels of BA replacement (P<0.05).It was concluded that bagasse ash can be used as reinforcement in aluminium composites and the produced composites could be used in automobile industry for the production of engine blocks, pistons, among others.

This study was carried out to determine silica and alumina potential of ash of sugarcane bagasse obtained from Savannah Sugar Company Numan, Adamawa state of Nigeria. Sugarcane bagasse samples were burnt in a metallurgical furnace at three different temperatures of 500 o C, 600 o C and 700 o C. The percentages of ashes that remained after burning were found to be 12.65%, 10.89% and 9.95%, respectively. The ashes were ground to powder and using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine, the samples of the ashes were analysed to determine their percentage chemical oxide composition. The XRF results show that the silica contents are 76.168%, 76.292% and 77.286% while alumina contents are 11.079%, 11.410% and 10.951% for 500 o C, 600 o C and 700 o C respectively. It was concluded that the sugarcane bagasse ash has high silica and alumina total content both of which are the most commonly used reinforcing materials in aluminium matrix composites. It was recommended that to enhance the application of the ash as reinforcement, the ash should be further heated at 1100 o C and above for a period of 2-3hours.

This study was carried out to determine the potential of Girei Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as reinforcement in metal matrix composite. Rice husk from local millers in Girei market in Adamawa state was collected, prepared and burned in metallurgical furnace at temperatures of 500 o C, 600 o C, 700 o C, 800 o C and 900 o C and the percentage ash yields determined. The resulting ashes were analysed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) machine to determine their chemical oxide composition. The result shows that the resulting ash yield based on mass basis were 19.

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