TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY: AGRO-WASTE REINFORCED ALUMINIUM COMPOSITES
Abstract
The utilization of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) has experienced significant growth in various industrial applications owing to their exceptional combination of high strength, low density, durability, machinability, availability, and cost-effectiveness. These unique properties render AMCs highly attractive for lightweight applications, including automotive, aerospace, military, and transportation sectors, due to their high specific strengths, excellent fatigue properties, and wear resistance. To further enhance the scope of these desirable properties, researchers have explored the concept of hybrid aluminium matrix composites (HAMCs), achieved through the incorporation of hard and lightweight micro or nano particles as reinforcements. Widely used reinforcement materials include silicon carbides (SiC), titanium borides (TiB2), alumina (Al2O3), nitrides, boron, and graphite.
In recent studies, the application of agrowastes as reinforcements in AMCs has gained attention. Agrowastes such as rice waste ash, sugar cane bagasse, palm kernel ash, periwinkle shell ash, and coconut shell ash have been investigated as potential cost-effective and readily available alternatives. Notably, the addition of these agro-waste reinforcements has shown promising results in enhancing the mechanical properties of AMCs.
This research work focuses on the preparation and characterization of hybrid AA6061 alloy composites by incorporating silicon carbide (SiC) and carbonized coconut shell particles into the matrix using the stir casting method. The effectiveness of these reinforcements in improving the mechanical characteristics of the resulting composites, including tensile strength, impact strength, and hardness, will be evaluated and compared with other commonly used reinforcements like fly ash.
In a similar context, other researchers have explored different reinforcement materials, such as aloe vera powder and cow horn particulates, and investigated their impact on the mechanical properties of aluminium metal matrix composites. The utilization of artificial neural networks (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) for modeling the age hardening process in reinforced AMCs has shown promising outcomes, resulting in enhanced predictions and understanding of the composite behavior.
Additionally, this work investigates the density, porosity, microstructure, and mechanical properties of particulate periwinkle shell-aluminium 6063 metal matrix composites (PPS-AlMMCs). The two-step casting technique was employed to produce these composites with varying filler loadings. The results reveal the uniform distribution of the filler within the matrix and its influence on the composite's density, porosity, strength, ductility, hardness, and modulus.
Overall, this study aims to contribute to the expanding knowledge base on innovative reinforcements for AMCs, exploring the potential of agrowastes and other unconventional materials to further enhance the performance and applicability of aluminium matrix composites in diverse engineering applications.
