Abstract
RECYCLED ALUMINIUM CANS/RICE HUSK ASH: EVALUATION OF PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Yekinni Adekunle*, Rabiu Taiwo, Adigun Ismail, Sogunro David, Saheed Rasheed and Ademolu Olalekan
ABSTRACT
The need for Aluminium metal matrix composites in engineering components for automotive, aerospace and other structural applications has motivated the quest to find a cost-effective production methods and superior mechanical properties for these composites. This however, prompted an attempt to harness the huge industrial and agricultural wastes potentials to produce useful materials from wastes to wealth. Aluminium based metal matrix composites have been produced from recycled aluminium cans reinforced with rice husk ash (RHA) particles using stir casting technique. In this paper, microstructure, density and mechanical behaviours of aluminium reinforced with RHA (particle size 150 ?m, 300 ?m and 600 ?m) have been studied by varying weight fractions (5 %, 10 %, and 15 %) at constant stirring speed of 140 rev/min and stirring time of 2 mins. Optimization was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The effects of percent weight fraction and particle size of rice husk ash on density, hardness, ultimate tensile strength, impact strength and fatigue of the aluminum composites are reported. The prepared composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The scanning electron micrographs showed a fairly homogeneous distribution of RHA particles all over the aluminum matrix. Furthermore, RHA particles were bonded well with the aluminum matrix and a clear interface existed. The reinforcement of RHA particles enhanced the physico-mechanical properties of the aluminium/rice husk ash matrix composites.
[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate]