article · Scientific Reports
Hybrid metal matrix composites were produced by combining an Al6063 alloy with silicon carbide and varying proportions of palm kernel shell ash, an agricultural waste residue. Synthesised using a double stir-casting technique, the composites retained a fixed two weight percent of silicon carbide while palm kernel shell ash content ranged from zero to eight weight percent. Microstructural analysis confirmed uniform particle dispersion across the aluminium matrix, showing phases of aluminium, iron silicide, silicon carbide, magnesium oxide, and silicon dioxide. Material porosity ranged between 2.06 and 2.39 percent. Compared to unreinforced Al6063, the hybrid composites exhibited increases of approximately 10.3 percent in hardness, 18.5 percent in yield strength, and 10.4 percent in ultimate tensile strength. However, ductility and fracture toughness declined as ash content increased.
Utilising agricultural by-products as reinforcements offers a sustainable path to produce enhanced structural materials. Incorporating abundant agro-waste such as palm kernel shell ash into aluminium matrices helps identify low-cost alternatives to wholly synthetic ceramic reinforcements. This research provides measurable data showing that agricultural ash can partially substitute conventional reinforcements to improve specific mechanical properties of widely used aluminium alloys.
The material is targeted at lightweight engineering applications, which could eventually interest manufacturers of transport components or structural parts requiring improved strength-to-weight ratios. As the abstract describes laboratory synthesis, mechanical testing, and microstructural analysis, this work represents early-stage materials research. Substantial further testing, scale-up studies, and operational durability trials would be needed before any commercial adoption could occur.
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Abstract The utilization of agro-residues ash as complementary reinforcing materials continues to gain prominence for metal matrix composite (MMCs) development. A rarely investigated but largely available ash among these agro-residues is the palm kernel shell ash (PKSA). Thus, the present study investigates the influence of PKSA particulates hybridized with SiC on the physico-mechanical properties and microstructure of Al6063 metal composites. The composites are synthesized using the double stir-casting technique with SiC held constant at 2 wt.%, while the PKSA contents are varied from 0 to 8 wt.%. The phases present and morphology of the composites are investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The density, porosity, hardness, tensile and fracture toughness tests are carried out on the hybrid composites. X-ray diffractometer revealed that for Al 6063, only Al cubic crystal system was identifiable within the matrix. However, for the reinforced composites, major phases identified are Al, Fe 3 Si, SiC, MgO, and SiO 2 . The SEM images show that the particulates reinforcements (SiC and PKSA) were uniformly dispersed in the matrix. The percentage porosity for the composites ranged from 2.06 to 2.39%. In addition, hardness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the composites are about 10.3%, 18.5% and 10.4%, respectively better than for Al 6063. However, the percent elongation and fracture toughness are lower for the hybrid composites than for Al 6063 and SiC reinforced composite with values decreasing with increase in ash content. Hence, the MMCs produced will be applicable for light-weight engineering applications.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94420-0
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