Analysis of Al–Mg–Si alloy reinforced with optimal palm kernel shell ash particle and its impact on dynamic properties for sounding rocket application

Abstract

Due to heavy usage and rising populations, there is a growing need for local and naturally derived materials in the automotive and aerospace industries. Furthermore, due to their excellent mechanical qualities and high strength-to-weight ratio, composite materials are expected to perform better than traditional materials, particularly in automotive and aerospace applications. According to this perspective, this research aims to investigate the effects of optimal compositions of Al–Mg–Si alloy reinforced with palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) particles on dynamic mechanical characteristics of the composite produced via the powder metallurgy route. PKSA compositions of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 wt% as reinforcement on Al–Mg–Si powder were used to evaluate the static tensile strength of the produced composites. In this study, the damping factor, change in length, flexural, storage, and loss moduli were determined. In addition, the produced composites’ bulk density, hardness, creep, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis were also investigated. According to the study’s morphology result, recrystallisation of the powdered composition during ball milling increased dislocation density and harder phases in the PKSA, contributing to the PKSA’s better characteristics. Furthermore, the optimum weight percentage of 6.0 wt% of PKSA (Sample C4) has significant properties compared to the unreinforced (control) sample and was also found to have improved storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping behaviour. These findings showed that the developed composite, particularly sample C4, may be used in various technical applications, including automotive and aerospace industries.