Development of Hybrid Composite Material of Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) and Periwinkle Shell (PS) Particles in Pure Aluminium Matrix

Abstract

Lightweight engineering materials that are strong, durable, wear and corrosion resistant are required nowadays in the field of engineering, especially in the automobile industry. This study was to develop a hybrid composite material of palm kernel shell (PKS) and periwinkle shell (PS) particles as reinforcements in pure aluminium matrix. The central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to carry out the design of experiment (DoE). Stir casting method was used to fabricate the specimens. The DoE gave 20 runs (experimental samples) which were replicated three times each, bringing the total number of runs to 60 for each of the six responses considered, and 360 specimens were fabricated in all. Three experimental values were obtained for each of the 120 runs for the wear rate, creep rate, density, tensile strength, hardness and melting temperature. The average values were determined and recorded. Control specimens with 100 wt. % pure aluminium matrix, 0 wt. % of PKS and PS reinforcement particles were prepared. The results showed that the reinforcement particles had significant improvement on mechanical properties of the pure aluminium.