Effect of friction stir process parameters on tensile strength of eggshell and SiC-reinforced aluminium-based composite

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to minimize pollution and enhance the mechanical properties of SiC- reinforced aluminum- based composite by utilizing waste eggshell. Pollution is increasing at an exponential rate across the globe. Every nation is struggling to have strong control over the rise in pollution. Many countries are even successful in this regard, but only up to a certain extent; also, a lot of capital investment is required just to make arrangements for making and taking care of dedicated dump yards. An alternative approach in this regard could be using the unwanted wastes in some constructive works by recycling them. Novel strategies and dedicated cells for the research and development regarding the recycling of various kinds of wastes are continuously being developed by various nations.Design/methodology/approachThis study attempts to make a hybrid composite of AA6101 alloy through the friction stir process (FSP) technique in which waste eggshells and SiC have been used as reinforcement particles. As the densities of eggshells, SiC show different values of densities to make them a single entity, they were subjected to ball milling for around 75 h. After ball milling, the reinforcement particles (eggshells and SiC) were distributed uniformly in the metal matrix (Al), and they appear as a single entity in the metal matrix composite.FindingsThe main objective of this study is to obtain an enhanced value of tensile strength of the final composite. Concerning this, the parameters of FSP, i.e. rotational speed and transverse speed, have been optimized through the Box–Behnken design approach. The optimized values of FSP parameters came out to be as 935.92 rpm of rotational speed and 22.48 mm/min as transverse speed value.Originality/valueThe results showed that the tensile strength and hardness of the composite developed at an optimum combination of FSP parameters enhanced by about 47.14 and 45.45%, respectively.