Investigate the Possibility of Improving the Properties of Aluminum Scrap Powder by adding Graphite Powder

Abstract

Aluminum scraps are derived from industrial waste in the machining process called turning and are rarely reused. Recycling this wasted aluminum is particularly appealing. The Aluminum powder is made from this industrial waste. This article uses a metallurgical technique to prepare and use scrap recycled aluminum. In this study, the goal was to improve the properties of aluminum scraps by adding graphite powder. This study is based on a powder metallurgical process, where aluminum scraps from the machining processes are converted into fine powder (~60 μm) using a ball mill process. The powder is then mixed into a composite of aluminum powder (Al) and graphite powder (GP) using a high-speed mixing method. The GP added to the Al has a particle matter ratio of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 percent by weight. The composite powder is then compressed into a test specimen and sent for sintering. The study aims to look at the mechanical and electrical properties after the introduction of graphite powder. In ideal circumstances, the study showed an increase in ultimate tensile strength (UTS), young’s modulus (E), hardness, and electrical conductivity of composite in comparison with pure aluminum, with a UTS value of 140.32 MPa up from 131.05 MPa, an E value of 49.78 GPa up from 41.48 GPa and a hardness value of 91.88 HV up from 64.69 HV.