Investigation of mechanical properties and microstructural analysis on palm oil chisel

Abstract

Four categories of oil palm chisels were chosen to investigate their metallurgical features and the fundamental properties of each oil palm chisel. The samples were grouped into specimen C1, C2, C3 and C4 according to their chemical compositions. The elemental composition of each chisel sample was verified using GDS machine. Each specimen was prepared for microstructural study, hardness testing, tensile testing, Charpy impact testing and wear abrasive slurry testing. The entire testing was chosen to compare the properties of each specimen based on their application. The elemental analysis showed that specimen C2 has the highest carbon steel content (0.755% C) followed by C1 (0.684% C), C4 (0.25% C) and C3 (0.064% C), which showed that C2 has the highest hardness value. Correspondingly, the toughness value was measured by using energy absorbed, the results showed that specimen C3 is tougher than specimen C4, C1 & C2. Also, tensile test showed that specimen C3 is more ductile than specimen C4, C1 & C2, which implied that specimen C3 possessed the highest tensile strength. Finally, wear abrasive test revealed that the higher the carbon content, the higher the weight loss of the specimen which proved by the higher weight loss in specimen C2 and a very little weight loss in specimen C3.