Abstract
Chicken eggshell (ES) is an aviculture byproduct that has been used as the reinforcement in the present study which is recorded worldwide as one of the vilest environmental problems. The present work deals with development of ES-reinforced Al6061 matrix composites by stir-casting process with 0 to 10 wt% of reinforcement at an interval of 2 wt%. The microstructures of the fabricated composites were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopes with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS). Optical micrographs divulge the uniform distribution of reinforcing particles in the matrix while X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns ensure the dispersion of ES particles reinforcement in Al6061 matrix. The properties measured include density, tensile strength and hardness values. The tensile strength and hardness of composites increase with the addition of ES particles and the maximum values were achieved at 4 wt%. Further increase of ES particles in the matrix leads to decrease in hardness and strength owing to increase in porosity.
Highlights
The tensile strength and hardness of composites increase with the addition of ES particles and the maximum values were achieved at 4 wt%
It is found that the chicken eggshell (ES) particles have been successfully incorporated in Al6061 matrix alloy through stir casting technique
The microstructure analysis shows the presence of uniformly distributed ES particles in the matrix alloy
Summary
Al6061 alloy which is a precipitation-hardened aluminium alloy, containing magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements, is the most widely used matrix material because of its good mechanical properties, ease of fabrication, good castability, weldability and resistance to atmospheric corrosion [5] [6] [7] It is one of the most common aluminum alloys for general-purpose use. One of the best way to reduce the cost, is to use low cost reinforcements which include waste materials like fly-ash, red mud, rice husk ash, bagasse ash, maize stalk waste and eggshells waste particles These waste and naturally available materials offer great opportunity towards the economical development of composites. An attempt has been taken to develop ES-reinforced Al6061 composites by stir casting route which is adopted because of its simplicity and it offers better bonding between reinforcement and matrix, wettability and homogeneous distribution of particles in the matrix [19] [20]
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