EVALUATING THE ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF RICE HUSK ASH/YAM PEEL ASH HYBRID SCRAP ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITE

Abstract

This research was aimed at the production of aluminum (scarp aluminum) matrix composite reinforced with various quantities of rice husk ash (RHA) and yam peels ash (YPA) using the stir casting methods. Four aluminum matrix composite samples were produced through the hybridization of RHA and YPA, at the rate of 4, 8, 12 and 16% wt. The hardness, tensile strength and compressive strength of all the composite samples and the scrap aluminum were measured in accordance with America Standard Testing Material (ASTM) International approved guidelines. The results obtained from the investigated depicted that the fillers had substantial effect of the composite mechanical properties. It was noted that the composite samples tensile and compressive strengths increased from 115 MPa to 153 MPa, and 128 MPa to 244 MPa, respectively, as the fillers volume increased from 4% to 12%; while the hardness increased from 54.31 to 67.18 as the fillers quantity increased to 45 to 16%. Findings of this research had affirmed that higher fillers quantity – greater than 12% - caused noteworthy deterioration in the tensile and compressive strengths of the hybrid composite developed. The significant mechanical properties recorded in the hybrid composite produced from the RHA and YPA is an indication that, biodegradable materials can used to produce essential lightweight machine parts for the aeronautical and automobile industries.