TITLE:
The Potentials of Kyanite Particles and Coconut Shell Ash as Strengthener in Aluminum Alloy Composite for Automobile Brake Disc
AUTHORS:
Simon Godenaan Datau, Mohammed Ahmed Bawa, Jacob Shekwonudu Jatau, Muhammad Hamisu Muhammad, Adekunle Sefiu Bello
KEYWORDS:
Kyanite Particles, Coconut Shell Ash, Oxide Compounds, Crystalline Phases, Density and Strengtheners
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.8 No.3,
April
16,
2020
ABSTRACT: The use of waste materials to produce engineering components is currently
attracting so much interest due to their low cost, availability and
environmental impact. In this study, coconut shell ash (CSA) and kyanite
particles (KP) produced from coconut shells and kyanite mineral respectively
were characterized. X-ray Florence (XRF), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and
scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to analyze the oxide compositions,
crystalline phases and microstructures of CSA and KP. The XRF analysis revealed
major oxides in CSA and KP as SiO2 and Fe2O3;
and Al2O3 and SiO2 respectively. The XRD
analysis revealed the presence of Quartz, Hematite, Andradite and Gaultite
phases at major peaks in diffractogram of CSA; and Quartz and Beryl phases at
major peaks in the diffractogram of KP. The crystallite sizes of the quartz
phases in CSA and KP at diffraction angle of 26.72°C and 20.91°C were
determined as 638.28 Å and 789.38 Å respectively. From the SEM image of CSA, it was observed that particles
of different sizes are present in the microstructure of CSA. The average size
of the particles in the microstructure of CSA is 26.24 μm. A
similar result was observed in the SEM image of KP and average size of the
particles is 3.074 μm. Also, the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrums of CSA and KP
revealed the presence of many elements with calcium as the major element in CSA
and Aluminium as major element in KP. The presence of the crystalline phases in
CSA (SiO2, Al2O3, andradite, gaultite and
hematite) and KP (SiO2 and Al2O3) will make
them good strengthening materials for the production of Aluminium based
composites that can be used in applications where a good combination of strength and wear
characteristics is a basic requirement like brake disc.