Date of Publication :31st June 2024

Abstract:Aluminium composites are widely employed in the manufacture of various components for the automotive, marine, aerospace, and nuclear industries. Silica is the most abundant component in coconut fly ash, followed by potassium, calcium, and magnesium in smaller amounts. Silica content typically varies from 80% to 95%. Coconut ash has other advantages besides its high silica concentration, such as great porosity and relatively moderate heat conductivity. Aluminium is added in varying ratios to improve the strength of coconut fly ash composites, often at 3%, 6%, and 9%. The samples underwent microwave sintering at 550°C with a tolerance of ±5°C. Mechanical testing involved both pure aluminium specimens and aluminium composites. The results show a favourable association between CFA concentration and both density and porosity. When compared to pure aluminium, composites reinforced with 3%, 6%, and 9% showed considerable increases in hardness, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and yield strength (YS). However, it is worth mentioning that the elongation of the composites decreased rapidly. The observed gains in both ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength (YS) may be attributed to particle size reduction, which is controlled by a variety of processes including dislocation density, grain refinement, and lower porosity. Incorporating CFA reinforcement into composites reduced wear rates and increased wear resistance.

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