A basalt-based automobile brake pad was developed through optimization of the volume fractions and manufacturing parameters, a mathematical model was developed based on rule of mixture for the optimization of the volume fraction and the solution obtained using excel solver is as follow; basalt 38%, cast iron chips 26%, bronze 12%, glass fibre 12% and phenolic resin 12%. The manufacturing parameters were design using full factorial design of three levels and three factors, twenty-seven runs were obtained from the design, consequently twenty-seven samples were produced by compression moulding. The constituent materials were properly mixed to obtained homogeneous mixture and compressed into a mould with a cavity similar to the shape of the friction pad this was done at different moulding pressures of 30MPa, 27MPa and 24MPa, the curing temperatures were 1800C, 2000C and 2200C and the curing of 5minutes, 10minutes and 15 minutes as obtained from the factorial design. The samples produced were subjected to tests, the results showed that the basalt brake pad has the following properties; compressive strength of 137mPa, coefficient of friction 0.476, hardness 70HRB, density of 2768kg/m3 thermal conductivity of 0.66W/mK, water absorption of 0.377%, oil absorption of 0.25%, void content of 18.93%, wear rate of 9.0X10 -4g/m and the TGA result shows that the basalt-based brake pad is thermally stable up to a temperature of 5000C. The properties of the basalt-based brake pad are within the acceptable range and can satisfactorily substitute basalt.

Please cite this article as: Umaru, O.B., Abdulwahab, M., Tokan, A., Bello, A.M., Umar, H.A., Effect of Double Thermal Ageing Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu-Mg/3% Rice Husk Ash Composite, Results in Physics (2016), doi: http://dx. Abstract:The effect of double thermal ageing treatment (DTAT) on the hardness, impact and tensile properties of Al-Cu-Mg/Rice husk ash composite produced by double stir casting method has been studied. From the results obtained, DTAT samples showed better hardness, impact and tensile properties as compared with the STAT samples. These significant improvements were evidenced in the DTAT for 5 hours (with a hardness value of 81.3 HRB) and DTAT for 4 hours with impact strength of 72 KJ/m 2 and Ultimate tensile strength of 129.797 N/mm 2 respectively. The Microstructural analysis revealed that more precipitates were formed and more evenly distributed in the DTAT than STAT. It can be deduced that the thermal treatment have improved the mechanical properties of the composite studied under this condition.

Abstract:In an effort to provide an affordable firewood and charcoal alternative to the rural households inNigeria, Pellets were produced from rice husk using a mould and a hydraulic press at three (3)

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The economic analysis reveals the basic information on the expenditure and profit to an investor who is willing to invest on the production of basalt-based brake pad in Nigeria, Nigeria has huge demand of brake as revealed by data obtained from National Bureau of Statistics Abuja (NBS). The analysis was based on deductive economic analysis which assumptions were made and arrived at particular result and the costing was based on Activity-Based Costing (ABC) where overhead and indirect cost were assigned to the related product. The economic analysis will give an insight to an investor (s) who has been skeptic about investing in the manufacturing of brake pad in Nigeria. The analysis revealed that the total capital require for this investment is #54,520,184.00 to set up a manufacturing plant with a capacity of 12,960 pieces of brake pad per day with a depreciation period of ten years. It also showed that if the line will run at 75% efficiency, the annual production is 2,566,080 pieces of brake pads. The unit cost of production is #520.85, unit selling price is #572.935, interest before tax of #6,797,983.869, break-even quantity of 861,019pieces, payback period of eight months. The annual total cost of production is #1,373,924,104.00, annual total sales revenue of #1,470,309,952.00.Twenty-seven people are require for manning the plant.It is clear from above information the investment is worthwhile because of the good payback period and considering the huge demand in Nigeria.