Influence of calcined snail shell particulates on mechanical properties of recycled aluminium alloy for automotive application

Abstract

Nowadays, low-cost particulate reinforced metal matrix composites with improve mechanical properties are highly sought in various industrial and critical engineering applications including automotive and aerospace sectors. Meanwhile, increasing consumption rate of African giant land snail (Archachatina marginata) had been posing disposal challenges of its shells. Therefore, this paper tends to investigates the influence of waste snail shells particulates on the physical and mechanical properties of recycled aluminum- silicon alloy matrix. Different weight proportions i.e. (0 - 7.5) wt% of calcined snail shell particles at an interval of 1.5 wt% were successfully incorporated into Al-Si alloy matrix melted at 750 ?C using stir-casting route. The microstructure, physical and mechanical properties of the resulting composites were examined and presented. Microstructural examination shows fairly uniform dispersion of snail shell particles in the aluminium alloy matrix intermingled with aluminium-silicon dendrites. Mechanical properties such as hardness, impact, compressive and tensile strengths increased with increasing addition of calcined snail shell particulate up to 6 wt% while density and elongation decreases. The total equivalent density reduction of 5.4% in composites compared to unreinforced alloy was obtained at 7.5 wt% snail shell addition. The maximum hardness, impact, compressive and tensile strengths obtained are 118?4 HV, 88 J, 552?20 MPa and 211 ? 4.8 MPa equivalent to 21, 25, 19 and 36 percent increase respectively relative to un-reinforced aluminium-silicon alloy. Hence, mechanical and physical properties of Al-Si alloy can be enhanced using calcined snail shell particulates which can widen its application in automotive industries.

Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Metal Matrix Composites: A Review on the Role of Green Reinforcements and Processing Methods

“…Discarded bio-shell waste also includes snail shell for which applications are rarely reported. Kolawole et al [74] explored the feasibility of using calcinated snail shells as low-cost reinforcement in metal matrix composites. Snail shell is composed of hard oxide ceramics like CaO, Fe 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , MnO, and NiO.…”

“…The significantly low-density value of snail shell (1.63 g/cc) combined with high thermal stability (up to 670 • C) ensures weight saving potential of snail shell as bio-shell reinforcement to produce thermally resistant MMCs. By stir casting method, Al-Si alloy-based composites with different amounts of calcinated snail shell particles (100 µm) were prepared [74]. Uniform distribution of snail shell particles with good wettability and interfacial bonding enhanced tensile strength and hardness of Al by 50% (Table 30).…”

Enhanced mechanical behaviour and grain characteristics of aluminium matrix composites by cold rolling and reinforcement addition (Rice husk ash and Coal fly ash)

“…Many researchers have worked on the addition of agro-wastes which include coconut shell ash, fly ash, RHA, palm kernel ash and snail shell. 16–21 They have used reinforcing materials to improve the engineering properties of aluminium composites.…”

Influence of Cow Horn Particles on the Hardness and Impact Properties of the Reinforced Recycled Aluminium Alloy

“…carbonized eggshell when compared to unreinforced alloy. In addition, Kolawole et al [19] studied recycled aluminium alloy reinforced with different quantities of calcinated snail shell particles. Their results showed that uniform distribution of snail shell particles with good wettability and interfacial bonding improved hardness and tensile strength by 50%.…”