Evaluation of Optimized Carbonized Wheat Husk-Reinforced AA6061 Composite for Automotive Components Applications
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
In the pursuit of sustainable and lightweight materials for automotive applications, metal matrix composites (MMCs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their superior strength-to-weight ratios, enhanced wear resistance, and tailored mechanical properties. Aluminum-based composites, particularly those with AA6061 as the matrix, are widely recognized for their excellent corrosion resistance, weldability, and mechanical performance. However, there remains a need to improve the environmental sustainability, mechanical properties and lightweight properties of these materials through the incorporation of eco-friendly, sustainable, light and low-cost reinforcements. In this work, the reinforcement particulate, carbonized wheat husk (CWH) was gotten after pulverizing wheat husks to increase the surface area and charging it into a muffle furnace, subjected to a temperature of 900 0C for 3 hours. Thereafter, AA6061 reinforced composites (AA6061-CWH) were produced using the stir casting method, optimized through the Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array. The composite developed at optimum parameters was then selected and compared with selected automotive components. The optimized AA6061-CWH composite offers a well-balanced mechanical profile. It delivers decent tensile strength, exceptional hardness, good impact resistance, and a lower density, making it an appealing material choice for a broad spectrum of automotive applications. Its application could support the automotive industry’s ongoing pursuit of improved performance, efficiency, and sustainability through the use of affordable and eco-friendly materials.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Orhadahwe, T. A., Ajide, O. O., Adeleke, A. A., & Ikubanni, P. P. (2020). A review on primary synthesis and secondary treatment of aluminium matrix composites. Arab Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 27(1), 389-405.
Phiri, R., Rangappa, S. M., Siengchin, S., Oladijo, O. P., & Ozbakkaloglu, T. (2024). Advances in lightweight composite structures and manufacturing technologies: A comprehensive review. Heliyon
Sabry, I. (2025). Enhanced strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance of AA6061/AA6082 alloys using Al-SiC matrix reinforcement in dissimilar friction stir welding. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 1-27.
Prabhu, B., Prakash, M., Ramasamy, N., Kanagasabai, V., Mohanraj, T., Vijay, D., & Arunkumar, T. (2025). Cleaner production of performance-enhanced hybrid composites using agro-industrial wastes: A sustainable waste management strategy. Journal of Environmental Management, 381, 125116.
Oghenevweta, J. E., Aigbodion, V. S., Nyior, G. B., and Asuke, F. (2016). Mechanical properties and microstructural analysis of Al–Si–Mg/carbonized maize stalk waste particulate composites. Journal of King Saud University-Engineering Sciences, 28(2), 222-229
Atuanya, C. U., Ibhadode, A. O. A., & Dagwa, I. M. (2012). Effects of breadfruit seed hull ash on the microstructures and properties of Al–Si–Fe alloy/breadfruit seed hull ash particulate composites. Results in Physics, 2, 142-149.
Edoziuno, F. O., Nwaeju, C. C., Adediran, A. A., Odoni, B. U., & Prakash, V. A. (2021). Mechanical and microstructural characteristics of aluminium 6063 alloy/palm kernel shell composites for lightweight applications. Scientific African, 12, e00781.
Suleiman, I. Y., Salihu, S. A., & Mohammed, T. A. (2018). Investigation of mechanical, microstructure, and wear behaviors of Al-12% Si/reinforced with melon shell ash particulates. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 97, 4137-4144.
Masanja, D. N., Muya, M. S., & Nyangi, P. (2022). Characteristics of combined rice and wheat husk ashes as a partial replacement for cement in mortar. Civil Engineering Journal, 8(4), 671-682.
Terzioglu, P., Yücel, S., Rababah, T., & Özçimen, D. (2013). Characterization of wheat hull and wheat hull ash as a potential source of SiO2. BioResources, 8.
Baig, M. M., & Gul, I. H. (2021). Conversion of wheat husk to high surface area activated carbon for energy storage in high-performance supercapacitors. Biomass and Bioenergy, 144, 105909.
Shankar, S., Balaji, A., & Kawin, N. (2018). Investigations on mechanical and tribological properties of Al-Si10-Mg alloy/sugarcane bagasse ash particulate composites. Particulate Science and Technology, 36(6), 762-770.
Usman, Y., Dauda, E. T., Abdulwahab, M., & Dodo, R. M. (2020). Effect of mechanical properties and wear behaviour on locust bean waste ash (LBWA) particle reinforced aluminium alloy (A356 alloy) composites. FUDMA Journal of Sciences, 4(1), 416-421
Hassan, S. B., & Aigbodion, V. S. (2014). Effect coal ash on some refractory properties of alumino-silicate (Kankara) clay for furnace lining. Egyptian Journal of basic and applied sciences, 1(2), 107-114.
Zhang, W., & Xu, J. (2022). Advanced lightweight materials for Automobiles: A review. Materials & Design, 221, 110994
Osunmakinde, L., Asafa, T. B., Agboola, P. O., & Durowoju, M. O. Development of aluminum composite reinforced with selected agricultural residues. Discover Materials. 2023
Aynalem, G. F. (2020). Processing methods and mechanical properties of aluminium matrix composites. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2020(1), 3765791
Lemine, A. S., Fayyaz, O., Yusuf, M., Shakoor, R. A., Ahmad, Z., Bhadra, J., & Al-Thani, N. J. (2022). Microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites with bimodal-sized hybrid NbC-B4C reinforcements. Materials Today Communications, 33, 104512
Samal, P., Vundavilli, P. R., Meher, A., & Mahapatra, M. M. (2020). Recent progress in aluminum metal matrix composites: A review on processing, mechanical and wear properties. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 59, 131-152
Mahdi, E., Eltai, E., Alabtah, F. G., & Eliyan, F. F. (2022). Mechanical characterization of AA 6061-T6 MIG welded aluminum alloys using a robotic arm. Key Engineering Materials, 913, 271-278
Gao, Y. C., Dong, B. X., Yang, H. Y., Yao, X. Y., Shu, S. L., Kang, J., & Jiang, Q. C. (2024). Research progress, application and development of high Performance 6000 series aluminum alloys for new energy vehicles. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 32, 1868-1900.
Trzepieciński, T., & Najm, S. M. (2024). Current trends in metallic materials for body panels and structural members used in the automotive industry. Materials, 17(3), 590.
Akopyan, T. K., Belov, N. A., Lukyanchuk, A. A., Letyagin, N. V., Milovich, F. O.,& Fortuna, A. S. (2022). Characterization of structure and hardness at aging of the A319 type aluminum alloy with Sn trace addition. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 921, 166109
Chankitmunkong, S., Eskin, D. G., & Limmaneevichitr, C. (2020). Constitutive behavior of an AA4032 piston alloy with Cu and Er additions upon high-temperature compressive deformation. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 51, 467-481
Rolseth, A., Carlson, M., Ghassemali, E., Caro, L. P., & Jarfors, A. E. (2024). Impact of functional integration and electrification on aluminium scrap in the automotive sector: a review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 205, 107532
Tan, Y. B., Wang, X. M., Ma, M., Zhang, J. X., Liu, W. C., Fu, R. D., & Xiang, S. (2017). A study on microstructure and mechanical properties of AA 3003 aluminum alloy joints by underwater friction stir welding. Materials Characterization, 127, 41-52
Chen, X. W., Yang, H. Y., Dong, B. X., Liu, T. S., Liu, L., Tian, Z., & Jiang, Q. C. (2025). The development of high-strength flame-retardant magnesium alloys. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 36, 5797-5823