Addition of Coconut Shell Ash Particle with AZ31 Magnesium Alloy - Assessment of Tribological and Mechanical Behaviour

Abstract

Desires of materials with lesser weight made wide spread use of alloys based on magnesium in automobiles and aerospace applications in the view of overcoming lower strength of these materials when compared to aluminium, these materials are added with some hard materials like ceramics, metal oxides or natural remaining as a reinforcing phase with a proof for improvement in properties. In the present work AZ31 alloy is strengthened by adding Coconut Shell Ash particles (CSAp) by means of powder metallurgy and the examinations like microstructure, micro hardness, compressive strength and wear are conducted. The ash particles content as reinforcement has not imparted larger variation in the strength and hardness, the wear resistance is increased with the addition of ash particles and the addition of CSAp exceeding 3% leads to crack.