CORROSION & WEAR PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM AA6061/SNAIL SHELL +

CHITOSAN COMPOSITES.

BY

NUMBERE BINWA-ARI GOLDIE

15CM03161

BEING A FINAL YEAR REPORT SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,

COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING B.Eng. (Hons.)

IN

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

APRIL, 2022
 DECLARATION

I humbly declare that the work detailed in this project titled, “CORROSION & WEAR
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM AA6061/SNAIL SHELL+ CHITOSAN COMPOSITES” was
carried out by me under the supervision of Dr. Udoye Ekene in the Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Covenant University. Also, I attest to the best of my knowledge that this report has
not been submitted here or elsewhere in a previous application for a bachelor’s degree award. All
sources of knowledge used have been duly acknowledged.

……………………………………….

Numbere Binwa-ari Goldie

15CM03161
 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that I, Numbere Binwa-ari Goldie carried out this research project under my
supervisor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota.

Engr. Dr. Nduka Ekene Udoye Date

Supervisor

Professor Joshua Olusegun Okeniyi Date

Head of Department
 DEDICATION

This research project is dedicated to God for his Grace accorded to me to carry out this project
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am thankful to God Almighty for enabling me the completion of this research work. I also to
acknowledge my supervisor, Dr. Nduka Ekene Udoye for his dedication and assistance in seeing
this through. I am indebted to my parents for their constant prayers, love, support and
motivation.
 CHAPTER ONE

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The properties required of materials to be able to produce what we perceive as above average
performance are so numerous and diverse that it is impossible for a simple homogenous material
to satisfy them all.

However, materials that exhibit all of these properties were desired in industries and practical
applications, as a result the technological developments in material science led to a resurgence of
the now popular concept of composite manufacturing. Hence, the departure in engineering
applications from homogenous monolithic materials to new materials called composites (Sijo &
Jayadevan, 2016).

A composite material is a material made from two or more constituent materials with
significantly different physical or chemical properties that when combined, produce a material
with characteristics different from the individual components (McEvoy and Corell, 2015).
Consequently, composites can be said to have added a stunning fluidity to design engineering,
compelling scientists and engineers to create a different material for each application as they
pursue saving in weight and cost (Schier & Juergens, 1983). Composite materials are classified,
on the basis of matrix material, into three types; Metal Matrix Composites (MMC), Ceramic
Matrix Composites (CMC), and Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC) (Callister, 2010). A matrix
material can be simply viewed as a “blank canvas” on which the varying fibers can be lodged to
create specific composites.

Metallic materials have comparatively medium strength and moduli as well as being quite
ductile, metal matrix composites consist of a very wide range of materials depending on the
components and as such also have a very wide range of applications in various areas such as
biotech, aeronautics, vehicle technologies, nuclear etc. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess
significantly improved properties including high thermal conductivity, abrasion resistance, creep
resistance, dimensional stability, exceptionally good stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight
ratios, high specific strength, specific modulus, damping capacity and good wear resistance
compared to unreinforced alloys (Bharath et al., 2012 and Toptan et al., 2009). More specifically
Aluminum based matrices are the most consistently used in manufacturing of composites as a
result of them being the cheapest among other different matrix materials. An advantage of using
an aluminum matrix is that it provides an avenue for the recycling of solid waste materials from
industries such as beverage cans and damaged aluminum roofing sheets.

Similarly, in the modern manufacturer’s bid to play his part in reducing environmental pollution
and adopting eco-friendly solutions, the use of recycled bio and agricultural wastes as
reinforcement materials is becoming increasingly popularized. These materials which were once
discarded and under-utilized are now preferred to their synthetic counterparts for reasons
including; the absence of hazardous residue, their economic impact in the form of cost savings
on MMC manufacturing and their environmental implications in general. Snail shell and
Chistosan are two examples of such bio-waste and are the two reinforcement fibres that will be
focused on in the course of the work. Globally, industrial aquatic organism waste and discards
from fishing continue to grow in hundreds of millions of tonnes every year. Although the waste
is naturally disintegrating, the degradation happens slowly to the tremendous amount of waste
consisting of tails, heads and internal organs (Gokulalakshmi et al., 2017; Zeller et al., 2018).
These wastes include Chitosan, a sugar that comes from the outer skeleton of shellfish including
crabs, lobsters etc., it is majorly responsible for the strength in the shells of crustaceans.

In this study the metal matrix composite gotten from using Aluminum AA6061 as the base and
reinforcements of Snail shell and Chitosan fibres will be put through a series of tests such as
SEM/EDS, Corrosion analysis etc. to determine its properties and suitability for the
manufacturing of automobile parts specifically; spring, brakes and gears.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

It is imperative to understand that though it is known that Aluminum matrix composites are more
than suitable and efficient to replace homogenous aluminum metals and alloys in manufacturing
processes there is still a gap between the actual utilization of aluminum composites in
manufacturing and a basic theoretical point of view on the benefits of its usage.
Aluminium matrix composites provide more beneficial properties than monolithic aluminium metals and
alloys. However, hybrid and composites are not used often due to factors affecting the economics of
scale:
 Cost of reinforcement material
 Cost of production technique
Hence, considerations have to be put into the development of composite, mainly the selection of material
and techniques, to ensure that significant cost implications do not outweigh the benefits of improved
properties. These issues are adequately addressed in this study.

1.1 Research Aim and Objectives

1.1.1 Aim
This research project aims to examine the potency of chitosan as a reinforcement material for aluminium
alloy AA6061.

1.1.2 Objectives
1. To develop composite material using aluminium alloy composite of fish scale
collagen, chitosan, as a reinforcement phase in AA6061 aluminium alloy
composite matrix

2. To investigate the surface morphology of the composite via SEM (Scanning

Electron Microscope)/ EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) and X-ray
Diffractometer for crystalline phase analysis.

3. To obtain the characterization of composite using mechanical testing: hardness,

tensile and elongation properties.

4. To perform electrical properties test, conductivity, on the newly formed metal

matrix composite.

1.2 Justification of the Study

The reinforcement of aluminium alloy with chitosan lead to:
1. Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid aluminium metal matrix
composite (AMMC)
 2. Safer and sustainable application of the agricultural waste product, chitosan.

1.3 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of the project is stated as follows:
1. Preparation of composite using the stir casting technique

2. Microstructural/morphological characterization of composite using (SEM /

EDS, XRD)

3. Mechanical testing (hardness, elongation, and tensile stress) of prepared

composites

4. Electrical test
The study is limited to reinforcement with chitosan derived from Micropogonias undulatus only.

1.4 Significance of the Study

This research project addresses the topic of AA6061 aluminium hybrid matrix reinforcement with
chitosan, providing data for selecting the new material with an emphasis on thermal behaviours.