Fortification of Aluminum-Copper Alloy utilizing Precipitated Silica

from Rice (Oryza sativa ) Husk Ash

Nowadays, heavy alloys used in engines cause more usage of power and add weight to the car, thus, more fuel
is consumed. Aluminum-Copper alloy is a lightweight alloy and has excellent properties, though its durability is in-
comparable to the exemplary alloy used in engines. This study aims to determine the effect of precipitated silica
from Rice (Oryza sativa) Husk Ash to the mechanical properties of Aluminum-Copper Alloy. Different amounts of
precipitated silica were added, such as 0, 13.5, 27, and 40.5 grams in set-ups A to D respectively, to the Aluminum-
Copper. The fabricated alloys undergo tensile test (ASTM B557-02) then the set-ups A, B, C and D resulted in an av-
erage of 0, 108, 19.7, and 172.7 Mpa respectively in tensile strength. All set-ups give different average result in percent
elongation in 50 mm (0, 2.2, 0, and 4.8), also in percent reduction of area (0, 2.5, 0, and 3.3). Two-way ANOVA with rep-
lication was utilized and showed that there was a significant effect in the study. Furthermore, set up D was proven
to be the optimum set-up to strengthen the Aluminum-Copper Alloy. Hence, precipitated silica was concluded to
be an ideal aggregate to the alloy.

• Automobiles tend to use heavy alloys to produce en-

gines that adds weight to vehicles and increase the 90
work needed for the motor to keep inventions in mo- 80
tion. Thus, more fuel is used.[1] 70 Figure 4. Tensile
• Aluminum - Copper Alloy is a lightweight, hard-wearing 60
50
Strength of Aluminum-
and high-temperature resistant material,[2] with a den- 40 Copper Alloy with
sity of 2.79 g/cm3.[5] 30
• Silica or silicon dioxide (SiO2) from Rice Husk Ash (RHA) 20 different amounts of
is used in a vast array of industries, especially in con- 10
0
Silica
struction, due to its characteristics that can strength- SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C SET UP D

en the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys and

concrete.[3]
• Precipitated Silica from RHA has a density of 2.17 – 2.65 4

g/cm3,[4] which is near to the alloy, allowing both mate- 3.5 Figure 5. Percent
rials to be mixed well. It can easily be obtained by us- 3
Elongation of Alumi-
ing different methods such as subjecting the RHA in a
2.5

high-temperature furnace and a chemical procedure

2 num-Copper Alloy with
with hydrofluoric acid and ammonia.[6] different amounts of
1.5

0.5 Silica
0
SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C SET UP D

1. Understand how silica from Rice Husk Ash (RHA) affect

the strength of Aluminum - Copper Alloy.
5

2. Determine the characteristics of the Silica - rein- 4.5

Figure 6. Percent Reduc-
forced Aluminum –Copper alloy in terms:
4

2.1. Tensile Test

3.5 tion of Area of Alumi-
3
2.5 num-Copper Alloy with
3. Identify the optimal ratio of Silica - reinforced Alumi- 2
different amounts of
num - Copper Alloy in terms of: 1.5

3.1. 0% silica 3.3 0.6% silica 1

Silica
3.2. 0.3% silica 3.4 0.9% silica
0.5
0
SET UP A SET UP B SET UP C SET UP D

• It would benefit the community by making the compo-

sition of Aluminum - Copper Alloy stronger and more
durable.
• Based on the results of the four set-ups, Set-up D had
• It will lessen one of the most abundant agricultural the best results in terms of tensile strength, maximum
wastes in our country, rice husk, by incorporating its elongation and percent reduction in area because it
by-product when burned to reinforce Aluminum – had the greatest difference from the tensile strength,
Copper alloy. maximum elongation and percent reduction in area of
• The fabricated metal will be affordable and will pro- the controlled set-up.
vide convenience.
• Precipitated Silica was proven to be a good fortifier
based on the statistics performed, wherein the com-
puted p-values was significantly lesser than the alpha
value, 0.05.
COLLECTION OF MATERIALS

• It is recommended to add a wetting agent, such as

Figure 1. The researchers gathered the materials needed in their
study.
FORTIFICATION OF ALUMINUM-COPPER ALLOY
WITH PRECIPITATED SILICA
Magnesium, to guarantee that the additive and the
Aluminum-Copper Alloy can be easily combined.
• it is advised to machine or polish every specimen so it
can be subjected in the tension test straightly.
• It is recommended to use another method for the ex-
traction of silica, without the use of harmful chemicals,
to avoid any accidents.
• X-Ray Diffraction or other methods of testing is recom-
mended to validate if silica has been fully dispersed
Aluminum-Copper Alloy .

[1] 2016. “Rairdon's Nissan of Auburn Blog: New and Pre-Owned Nissan Dealer.”
Rairdon's
Nissan of Auburn. http://www.nissanofauburn.com/blogs/1180/3-advantages-
lightweightvehicles/.
[2] Woodford, Chris. 2018. "Aluminum - introduction, properties, manufacture,
and uses." Explain that stuff. https://www.explainthatstuff.com/
aluminum.html
[3] Davraz, M., and L. Gunduz. 2005. “Engineering Properties of Amorphous Sili-
ca as a New
Figure 2. Extraction of Precipitated Silica from Rice Husk Ash and Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete.” Cement and Concrete Research 35 (7):
1251–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.11.016.
Fabrication of the fortified Aluminum-Copper Alloy.
[4] 2016. "Rice Husk – A Useful By-Product For Rice Growing Countries." Myan-
mar Insider. https://www.myanmarinsider.com/rice-husk-a-useful-by-
product-for-rice-growing- countries/
Tensile Test of the Specimen [5] Todkar, Bajirao S., Onkar A. Deorukhkar, and Satyajeet M. Deshmukh. 2016.
“Extraction
of Silica from Rice Husk.” International Journal of Engineering Research and
Development 12(3): 69-74. http://www.ijerd.com/paper/vol12-issue3/Version-2/
H12326974.pdf
[6] Yuvakkumar, R., V. Elango, V. Rajendran, and N. Kannan. 2012. “High-Purity
Nano
Silica Powder from Rice Husk Using a Simple Chemical Method.” Journal of Ex-
perimental Nanoscience 9 (3): 272–81. https://
doi.org/10.1080/17458080.2012.656709.

Figure 3. Tensile Testing of the Fabricated Silica-reinforced All photos that are used in the paper were taken by the researchers
Aluminum-Copper Alloy. who conducted the study.