Experimental investigation on tensile strength of novel metal matrix composite of aluminium alloy 5083 with SiC and eggshell powder reinforcement

To estimate the increase in Tensile strength of the aluminium alloy AA5083 when reinforced with silicon carbide nanoparticles and carbonized eggshell powder (ESP). The experimental samples of the reinforced aluminium alloy metal matrix composite were prepared by stir-casting method. A G-Power calculation of 80% was used to determine the number of samples per group to be 20. The twenty sample specimens of as cast aluminium alloy AA5083 were the control group, twenty sample specimens of aluminium alloy AA5083 reinforced with 10% carbonized eggshell powder and 2% & 4% nano silicon carbide made up the experimental groups. The ASTM E8-95 standard was followed for the tensile strength testing. The average tensile strength of as cast AA5083 was found to be 233.15 MPa. The mean tensile strength for AA5083+10%ESP+2%SiC novel metal matrix composite was found to be 252.70 MPa. The mean tensile strength for AA5083+10%ESP+4%SiC novel metal matrix composite was found to be 263.70 MPa. Within the limitations of this study, the metal matrix composite with 4% weight percent of nano silicon carbide microparticles and 10% weight percent of eggshell powder as filler materials had a 13% relative increase in tensile strength compared to the as cast AA5083.