HARDNESS AND TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF CRAB SHELL PARTICLES REINFORCED ALUMINUM 6063 COMPOSITES

Authors

  • Adebayo Felix Owa Centre of Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment University of Johannesburg
  • Takalani Madzivhandila Centre of Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment University of Johannesburg
  • Peter Apata Olubambi Centre of Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment University of Johannesburg
  • Hammed Amokun Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti
  • Ogunje Walter Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59957/jctm.v61.i2.2026.14

Keywords:

wear resistance, CSPs, hardness, density, composites, aluminum 6063

Abstract

The hardness and tribological behaviour of crab shell particles (CSPs) reinforced aluminium 6063 (Al-Mg-Si alloy) composites produced by the double stir casting method were investigated. Adding CSPs caused a marked improvement in the hardness and fracture toughness of the CSP composites, reflecting enhanced fracture resistance. The wear resistance enhancement of 1.56 % was noticed in 20 wt. % CSP composite, and abrasive wear was confirmed as the main wear process for the composites. The CSP composites showed a slight reduction in the density; with very low porosity indicating satisfactory wettability for the aluminium matrix, thus making the produced composite a good candidate material for the area of engineering lightweight applications.

Author Biographies

Peter Apata Olubambi, Centre of Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment University of Johannesburg

He is a professor of Metallurgy in Centre of Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials, Department of Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa.

Hammed Amokun, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti

He is a student in the depatment of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, 370111 Nigeria.

Ogunje Walter, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti

He is a student in department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineeing, Federal University Oye-Ekiti 370111, Nigeria.

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Published

2026-03-04

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Vol. 61 No. 2 (2026)

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