The effect of mussel shell reinforcement on the properties of aluminium

Nowadays, low-cost particle-reinforced metal matrix composites that enhance mechanical performance are in widespread demand in a variety of industrial and critical engineering applications, including the automotive and aerospace industries. The main purpose of this thesis is to use waste mussel shells, which are known to contain CaCO3, as reinforcement material and to produce metal matrix composite with high spesific strength by creating an increase in strength without changing the density of aluminium too much. At the same time, it is to recycle the waste mussel shells, which cause environmental pollution, by using them as reinforcement material. In this study, different ratios (1-5-10-15% by weight) of mussel shell reinforcement that calcined at 800 oC were added to aluminium powder. Then, the pellets obtained by compressing this powder mixture at 500 psi pressure were turned into aluminium matrix composite by arc melting and suction casting method. In line with the problems experienced in the arc melting process, spark plasma sintering method was also used as an alternative production method. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray diffractometry were used to determine the contents of mussel shells and the phases before and after calcination, respectively. The obtained results were supported by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The densities of the produced composites were determined by the Archimedes method, the distribution of the mussel shell reinforcement in the aluminum matrix was determined by optical and scanning electron microscopes, and the effect of the addition of different amounts of mussel shell on the mechanical performance was determined by hardness and abrasion tests.