Preparation of Carbon Brushes from Agro-Waste Materials Palm Kernels Shells for Automobile Industry

Abstract

Abstract The carbon brush is mainly applied in a rotating shaft as an electrical contact in conducting current between static wires and moving parts. It is applied majorly in electric motors, alternators, and electric. The automobile industry has recently developed rapidly in the world with numerous novel kinds of motors with low power and high speed. The materials that are utilized in the manufacture of carbon brush are copper metal, amorphous carbon, graphite, retort cokes, petroleum coke, binders, lubricants, and some other metal powders serving various purposes. The major part of the carbon brushes is carbon which can be derived from carbonaceous materials such as agro-waste. The agro-waste of palm kernel shell was prepared through pyrolysis using an anaerobic furnace at 500 °C – 800 °C for five hours to obtain carbonaceous material. The carbon which is the main component was activated at this temperature using the physical activation method. The samplers produced contained copper, zinc, and molybdenum disulphide as a lubricant with a resin binder in a different ratio. The samples were characterized by several testing. The results showed that the hardness, bending strength 1125 N/mm2, resistivity 14 μΩcm, and bulk density 1026 g/cm3. These were compared with control samples from the industry which have Brinell hardness 398.22 BHN, bending strength 1305 N/mm2, resistivity 22 μΩcm, and bulk density 1104 g/cm3. From the comparison result, the properties measured of the sample fell within a reasonable range with the industry carbon brush. In conclusion, the result demonstrates that agro-waste such as palm kernel shell is a viable means in the production of carbon brushes for the automobile industry.