Effect of variation of egg-shell particulate reinforcement on ultrasonic pulse velocity, attenuation, and hardness prediction in ceramic-metal composites

Abstract

In this study, ceramic-metal composite material reinforced with additive prepared from waste egg-shell was produced. Waste egg-shells were cleaned, dried, ground and then sieved. The effects of egg-shell reinforcement ratio (0%, 1.66%, 3.34%, 5%, and 6.66 % by volume) and sintering temperature (1400?C) applications on Fe-B4C ceramic-metal powders were tested. For this purpose, tests such as ultrasonic test, hardness and density were applied to the composite material, and finally, microstructural analysis was performed on the composites by SEM application. The changes in the crystal structure of the egg-shell after sintering were revealed by diffractograms analysis. It was observed that the hardness, ultrasonic longitudinal and transverse wave velocities also increased with the increase in the reinforcement ratios of the egg-shell. Considering the 6.66% egg-shell addition to the ceramic-metal composite mixture, in the light of the numerical data obtained, 5091 m/s longitudinal wave velocity, 2809 m/s transverse wave velocity, 204.12 Hv hardness value, 0.315 dB per mm longitudinal attenuation and 0.214 dB per mm transverse attenuation values with gave the best physical and mechanical properties. According to the test results obtained, it was determined that it would be appropriate to use the egg-shell in the production of composite materials and to characterize it with the ultrasonic test method.