COMPARATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF CHEMICALLY MODIFIED HOMOGENEOUS ALLOYS FOR ENHANCED PROPERTIES IN TRICYCLE PISTON APPLICATIONS
This study investigated the performance of recycled aluminium silicon alloys used in tricycle piston applications, where uneven composition and poor mechanical qualities affect service dependability. The goal was to assess the impact of sulphur-based chemical modifications on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of homogenous silumin alloys. The methodology included preparing seven alloy formulations with sulphur additions ranging from 0.0-3.0 wt.% using scrap aluminium from engine blocks and gearboxes, followed by controlled melting, degassing, fluxing, casting, and testing for tensile strength, fatigue strength, Vickers hardness, and thermal linear expansivity; statistical significance was determined using analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests. The results showed significant variation across all treatments, with the 1.0 wt.% sulphur alloy achieving the highest hardness of about 60.5 HV and fatigue life of about 7.1 million cycles, while tensile strength declined beyond 1.5 wt.% sulphur, and excessive sulphur reduced overall mechanical performance due to microstructural coarsening and brittle phase formation. The study therefore recommends maintaining sulphur addition at around 1.0 wt.% to achieve the optimal balance of strength, hardness, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability for tricycle piston applications, as well as strict control of sulphur content during alloy formulation to prevent mechanical property degradation.
Authors : Babakano, A., Hassan, M.A. and Raji, A.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 12(1) Date Uploaded : 24th September 2026