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<p>Lightweight aluminium alloys remain central to the design of modern automotive engine components, yet their limited resistance to wear and thermal instability under service conditions restricts wider structural applications. In this study, date palm seed ash (DPSA), an underutilised agro-waste by-product rich in metal oxides, was introduced as a reinforcing phase into gravity die-cast A356 alloy to improve its multifunctional performance. The DPSA was synthesised by controlled calcination at 500&#xa0;°C and incorporated into the molten alloy through a semi-solid compo-casting route at 0–1.0 wt% reinforcement. The cast composites were evaluated in both as-cast and T6-treated conditions using mechanical, tribological, thermal, and microstructural techniques. The introduction of DPSA resulted in measurable refinement of the aluminium matrix. T6-treatment modified the eutectic silicon phase. There were noticeable improvements in the strength, hardness, and wear resistance of the composites up to 0.75 wt% reinforcement level, beyond which particle clustering and micro-void formation led to the deterioration of these properties. The T6-treated 0.75 wt% composite recorded the best combination of properties. Thermal analyses further revealed improved oxidation resistance and a consistent reduction in the coefficient of thermal expansion with increasing DPSA content. This confirmed that low fractions of DPSA can act simultaneously as grain refiners, load-bearing particulates, and thermal stabilisers within the A356 matrix. The T6-treatment further enhanced the mechanical, thermal and tribological properties of the composites. The study showed the synergistic use of low-weight fraction DPSA reinforcement and T6 treatment to enhance the performance characteristics of gravity die-cast A356 composites for automotive applications.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Thermomechanical and tribological behaviour of gravity die cast A356 aluminium composites reinforced with date palm seed ash for automotive applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

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  • Thomas Aghogho Orhadahwe,
  • Olusegun Olufemi Ajide,
  • T. P. D Rajan,
  • Olanrewaju Miracle Oyewola

摘要

Lightweight aluminium alloys remain central to the design of modern automotive engine components, yet their limited resistance to wear and thermal instability under service conditions restricts wider structural applications. In this study, date palm seed ash (DPSA), an underutilised agro-waste by-product rich in metal oxides, was introduced as a reinforcing phase into gravity die-cast A356 alloy to improve its multifunctional performance. The DPSA was synthesised by controlled calcination at 500 °C and incorporated into the molten alloy through a semi-solid compo-casting route at 0–1.0 wt% reinforcement. The cast composites were evaluated in both as-cast and T6-treated conditions using mechanical, tribological, thermal, and microstructural techniques. The introduction of DPSA resulted in measurable refinement of the aluminium matrix. T6-treatment modified the eutectic silicon phase. There were noticeable improvements in the strength, hardness, and wear resistance of the composites up to 0.75 wt% reinforcement level, beyond which particle clustering and micro-void formation led to the deterioration of these properties. The T6-treated 0.75 wt% composite recorded the best combination of properties. Thermal analyses further revealed improved oxidation resistance and a consistent reduction in the coefficient of thermal expansion with increasing DPSA content. This confirmed that low fractions of DPSA can act simultaneously as grain refiners, load-bearing particulates, and thermal stabilisers within the A356 matrix. The T6-treatment further enhanced the mechanical, thermal and tribological properties of the composites. The study showed the synergistic use of low-weight fraction DPSA reinforcement and T6 treatment to enhance the performance characteristics of gravity die-cast A356 composites for automotive applications.

Graphical Abstract