Tribological Behavior of Aluminum Matrix Composites Reinforced With Silicon-Based Refractory Compounds Derived From Rice Husk

Abstract Agricultural waste-derived metal matrix composites (MMCs) provide sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to conventional ceramic-reinforced materials. This work provides a systematic assessment of the solid particle erosion behavior of AlSi10Mg composites reinforced with a silicon-based refractory compound (SiRC) derived from rice husk, synthesized via powder metallurgy, contributing to the development of high-performance engineering materials aligned with circular economy-driven manufacturing practices. The SiRC powder was first produced through controlled pyrolysis of rice husk, yielding highly crystalline particles (∼20 µm) composed of cristobalite and quartz and subsequently used to fabricate AlSi10Mg composites containing 0, 3, 6, and 9 wt% reinforcement via powder metallurgy. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energydispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses confirmed uniform dispersion and phase stability. Incorporation of SiRC reduced composite density by up to 11% while increasing hardness progressively, achieving an overall improvement of approximately 24% at 9 wt% reinforcement. Erosion tests under varying impact velocities and impingement angles revealed that the 6 wt% SiRC composite exhibited superior resistance, attributed to an optimal balance between hardness and deformation resistance. Velocity exponent analysis (n ≈ 2–3, R2 > 0.95) indicated ductile erosion behavior, while field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and surface roughness evaluations confirmed reduced material loss and mechanical embedding of erodent particles. Overall, SiRC incorporation enhanced mechanical integrity and erosion resistance, demonstrating the potential of these composites as sustainable materials for demanding industrial applications.