Examination of the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of 6063 Aluminium Alloy Reinforced with Palm Fruit Mesocarp Particles (PP) for Automobile Radiator Applications

Examination of the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of 6063 Aluminium Alloy Reinforced with Palm Fruit Mesocarp Particles (PP) for Automobile Radiator Applications

Itopa G. AKANDE, Oluwaseun M. DARAMOLA, Ebenezer O. AKANDE, Ezedeen A. OWOO, Abiodun D. OLORUNFEMI, Kunle M. OLUWASEGUN, Daniel O. NASAMU

Abstract. Automobile radiators are commonly built of 6063 Al alloy because of its outstanding thermal conductivity. However, radiators made from 6063 aluminium alloy have a flawed microstructure and low corrosion resistance due to the deteriorating effects of heat and high-temperature corrosion. The performance features of the reinforced alloy with PP for automobile applications were thus investigated in this work. Six specimens were used in this investigation: five reinforced specimens and one unreinforced control. Reinforced alloy specimens were fabricated and were then sectioned to 10 mm thickness and 20 mm diameter for characterisation. Corrosion resistance of the specimens was evaluated in 3.65% NaCl, in accordance with ASTM G102. Hardness was examined with a Brinell hardness machine following ASTM E10, whereas SEM/EDS and XRD were employed to study the microstructure and crystallographic phases, respectively. The unreinforced specimen displayed the minimum hardness value (104.94 kgf/mm2) together with the maximum corrosion rate (Cr), recorded at 0.7321 mm/year. Among the specimens, the 6063 Al alloy strengthened with 10% by weight of PP achieved the minimum Cr value of 0.1092 mm/year and the maximum hardness value of 109.84 kgf/mm². These findings showed that the PP improved the selected alloy’s tested properties.

Keywords
Automobile Radiators, 6063 Aluminium Alloy, Reinforced Alloy, Agricultural Waste

Published online 11/15/2026, 7 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Itopa G. AKANDE, Oluwaseun M. DARAMOLA, Ebenezer O. AKANDE, Ezedeen A. OWOO, Abiodun D. OLORUNFEMI, Kunle M. OLUWASEGUN, Daniel O. NASAMU, Examination of the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of 6063 Aluminium Alloy Reinforced with Palm Fruit Mesocarp Particles (PP) for Automobile Radiator Applications, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 74, pp 173-179, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904473-22

The article was published as article 22 of the book Composite Science and Technology

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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