A STUDY ON IMPACT OF BIOSILICA SYNTHESIZED FROM WASTE MANIHOT ESCULENTA PEEL IN THE WELD QUALITY OF FRICTION STIR WELDED AA 6061-AZ31B Mg DISSIMILAR WELDS

This study investigates the mechanical, fatigue, and microstructural properties of friction stir welded dissimilar AA6061-AZ31B Mg alloy, incorporating cassava waste biosilica. The principal aim of this research study was to analyze the reinforcement effect of biosilica in the weld pool of dissimilar AA6061-AZ31B Mg subjected to friction stir welding process. The biosilica of size 30–40[Formula: see text]nm was synthesized from the waste of cassava peel via thermo-chemical process and characterized. The welding process was performed as a butt joint configuration with the biosilica filled via the root canal. According to the results, the weld bead AA2 demonstrates notable tensile and yield strength of 252 and 218[Formula: see text]MPa, respectively, with a notable elongation of 4.4%. Despite this, it shows a maximum impact energy of 17.8[Formula: see text]J, signifying favorable toughness. Biosilica inclusion enhances hardness, peaking at 112 VHN for weld composition AA3, crucial for wear resistance. Composition AA2 exhibits noteworthy fatigue strength at 158[Formula: see text]MPa, vital for industries like automobile and defense. The microstructure of welds revealed changes in grain size and toughness improvement after the addition of biosilica. The EDAX report confirms the presence of Si, Al, and Mg atoms in the nugget zone. The weld composition AA2 showcases promising mechanical properties, suggesting its suitability for demanding applications in these sectors. In summary, biosilica incorporation in friction stir welding enhances mechanical properties, providing useful strength improvement for commercial and novel MMCs developed for robust applications.