Optimization of Elaeis Guineensis Shell Ash Nanoparticles for Gas Turbine Blade Coating

The nanoparticles of elaeis guineensis (oil palm) kernel shell ash was developed into recipe for the fabrication of composite coatings on gas turbine blades, with electrodeposition technique employed. To prepare the electrodeposition bath; 100g/l ZnCl2, 5g/l Thiourea, 15g/l Boric acid, and 100g/l KCl were utilized and the recipe for the fabrication of the composite coatings were 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25g/l of the nanoparticles. This paper tends to analyse the various percentage weight of the recipe making up the electrolyte, with a view to investigating and ascertaining the effectiveness of the coatings derived from each composition through; coating thickness, hardness value, surface roughness, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), electrical conductivity, tribology and microstructure analysis. Whereas the results of the investigation reveal that the performance of gas turbine blade was enhanced with the composite coatings, the 20g/l composition was found to be most effective. The decrease in the performance beyond this composition is attributable to the fact that the electrolyte became too viscous to promote easy flow of electrons during electrodeposition, as was similarly observed in previous work.