OPTIMIZATION OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CHEMICALLY ACTIVATED CARBON COMPOSITES IN ORGANIC FRICTION LININGS BY BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN

This study presents the development and physicomechanical optimization of friction lining composites from organic chemically activated carbon. Three types of chemically activated carbon from palm kernel shells (PKS) and coconut shell (CS) giving 3 volumetric ratios of CS (XCS) with 3 particle sizes (XPS) and 3 reinforcement weight concentrations (XWT). The composites were experimentally evaluated for mechanical properties (flexural strength FS, tensile strength TS, hardness H and density D) performance using box-behnken design. ANOVA was used to determine the effects of XPS, XCS and XWT. Results showed that all properties exhibited positive main effects from XPS of order FS>TS>H>D, and a positive XPS and XCS interaction. All properties except hardness exhibited negative XPS and XWT , negative XWT and XCS, and positive XPS and XCS interactions. All, except hardness, showed all positive quadratic effect from XPS, XWT and XCS. The experimental and predicted values showed little or no difference. The friction lining composites optimal properties obtained include: hardness Hmax=87.375?? at XWT=8%wt, XCS=100%CSAC, XPS=60nm; density Dmin=0.97g/cm3 at XCS=100%CSAC, XPS=60nm and XWT=4%wt FSmax=39.97696MPa; at XCS=93.33%CSAC, XPS=150nm, XWT=4%wt and TSmax=28.65MPa at XCS=100%CSAC, XPS=150nm, XWT=4%wt. Hence, all the process variables were relevant for the development of friction-linings using agro-wastes chemically activated carbon.