Development of Nano – flux powder from bio-waste for welding application

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
⁵ Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Northumbria University Newcastle, United Kingdom.
⁶ Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

^* Corresponding author: ikumapayi.omolayo@abuad.edu.ng

Abstract

Oxyacetylene welding is a fast-growing means of joining metals that were developed to address the drawbacks of other welding techniques. The use of chemical compounds known as fluxes in the welding process does this, resulting in improved weld characteristics and increased weld depth. Chemical synthesis was used to create a new nanoparticle flux powder from Egg shell powder for this research. The powder was studied micro-structurally and spectroscopically using SEM, TEM, FTIR, and EDS techniques, and it was discovered to be a compound made up of 57.31 % calcium, 12.31 % sodium, and 6.86 % carbon. The flux was tested on, 8 mm mild steel rods, 3 pcs each of 10 x 10 mm and 50 x 50 mm galvanized steel plates, utilizing oxyacetylene welding techniques. 50 x 50 mm mild steel plates and galvanized steel plates Control samples were made utilizing the oxyacetylene welding techniques with and without the use of a flux (Easy-Flo powder). The mild steel welds generated with the created flux were found to be harder, with hardness values of 98.45 and 115.78 BHN for oxyacetylene welding procedures, respectively. Welds produced without flux powder were able to withstand higher loads than the welds produced using the other methods of welds produced with the developed flux.