Agro waste reinforcement of metal matrix composites, a veritable sustainable engineering achievement, or an effort in futility? A critical review

Abstract

The utilization of agro waste as reinforcement in metal matrix composites (MMCs) has sparked interest regarding its feasibility and sustainability in engineering practices. Compared to synthetic reinforcements, its efficacy as a potentially cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative has been explored by diverse studies. This review critically examines existing literature on agro waste-based reinforced MMCs, evaluating experimental findings on mechanical, tribological, density, and corrosion performance from a sustainable engineering perspective. Furthermore, it explores the innovative strategy of employing multi-component metal matrix composites to fabricate composites with improved performance attributes. The utilization of multi-component reinforcements has the capability to tackle issues like the challenge of disproportionate reduction in ductility and toughness peculiar to monolithic and hybrid MMCs. Despite promising results in some studies, numerous unexplored research areas and gaps remain, emphasizing the need for further investigation to provide valuable guidance for future research and development of agro waste in sustainable engineering applications.

Keywords

• agro waste ash
• metal matrix composites
• sustainable engineering
• reinforcement materials
• critical review
• multicomponent