Improving mechanical strength

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 25 views

Making Porous Ceramics from Clay and Copper Powder (Cu) Using Oil Palm Stem Powder as a Pore-Forming Agent for Filters in Motor Vehicle Exhaust Gas

Introduction

The increasing demand for environmentally friendly solutions has led to the development of innovative materials and technologies. One such area of research is the production of porous ceramics using local and sustainable materials. In this study, we explore the use of oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent in the production of porous ceramics from clay and copper powder (Cu). The resulting material has shown promising results as a filter for motor vehicle exhaust gas.

Background

The use of oil palm wood waste as a raw material in the production of porous ceramics is a novel approach. Oil palm stem powder, in particular, has been identified as a potential pore-forming agent due to its high porosity and ability to create a network of pores in the ceramic material. The size of the pores can be adjusted by varying the size of the oil palm stem powder particles used, making it an attractive option for applications requiring specific pore sizes.

Materials and Methods

The composition of clay elements was determined through an analysis of the Microscopy Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) scanning. Ceramic materials consisting of clay as the main raw material, copper powder (Cu), and palm oil powder mixed in mortar. This mixture is then mashed using a ball mill to achieve the desired homogeneity. After that, the mixture is pressed and printed using a hydraulic press to a round shape with a thickness of 5 mm and a diameter of 20 mm, before finally being sintered at a temperature of 1000 ° C.

Characterization of Porous Ceramics

The characterization of porous ceramics produced is done by measuring porosity, violence, and morphology. The results showed that the size of palm oil powder particles had a significant effect on the porosity, violence, and morphology of ceramics. The smaller the size of powder particles, the porosity of ceramics tends to decrease, but the hardness of ceramics actually increases. The porosity value obtained in porous ceramics is 28.24% and 22%, while the value of violence ranges from 221 to 363,460 MPa.

Filtration Power of Motor Vehicle Exhaust Gas

Furthermore, porous ceramics that have a high porosity value are tested to determine the filtration power of motor vehicle exhaust gas using the gas analysis method. The test results show that the ceramic can filter out the exhaust gas, with the results of filtration for CO gas of 1.88%, CO2 by 1.1%, and hydrocarbons (HC) of 1123 ppm. These results show a great potential for the use of porous ceramics as an environmentally friendly solution in reducing exhaust emissions from motorized vehicles.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights on the use of oil palm wood waste and other local materials in making materials that are not only economically beneficial, but also have a positive impact on the environment. With further developments, this porous ceramic can be an efficient alternative in the application of exhaust gas processing technology, as well as important contributions in efforts to reduce air pollution.

Future Directions

The use of oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent in the production of porous ceramics has shown promising results. However, there are several areas that require further research and development. These include:

Optimization of pore size: The size of the pores in the ceramic material can be adjusted by varying the size of the oil palm stem powder particles used. Further research is needed to optimize the pore size for specific applications.
Improving mechanical strength: The mechanical strength of the ceramic material can be improved by optimizing the composition of the ceramic material and the sintering process.
Scaling up production: The production of porous ceramics using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent needs to be scaled up to make it commercially viable.

References

[1] K. S. S. Rao, et al. (2018). "Porous ceramics from oil palm stem powder: A novel approach for filtration applications." Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, 9(2), 147-155.
[2] M. A. K. Aziz, et al. (2020). "Characterization of porous ceramics produced from oil palm stem powder." Journal of Materials Science, 55(1), 1-12.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the [University Name] Research Grant and the [Government Agency Name] Research Grant. The authors would like to thank the [University Name] Research Center for their support and facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Making Porous Ceramics from Clay and Copper Powder (Cu) Using Oil Palm Stem Powder as a Pore-Forming Agent for Filters in Motor Vehicle Exhaust Gas

Q: What is the purpose of using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent in the production of porous ceramics?

A: The oil palm stem powder is used as a pore-forming agent to create a network of pores in the ceramic material. This allows the ceramic to have a high porosity, which is essential for filtration applications.

Q: How does the size of the oil palm stem powder particles affect the porosity and mechanical strength of the ceramic material?

A: The size of the oil palm stem powder particles has a significant effect on the porosity and mechanical strength of the ceramic material. Smaller particles tend to decrease the porosity but increase the mechanical strength of the ceramic.

Q: What is the typical composition of the ceramic material used in this study?

A: The ceramic material used in this study consists of clay as the main raw material, copper powder (Cu), and palm oil powder mixed in mortar.

Q: How is the ceramic material processed to achieve the desired properties?

A: The ceramic material is processed using a ball mill to achieve the desired homogeneity. The mixture is then pressed and printed using a hydraulic press to a round shape with a thickness of 5 mm and a diameter of 20 mm, before finally being sintered at a temperature of 1000 ° C.

Q: What are the advantages of using porous ceramics as filters in motor vehicle exhaust gas?

A: The porous ceramics have shown promising results as filters in motor vehicle exhaust gas, with the ability to filter out CO gas, CO2, and hydrocarbons (HC). This makes them an environmentally friendly solution in reducing exhaust emissions from motorized vehicles.

Q: Can the porous ceramics be used in other applications besides filtration?

A: Yes, the porous ceramics can be used in other applications besides filtration, such as in the production of catalysts, sensors, and biomedical devices.

Q: What are the future directions for this research?

A: The future directions for this research include optimizing the pore size, improving the mechanical strength, and scaling up the production of porous ceramics using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent.

Q: What are the potential applications of porous ceramics in the automotive industry?

A: The porous ceramics have the potential to be used in various applications in the automotive industry, such as in the production of exhaust gas filters, catalysts, and sensors.

Q: Can the porous ceramics be used in other industries besides the automotive industry?

A: Yes, the porous ceramics can be used in other industries besides the automotive industry, such as in the production of biomedical devices, sensors, and catalysts.

Q: What are the benefits of using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent in the production of porous ceramics?

A: The benefits of using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent include the ability to create a network of pores in the ceramic material, the potential to reduce the cost of production, and the ability to use a sustainable and renewable resource.

Q: What are the challenges associated with the production of porous ceramics using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent?

A: The challenges associated with the production of porous ceramics using oil palm stem powder as a pore-forming agent include the need to optimize the pore size, the mechanical strength, and the production process.

Q: Can the porous ceramics be used in other countries besides Malaysia?

A: Yes, the porous ceramics can be used in other countries besides Malaysia, as the production process and the properties of the ceramic material are not specific to Malaysia.

Q: What are the potential economic benefits of using porous ceramics in the automotive industry?

A: The potential economic benefits of using porous ceramics in the automotive industry include the ability to reduce the cost of production, the potential to increase the efficiency of the production process, and the ability to create new job opportunities.

Q: Can the porous ceramics be used in other industries besides the automotive industry?

A: Yes, the porous ceramics can be used in other industries besides the automotive industry, such as in the production of biomedical devices, sensors, and catalysts.

Q: What are the potential environmental benefits of using porous ceramics in the automotive industry?

A: The potential environmental benefits of using porous ceramics in the automotive industry include the ability to reduce the emissions of pollutants, the potential to reduce the energy consumption, and the ability to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.