Article Sidebar

Submitted
March 13, 2023
Published
November 27, 2023
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 174 Download : 184

Main Article Content

Abstract

Animal feed is a major production cost of raising livestock and accounts for about 65 - 68 % of the total production cost, mainly ingredients and processing costs. During feed manufacturing, a hammermill is required for the grinding process to produce quality feed. However, the absence of durable hammers on the local market in Ghana and the high cost of imported hammers compels feed producers to resort to locally manufactured hammers which wear fast due to poor quality of the material. This study considers the application of two surface hardening techniques: (i) carburizing (charcoal and Barium Carbonate (BaCO3) as activator) and (ii) carbonitriding (charcoal, NPK fertilizer as a nitrogen source and Barium Chloride (BaCl2) as activator) in combination with three different quenching media (water, air and oil), to improve the material properties of locally produced hammermill hammers. The surface hardening experiments were performed at 900 oC for 3 h after which the samples were quenched. Tempering was performed afterwards at 160 oC for 1 h. Carbonitriding and water quenching treatment had the best effect on hardness and tensile strength of all the treatments. It yielded the highest surface hardness and tensile strength of 410.06 HV and 768.79 MPa, respectively, representing about a 218 % increase in hardness and a 47 % increase in tensile strength compared to the control sample, which were 128.92 HV and 522.41 MPa, respectively. The result implies hammers produced with this carbonitriding surface hardening and water quenched technique would have improved hardness and wear resistance compared to untreated hammers.

Keywords

Animal Feed Hammermill Surface Hardening Techniques Hardness Tensile Strength

Article Details

References

  1. Ahaneku, I. E., Kamal, A. R., and Ogunjirin, O. A. (2012). Effects of heat treatment on the properties of mild steel using different quenchants. Frontiers in Science, 2(6), pp. 153-158. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.fs.20120206.04.
  2. Aramide, F.O., Ibitoye, S.A., Oladele, I.O. and Borode, J.O., (2010). Pack carburization of mild steel, using pulverized bone as carburizer: Optimizing process parameters. Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies, 16, pp. 1-12. ISSN 1583-1078
  3. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 2017. Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials, ASTM E384-17. United States of America: American Society for Testing and Materials. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0384-17
  4. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 2013. Standard Test Method for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials, ASTM E 8-13. United States of America. American Society for Testing and Materials. https://doi.org/10.1520/E08-13
  5. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 2017. Standard Test Method for Vickers Hardness of Metallic Materials, ASTM E 92-17. United States of America. American Society for Testing and Materials https://doi.org/10.1520/E092-17
  6. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 2015. Standard Test Method for Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel by Spark Atomic Emission Spectrometry, ASTM E 415-15. United States of America. American Society for Testing and Materials. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0415-15
  7. Çalik, A. (2009). Effect of cooling rate on hardness and microstructure of AISI 1020, AISI 1040 and AISI 1060 Steels. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 4 (9), pp. 514-518, https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPS.9000188
  8. Chowwanonthapunya, T, Mu, X and Peeratatsuwan, C. (2020). Study on carburized steel used in maritime industry: The influences of carburizing temperature. Maritime Technology and Research, 2(1), pp. 33-39. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2020.204835
  9. Dagne, A. (2015). The Influence of Heat Treatment on Wheel and Rail Wear. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa
  10. Dossett, J. L and Boyer, H. E. (2006). Practical Heat treating. American Society for Metals (ASM) Handbook, ASM International. Ohio. ISBN: 0-87170-829-9
  11. Fadare, D. A., Fadara, T.G., and Alanbi, O. Y. (2011). Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of NST 37-2 Steel. Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, 10(3), pp. 299-308. https://doi.org/10.4236/jmmce.2011.103020
  12. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO (2006). Small mills in Africa: Selection, installation and operation of equipment. Rome, Italy http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/j8482e/j8482e.pdf.
  13. Fuller. A.J., (2013). ‘Carburizing and Carbonitriding of Steels’ In: Dossett, J.L. and Totten, G. E. (eds.) Steel heat treating fundamentals and processes. ASM Handbook, Vol 4A ASM International, Ohio. ISBN: 978-1-62708-011-8
  14. Kaul, R.N and Egbo, C.O. (1985). Introduction to Agricultural Mechanization. Macmillan Publication, London. ISBN 13 9780333391488
  15. Kawuyo, U. A, Chineke, M. N., Ahmad, A. B. and Amune, E. O. (2014). Grain milling machine. paper i: design and construction. Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, 10, pp. 75-84. ISSN: 2545-5818
  16. Kim, I, J. Hancock, J. Hong, M. Cabrera, R. Hines, and K. Behnke. (2002). Corn particle size affects nutritional value of simple and complex diets for nursery pigs and broiler chicks. ASIAN Australasian Journal of Animal Science. 15(6), pp. 872-877. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2002.872
  17. Krauss G. (1980). Principles of heat treatment of steel. American Society for Metals. Ohio. 209-218. ISBN-13: 978-0871701008
  18. Moiceanu, G., V. Gheorghe, G. Paraschiv, C. P. Ion, and P. Maican. (2012). Physical characteristics of miscanthus plant and power demand at grinding process. Engineering for Rural Development Jelgava, 24(222). Corpus ID: 110854122
  19. Okoye, C.O.B., Ibeto, C.N. and Ihedioha, J.N., 2011. Assessment of heavy metals in chicken feeds sold in south eastern, Nigeria. Advances in Applied Science Research, 2(3), pp. 63-68. https://doi.org/10.4314/sokjvs.v13i1.3
  20. Schneider, M. J, Chatterjee, M. D., Bodycote and The Timken Company (2013). Steel heat treating fundamentals and process. In ASM Handbook, 4A, pp. 389-398.ASM International, Ohio. ISBN-13: 978-1-62708-011-8
  21. Smith, W.F. and Hashemi, J. (2006). Foundations of materials science and engineering, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, USA. ISBN-13: 978-1259696558
  22. Williams, G.D. and Rosentrater, K.A. (2007). Design Considerations for the Construction and Operation of Flour Milling Facilities. Part I: Planning, Structural, and Life Safety Considerations. An ASABE Meeting Presentation. Paper Number: 074116. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.23453
  23. Wondra, K. J, Hancock, J. D, Behnke, K. C, Hines, R. H, and Stark, C. R. (1995). Effects of particle size and pelleting on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and stomach morphology in finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 73(3). https://doi.org/10.2527/1995.733757