Modification of Hardness Properties Characterizing Carbon Steel American Society for Testing and Materials in Carbon Steel A36 Using Bagasse Ash from the Waste of Sugarcane Industries

Abstract

In this work, the effect of bagasse ash from waste sugarcane industries on American society for testing and materials in carbon steel A36 (ASTM A36) was investigated. The ash caused the formation on the surface of the samples’ carbon sheet, thereby improving the hardness of the materials’ property. The samples were polished and cleaned in preparation for hardness tests (Rockwell) and microstructural investigation. Furthermore, the bagasse was sintered in a furnace at 400 °C for 3 h to bagasse ash. Additionally, the ash was sifted to a sample size of 100 μm and mixed with 100:0, 90:10, and 80:20 ratios of barium carbonate (BaCO3). The samples were calcined in a pack carburizing box between bagasse ash and BaCO3 at 950 °C for 8 h. The carburized samples were used to classify by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OMS), and Optical Microscopy (OM), respectively. The results revealed that 88% of carbon by weight of bagasse ash contributes to significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the ASTM A36 steel.