Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 813-814

Abstract: Now-a-days traditional materials are replacing the natural fibres in automobile components like dashboards, seat-backs and interior trims due to its properties like light weight, environment friendly, good stiffness and high strength to weight ratio . In the study three different continuous fibres, Acacia, Jute and Sisal were mixed in varying proportion with GFRP and epoxy resin on a determined ratio basis to get three different composite samples. These fibres were alkaline treated and moulded using compression moulding and hand lay-up technique. These samples were tested for their Tensile and Impact strengths to find the specimen with higher strength. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) test was also conducted to study the structure of all three specimens after tensile test. The study concludes that the sample ‘A’ which has maximum content of sisal has higher tensile strength than other two samples. Similarly impact test concludes that specimen ‘B’ and ‘C’ which has maximum content of Jute and Acacia has equal and higher strength.

Abstract: In recent years, natural composite materials have replaced many conventional ones, such as metals and synthetic resin composites in many applications. This is due to the advantage of hybrid natural composite over the conventional materials. The natural composites are made up of both reinforcement and matrix materials which are obtained by the natural resources. Natural fibers reinforcement are strong, light weight, renewable, cheap, completely or partially recyclable, and biodegradable. In this work sisal and banana fibers have been used as the main reinforcing materials to increase the effectiveness of natural fibers. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) resin is a natural resin that can be obtained from cashew nut. CNSL is essentially a mixture of phenol extracted from the shell of the cashew nut and is a good natural alternative to chemically derived phenol.

Abstract: In this investigation, the influence of MoS2 on the mechanical properties of Al6061-Al2O3hybrid composites was studied. The composites of Al6061 alloy, AA 6061-6% Al2O3 and Al6061-6% Al2O3-2% MoS2 were manufactured using Stir casting method. These samples were examinedusing optical microscope for the dispersion of reinforcement (Al2O3 ) and solid lubricant (MoS2).The micro structure revealed that there were even distribution of the additives in the Al6061 matrix.The presence of these particles improved the mechanical properties of the composites. For these compositions flexural strength was found using 3 point bending test and impact strength was found using Charpy test. It was observed that the hardness, toughness and flexural strength values increases with the addition of Al2O3 and decreases with the addition of MoS2 to the second composition.

Abstract: The research community has acknowledged the superiority of composite material properties in comparison to conventional materials. Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) sought over other conventional materials in the fields of automotive, sports, aerospace and marine applications due to their admirable improved properties. These materials are of much interest to the researchers from few decades. In this paper, the investigational results of the sliding and mechanical properties of Al6061–WC metal matrix composites are presented. The Al6061 composites containing 0–3 wt% WC were dispersed in the base matrix in steps of 1 and fabricated by powder metallurgy technique. The experimental results revealed that with an increase in WC content there was an increase in the density of the composites and these values are in sync with the theoretical values determined by the rule of mixtures. The tensile strength and hardness of the Al6061–WC composites are directly related to weight percentage of WC and an increase was observed with a decrease in ductility was observed.Wear properties increased, compared to as-cast Al6061 with an increase in WC content in the matrix.

Abstract: Aluminium matrix composites are mostly used in aerospace and automobile industries due to their improved properties such as hardness, strength, wear resistance combined with considerable weight savings over unreinforced alloys. This paper reports the lubricated wear behavior of Al6061composites reinforced with titanium carbide particles fabricated by stir casting route. The experiments were conducted using central composite rotatable design method. The wear test was performed on the pin on disc machine where aluminium composite pins were rubbed against EN31 steel discs in the presence lubricant. A mathematical model has been developed by response surface methodology. The validity of the developed model was checked by Analysis of variance method. The experimental results revealed that the addition of lubricant at the contact surface reduced wear rate of the composite.

Abstract: In the present decade, the center of concentration is on the growth of making polymer composites using agro wastes materials as reinforcements for recyclable composites. The objective of this work is to generate and investigate the mechanical properties of an eco-friendly low cost natural fiber reinforced polymer composite. Cotton Shell (CS) particles are less expensive natural fiber material which can be used as a filler material with Epoxy resin matrices. The filler material was integrated with Epoxy matrix in 0, 5, 10 and 15 weight %. Compression molding technique was used to prepare composites of Epoxy and CS. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) examination of the fibers revealed the existence of cellulose and lignin. Mechanical properties like Tensile, Impact and Hardness were examined. Results showed that the Tensile strength was increased with augment in particle loading and the impact strength decreases with the adding up of particle materials. Also it was observed that the hardness values are increasing with the increase in particle content.

Abstract: Many of our modern technologies require materials with unusual combinations of properties that cannot be met by the conventional metal alloys, ceramics and polymeric materials. This is especially true for materials that are needed for aerospace, underwater and transportation applications. An economical way of producing metal matrix composite (MMC) is the incorporation of the particles into the liquid metal and casting. The objective of this work is to reinforce Al 1100-Mg alloy with different wt% of MnO₂ (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12) was added by melt stirring method and Hot Extrusion is carried out. Microstructural Studies using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Mechanical property like hardness and tensile properties have been investigated for extruded base alloy and composites.

Abstract: This work investigated the influence of multi axial forging (MAF) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA6063/Al₂O₃/Gr hybrid composite. It reveals that the effectiveness of forged composite exhibited better mechanical properties. The AA6063 reinforced with Al₂O₃ and 1 wt. % graphite (Gr) hybrid composite were fabricated using stir casting technique. The microstructure of the hybrid composite was examined using optical microscope. The mechanical properties in terms of hardness, flexural strength and compression strength were investigated. It was observed that the mechanical properties of multi axially forged hybrid composite exhibited around 15, 7 and 5 times higher than unreinforced alloy, as-casted hybrid composite and as-hardened hybrid composite. These results revealed that the multi axially forged hybrid composite would be well suited for high strength applications.

Abstract: This article considers an experimental study of Taguchi’s parameters design to maximize the corrosion resistance of electroless Ni-P-nano-TiO₂ on low carbon steel substrate. The experiments were carried out based on Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array considering four coating parameters of three levels each namely, Bath Temperature, pH of bath, Bath Loading, and concentration of TiO₂. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) facilitated the study of the surface morphology and the chemical composition of the coatings. Corrosion performance of the deposits was evaluated by Tafel polarization technique in 3.5 wt. % of NaCl solution. The observation shows that pH level has more significant influence on the corrosion behavior of the composite deposit. The experimental study revealed that the optimum conditions are A3B3C2D1 (Temperature of 88° C, pH of 6, bath loading of 0.5 dm²/l, and TiO₂ concentration of 2 g/l).

Abstract: The present study deals with the usage of two types of metallic reinforcements namely bronze and steel, one natural reinforcement namely jute and an artificial reinforcement namely glass for preparation of composite laminates. The study investigates the mechanical behaviour of prepared samples and concludes with the selection of best samples. Four composite laminates were prepared by changing the compositions of reinforcements in polyester resin. Tensile, compressive, flexural and impact tests were carried out on the developed samples and it was found that the inclusion of jute and metallic reinforcements improved the compressive and impact strengths of the composite whereas inclusion of jute and glass improved the tensile and flexural strengths of the composite.