Development and Characterization of Aluminium-Based Metal Matrix Composites

Aluminum based metal matrix composites were fabricated using stir casting where silicon carbide and alumina were the reinforcements. Different types of properties (physical-density, mechanical-tensile, hardness, chemical-corrosion etc.) were measured and compared with base metals/alloys. The properties were significantly varied. The highest density was obtained for pure aluminium with 5% Al2O3 whereas the lowest was obtained for AA-4032 alloy. The highest hardness was obtained for AA-4032 with 5% Al2O3 whereas the lowest was obtained for pure Al with 5% Al2O3. The highest strength was obtained for AA-6061 with 5% coarse SiC whereas the lowest was obtained for pure Al. The highest impact strength was obtained for AA-4032 with 5% Al2O3 whereas the lowest was obtained for AA-6061. The corrosion resistance of all composites was lower than that of the base materials.

Study of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Coconut Spathe Fiber Reinforced Obsolete Polymer Composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have gradually gained wide acceptance as engineering material applications due to their unique advantages including their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. This study was carried out with composites prepared by hot press molding method using coconut spathe fiber as reinforcing material and HDPE (from HDPE can as obsolete polymer) as polymer matrix. Composites were made at 150°C under 60 kN load by taking diverse weight percentage (wt.%) of fiber from 0 to 20 of its total weight. In this research investigation, different properties of the composites such as bulk density, water absorption, tensile and flexural properties, impact strength and hardness test properties were carried out. The fiber content enhancement increases the bulk density in all composites. The rate of water absorption improves with the improvement of fiber addition with respect to HDPE in all composites. But the water absorption was not increased uniformly with the increase of fiber addition in composites. In all cases, composites absorbed water very rapidly up to 80 hrs and then water absorption is in saturated condition. The mechanical properties like tensile strength (TS), flexural strength (FS), impact strength (IS) and hardness were observed to be comparatively more enhanced for 5% composite, while further increasing of fiber addition, all mechanical properties changes irregularly. The irregular nature of change might be caused due to the over loading of fiber in polymer matrix.

Fabrication and Characterization on Physico-Mechanical and Structural Properties of Sawdust Reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Composites

The sawdust reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composites were prepared by using hot press molding machine for five different wt% (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) at 180°C temperature and 50 KN load. Sawdust was collected from local saw mill of Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh and ABS polymer was collected from local market of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In this study, different properties of composites like physical (bulk density and water absorption), mechanical (tensile properties and hardness) and structural (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) properties were studied. The bulk density of composites was not altered consistently and it gave greater value for 5% and 20% composites. The water absorption enhanced for all composites with the accumulation of fiber content and soaking time. The reduction of tensile strength and Leeb’s rebound hardness of the composites were observed with the increase of the fiber content in all compositions. Maximum (%) of elongation was found for 5% composite, and then it gradually decreased;however, elastic modulus increased with the increased of fiber content in composites. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy study was done for structural characterization. It was found that there was a new bond (C≡C) stretching formed for 20% composite;moreover, C-H rocking for 0% composite was broken for all other composites after the addition of sawdust in ABS polymer matrix.

Structural and Dielectric Properties of (Bi2O3Fe2O3)0.4(Nb2O5)0.6 for Different Sintering Temperature

In this research work, (Bi2O3Fe2O3)0.4(Nb2O5)0.6 was made by the solid state reaction method. Samples were sintered at four different temperatures (850°C, 925°C, 1000°C and 1150°C) to study the effect of sintering temperature on the various properties of the samples. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that single phase Bi1.721δ0.089Fe1.056Nb1.134O7 was found when sintering temperature increased. At the same time, larger grain size was found when sintering temperature increased. From variation of dielectric loss with respect to frequency, a small peak was found when sample was sintered at higher temperature (1150°C). Dielectric constant of the sample decreases with the increase of frequency for all the samples. With the variation of temperature, DC resistivity of the samples showed that resistivity decreases with the increase of measuring temperature which indicates semiconducting nature.

Effect of Bismuth Addition on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Tin-9Zinc Soldering Alloy

Sn-Zn based solder is a possible replacement of Pb solder because of its better mechanical properties. The alloys need to be studied and explored to get a usable solder alloy having better properties. In this work eutectic Sn-9Zn and three Tin-Zinc-Bismuth ternary alloys were prepared and investigated their microhardness and mechanical properties. Microhardness, tensile strength and elastic modulus increase with Bi addition while ductility decreases with Bi addition.

Thermal and Electrical Properties of Sn-Zn-Bi Ternary Soldering Alloys

Sn-Zn based solder is a possible replacement of Pb solder because of its better mechanical properties. The alloys need to be studied and explored to get a usable solder alloy having better properties. In this work, eutectic Sn-9Zn and three Tin-Zinc-Bismuth ternary alloys were prepared and investigated their thermal and electrical properties. Thermo-mechanical Analysis and Differential Thermal Analysis were used to investigate thermal properties. Microstructural study is carried out with Scanning Electron Microscope. The alloys have single melting point. The co-efficient of thermal expansion and co-efficient of thermal contraction varies with alloy composition and temperature range. Electrical conductivity changes with Bi addition.

The Development of ZnO Nanoparticle Coated Cotton Fabrics for Antifungal and Antibacterial Applications

In the textile industry, cotton is the most popular choice among all the natural fibers due to its unique properties such as softness, affinity to skin, biodegradability, absorbency, and moisture being comfortable to wear. Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were produced and coated on cotton fabrics. The concentration of Zinc acetate was varied. 2-methoxy-ethanol has been used as a solvent. Using the dip coating technique, ZnO NPs have been coated on the cotton fabric in different mole concentrations. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Ultraviolet Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, the antifungal and antibacterial activity of the ZnO NPs was performed on the coated fabrics. The SEM images depicted that the nanoparticles are well dispersed on the fabric at 3M concentration of ZnO solution. It was found that the UV absorbance increases with the increase of concentration up to 2M concentration and after that it decreases. It was also found that maximum antibacterial and antifungal activity is at 2M concentration.

Study of the Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Banana Fiber Reinforced HDPE Composites

Natural fiber reinforced composite materials are replacing the conventional materials, owing to their excellent physical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Also they increase biodegradability, reduce cost and decrease environmental pollution and hazards. In this study, obsolete high density polyethylene (HDPE) has used as polymer matrix and banana fiber as reinforcement material. Composites (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of fiber contents) were made by hot press molding method by using Paul-Otto Weber Hydraulic press machine. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of banana fiber-HDPE composites were studied and investigated the increment or decrement nature of different properties due to addition of banana fiber in BF-HDPE composites. The bulk density of composites increased with the increase wt. (%) of fiber content in composites. Water absorption ability of banana fiber and BF-HDPE composites also increased with the increase of wt. (%) of fiber content in composites and with socking time. Tensile strength of the BF-HDPE composites increased with the increase of fiber content in both cases (continuous aligned fiber orientation and continuous bidirectional fiber orientation). Moreover, the tensile strength of BF-HDPE composites with continuous aligned fiber orientation was greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation. At first, the flexural strength increased for 5% BF-HDPE composites then the value decreased for other higher compositions. The flexural strength of continuous aligned fiber orientation was slightly greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation and composite with 5% banana fiber showed better flexural properties than others. Leeb’s rebound hardness decreased with the increase of fiber addition. Different thermal properties like TG/DTG, DTA of the obsolete HDPE and BF-HDPE composites were studied using thermo gravimetric analyzer and it was found that composite with 20% fiber content was more thermally stable than three other compositions.

Effect of 3 mol% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Addition on Structural and Mechanical Properties of Alumina-Zirconia Composites

Alumina-Zirconia (Al2O3-ZrO2) composites especially Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) shows better mechanical properties over alumina. Al2O3-ZrO2 composites were prepared by powder compaction method varying 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (3Y-ZrO2) content from 0 to 20 vol% using small amount of MgO as sintering aid. The composites were sintered for two hours in air at 1580°C. At this temperature maximum density was achieved 99.31% of theoretical density for composite containing 20 vol% 3Y-ZrO2. Density measurement of sintered composites was carried out using Archimedes’s method. Hardness and fracture toughness measurement was carried out using Vickers indentation. Phase content and t-ZrO2 retention were detected by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructure of the composites and grain size of alumina and zirconia was determined by Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis. Maximum microhardness (17.46 GPa) was achieved for composite containing 5 vol% ZrO2 and maximum flexural strength (684.32 MPa) and fracture toughness (10.33 MPam0.5) was achieved for composite containing 20 vol% of 3Y-ZrO2. The aim of the present work is to investigate the optimum 3Y-ZrO2 content for obtaining maximum density, microhardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of Al2O3-ZrO2 composites.

Characterization of Isotactic Polypropylene/Talc Composites Prepared by Extrusion Cum Compression Molding Technique

Extrusion-Compression molded isotactic polypropylene (iPP) composites containing 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt% and 50 wt% of talc filler were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) and physical testing. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of neat iPP and composites with 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt% and 50 wt% talc content show that neat PP, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30wt% talc composites surface is smooth in comparison to 40 wt% and 50 wt% talc composites. It is also observed that talc is dispersed uniformly in the matrix and this uniform dispersion is not decreased even with talc content as high as 30 wt% talc. The composites of 40 wt% and 50 wt% talc contain more crack, agglomerates or larger particles. Bulk density of the composites decreases with the increase of talc content. With the increase of percentage of talc and period of immersion, the water absorption (WA) increases. Thermal analyses indicate a considerable increase of thermal stability of the composites with filler addition.