Physical and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials Based on Raw Earth and Crushed Palm Leaf Fibers (Borassus aethiopum)

The objective of this study is to seek solutions to reduce the impact of buildings on climate change and to promote the use of local bio-sourced or geo-sourced materials for sustainable construction. Different samples of raw earth from 3 sites were taken in the commune of Mlomp. Geotechnical tests showed that the raw earth samples from sites 2 and 3 have more clay fraction while site 1 contains more sand. The fact of integrating fibers from crushed palm leaves (Borassus aethiopum) (2%, 4% and 6%) into the 3 raw earth samples reduced the mechanical resistance to compression and traction of the 3 raw earths. The experimental results of thermal tests on samples of earth mixtures with crushed Palma leaf fibers show a decrease in thermal conductivity as well as thermal effusivity as the percentages increase (2%, 4% and 6%) of fibers in raw earth for the 3 sites. This shows that this renewable composite material can help improve the thermal insulation of building envelopes.

Oxidation Kinetics of Aluminum Powders in a Gas Fluidized Bed Reactor in the Potential Application of Surge Arresting Materials

In this technical paper, the oxidation mechanism and kinetics of aluminum powders are discussed in great details. The potential applications of spherical aluminum powders after oxidation to be part of the surging arresting materials are discussed. Theoretical calculations of oxidation of spherical aluminum powders in a typical gas fluidization bed are demonstrated. Computer software written by the author is used to carry out the basic calculations of important parameters of a gas fluidization bed at different temperatures. A mathematical model of the dynamic system in a gas fluidization bed is developed and the analytical solution is obtained. The mathematical model can be used to estimate aluminum oxide thickness at a defined temperature. The mathematical model created in this study is evaluated and confirmed consistently with the experimental results on a gas fluidization bed. Detail technical discussion of the oxidation mechanism of aluminum is carried out. The mathematical deviations of the mathematical modeling have demonstrated in great details. This mathematical model developed in this study and validated with experimental results can bring a great value for the quantitative analysis of a gas fluidization bed in general from a theoretical point of view. It can be applied for the oxidation not only for aluminum spherical powders, but also for other spherical metal powders. The mathematical model developed can further enhance the applications of gas fluidization technology. In addition to the development of mathematical modeling of a gas fluidization bed reactor, the formation of oxide film through diffusion on both planar and spherical aluminum surfaces is analyzed through a thorough mathematical deviation using diffusion theory and Laplace transformation. The dominant defects and their impact to oxidation of aluminum are also discussed in detail. The well-controlled oxidation film on spherical metal powders such as aluminum and other metal spherical powders can potentially become an important part of switch devices of surge arresting materials, in general.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Horns Sheaths Particles for the Manufacture of Composite Materials

Salvaged cow horns from slaughterhouses have been transformed into fine particles for a physical characterization that has led us to determine the humidity rate (2.34% ± 0.054%), the actual density situated between 0.586 g/cm3 and 0.732 g/cm3, the swelling rate (12%), and one chemical characterization that permitted us to determine the rate of dry matters (97.05%), of mineral matters (2.5%), of protein matters (94.52%). From these weak values, it can easily be seen that cow horn case doesn’t absorb much water and improve the mechanical characteristics of the composite;the high rate of protein shows that keratin which is the structural molecule favors its gripping as reinforcing element in the manufacturing of composite materials.

Modern Composite Materials and Technical Strategies in Posttraumatic Augmentation Rhinoplasty

The selection of ideal posttraumatic augmentation rhinoplasty materials and technical strategies has always been a pressing challenge.Owing to the complexity of the traumatic nasal anatomical structure,such procedures are more complicated than ordinary cosmetic rhinoplasty.The choice of reconstruction material should emphasize its inherent characteristics,such as biocompatibility,anti-infective ability,strength,and plasticity.With the development of rhinoplasty,the choice of material is less limited and composite materials have become mainstream.This review outlines current composite materials and techniques in posttraumatic augmentation rhinoplasty.

Gypsum-based Silica Gel Humidity-controlling Composite Materials:Preparation,Characterization,and Performance

Gypsum was used as substrate,and silica gel was mixed into substrate at a certain mass ratio to prepare humidity-controlling composites;moreover,the moisture absorption and desorption properties of gypsum-based composites were compared with adding different silica gel particle size and proportion.The morphological characteristics,the isothermal equilibrium moisture content curve,moisture absorption and desorption rate,moisture absorption and desorption stability,and humidity-conditioning performance were tested and analyzed.The experimental results show that,compared with pure-gypsum,the surface structure of the gypsum-based composites is relatively loose,the quantity,density and aperture of the pores in the structure increase.The absorption and desorption capacity increase along with the increase of silica gel particle size and silica gel proportion.When 3 mm silica gel particle size is added with a mass ratio of 40%,the maximum equilibrium moisture content of humidity-controlling composites is 0.161 g/g at 98% relative humidity(RH),3.22 times that of pure-gypsum.The moisture absorption and desorption rates are increased,the equilibrium moisture absorption and desorption rates are 2.68 times and 1.61 times that of pure-gypsum at 58.5% RH,respectively.The gypsum-based composites have a good stability,which has better timely response to dynamic humidity changes and can effectively regulate indoor humidity under natural conditions.

Research Progress of Carbon-Silicone Composite Materials

Silicone is a kind of polymer material with high cross-linked structure,which is com-posed by Si-O-Si main chain.Due to the special molecular chain structure,silicone mate-rials are characterized by oxidation resistance,aging resistance,high and low temperature resistance and chemical corrosion resistance.Moreover,silicone materials have process-able properties,simple forming process,good mechanical property,non-toxic and pollution-free.Therefore,silicone has been widely concerned by researchers at home and abroad.In this paper,the main research progress and application directions of carbon-silicone composite at home and abroad in recent years are reviewed.

Deformation Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Ti/Al Bimetallic Composite Materials Fabricated by Wire Plus Arc Additive Manufacturing

We focused on Ti/Al composite materials fabricated by wire and arc addictive manufacturing,and the microstructure and interface characteristics of them before and after hot compression deformation were compared.After compression deformation,allαstructures of titanium were compacted with the emergence of Widmanstatten structures.Coarsened coloniesαof titanium were elongated and waved along the original growth direction,resulting in anisotropy of grains.Pores and Ti/Al intermetallic compounds of aluminum are significantly decreased after hot compression.Meanwhile,a good bonding interface between titanium and aluminum is obtained after hot compression,and the element diffusion is more intense.In addition,the mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of Ti/Al composite material with different clad ratio that is defined as the ratio of the thickness of titanium to that of the Ti/Al composite material are investigated by uniaxial tensile test.The experimental results show that the ultimate tensile strength of Ti/Al composite material is between that of single deposited titanium and aluminum,while the elongation of Ti/Al composite material with low clad ratio is lower than that of single aluminum due to the metallurgical reaction.As the clad ratio increases,the two component layers are harder to separate during deformation,which is resulted from the decrease of the inward contraction stress of three-dimensional stress caused by necking of aluminum.This work may promote the engineering application of Ti/Al bimetallic structures.

Structures and Properties of Iron Matrix Composites with Tungsten Carbide Particle by EPC-V Process

In this paper the Expendable Pattern Casting with dry sand Vacuum(EPC-V) process is used to manufacture iron matrix composites with tungsten carbide particle.Microstructures of the composites layers were analyzed.The abrasive wear resistance of the composites layers were tested and compared with that of high chromium cast iron.The results show that the iron matrix composites with tungsten carbide particle have high hardness.The abrasive wear resistance of composites with tungsten carbide particle is higher than that of high chromium cast iron.The properties of the matrix materials have been improved remarkably.

Numerical study of directional heat transfer in composite materials via controllable carbon fiber distribution

Carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 12(CF/PA12),a new material renowned for its excellent mechanical and thermal properties,has drawn significant industry attention.Using the steady-state research to heat transfer,a series of simulations to investigate the heat transfer properties of CF/PA12 were conducted in this study.Firstly,by building two-and three-dimensional models,the effects of the porosity,carbon fiber content,and arrangement on the heat transfer of CF/PA12 were examined.A validation of the simulation model was carried out and the findings were consistent with those of the experiment.Then,the simulation results using the above models showed that within the volume fraction from 0% to 28%,the thermal conductivity of CF/PA12 increased greatly from 0.0242 W/(m·K)to 10.8848 W/(m·K).The increasing porosity had little influence on heat transfer characteristic of CF/PA12.The direction of the carbon fiber arrangement affects the heat transfer impact,and optimal outcomes were achieved when the heat flow direction was parallel to the carbon fiber.This research contributes to improving the production methods and broadening the application scenarios of composite materials.

Finite element simulation of the micromachining of nanosized-silicon-carbide-particle reinforced composite materials based on the cohesive zone model

A finite element method based on the cohesive zone model was used to study the micromachining process of nanosized silicon-carbide-particle(SiCp) reinforced aluminum matrix composites. As a hierarchical multiscale simulation method, the parameters for the cohesive zone model were obtained from the stress-displacement curves of the molecular dynamics simulation. The model considers the random properties of the siliconcarbide-particle distribution and the interface of bonding between the silicon carbide particles and the matrix.The machining mechanics was analyzed according to the chip morphology, stress distribution, cutting temperature, and cutting force. The simulation results revealed that the random distribution of nanosized SiCp causes non-uniform interaction between the tool and the reinforcement particles. This deformation mechanics leads to inhomogeneous stress distribution and irregular cutting force variation.

Recycled, Bio-Based, and Blended Composite Materials for 3D Printing Filament: Pros and Cons—A Review

In recent years, additive manufacturing (AM), known as “3D printing”, has experienced exceptional growth thanks to the development of mechatronics and materials science. Fused filament deposition (FDM) manufacturing is the most widely used technique in the field of AM, due to low operating and material costs. However, the materials commonly used for this technology are virgin thermoplastics. It is worth noting a considerable amount of waste exists due to failed print and disposable prototypes. In this regard, using green and sustainable materials is essential to limit the impact on the environment. The recycled, bio-based, and blended recycled materials are therefore a potential approach for 3D printing. In contrast, the lack of understanding of the mechanism of interlayer adhesion and the degradation of materials for FDM printing has posed a major challenge for these green materials. This paper provides an overview of the FDM technique and material requirements for 3D printing filaments. The main objective is to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using recycled, bio-based, and blended materials based on thermoplastics for 3D printing filaments. In this work, solutions to improve the mechanical properties of 3D printing parts before, during, and after the printing process are pointed out. This paper provides an overview on choosing which materials and solutions depend on the specific application purposes. Moreover, research gaps and opportunities are mentioned in the discussion and conclusions sections of this study.

Phase composition of SiC-ZrO2 composite materials synthesized from zircon doped La2O3

A study was carried out to determine the optimum parameters for synthesis of SiC-ZrO2 composite materials by carbothermal re-duction of zircon. Test samples were prepared by mixing average mesh size of less than 30 μm of carbon black and 40 μm of zircon with C/ZrSiO4 mass ratio of 0.2 and the extra addition amount of La2O3 was 0, 1 wt.% and 2 wt.%. Prepared samples were subjected to the car-bothermal reduction process at temperatures of 1723, 1753, 1773 and 1803 K for 4 h, respectively. The carbothermal reduction process was conducted in an atmosphere controlled tube furnace at an argon flow of 1.5 L/min. All products were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the transformation. The results showed that the best transformation of SiC-ZrO2 composite materials occurred at 1803 K for 4 h with the amount of 2 wt.%La2O3.

Microlayered Composite Materials on Basis of Copper, Refractory, Rare-Earth Metals, and Carbon for Electrical Contacts and Electrodes

A technology for obtaining microlayered composite materials of Cu-Zr-Y-Mo, Cu-Zr-Y-Cr, Cu-Zr-Y-W and Cu-Zr-Y-C systems by means of high-speed electron-beam evaporation-condensation, structure, electrical, and mechanical properties at ambient and elevated temperatures is developed.

Modification of Longitudinal Modulus of 3D Full Five Directional Braided Composite Materials Base on Energy Theory

The aim of this paper is to investigate the longitudinal modulus of three dimensional full five directional (3Df5d) braided composite. First, the analytical model of the internal unit cell is established based on its topological structure. Then, according to the intrinsic relation of different cells, the axial moduli of internal, surface and corner cells are systematically deduced, and the influence of corner-cell periodic discontinuity on the moduli is also analyzed. Finally, considering the actual shape of axial yarns after consolidation, the longitudinal moduli of the different cells are modified based on energy theory. The technology factor λ is also proposed in this modification. The results show that the axial mechanical properties of this material can be strongly designable. The straightness of the axial yarns greatly affects the longitudinal modulus. Technology factor λ is between 1 to 2, corresponding to the minimum and the maximum modulus, respectively.

Study on mechanical properties of composite materials by in-situ tensile test

The mechanical properties of the SiC fiber-reinforced Mg-Al metal matrix composite materials have been studied on internal microstructure by (scanning electron microscopy) SEM in-situ tensile test. The emergence and propagation of the crack, and the fracture behavior in materials have been observed and studied. It is found that in the case of the tensile test, the crack emerged in SiC fiber initially. In the case of the strong cohesion of the fiber-metal interface, the crack propagated in the fiber, meanwhile the fibers in the neighborhood of the cracked fiber began to crack and the Mg-Al metal deformed plastically, and at last the material fractured. Otherwise the toughness of the materials grows in the case of the lower cohesion of the fiber-metal matrix interface.

Research of Nanostructures Formation during Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis of Boride-Containing Composite Materials

This paper considers the technique of obtaining boride-containing nanostructured composite materials by the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). It is shown that the selection of regimes and conditions of reactions allows receiving materials on the basis of titanium and chromium borides as well as aluminum oxide with finely dispersed structure and high mechanical properties.

Non Destructive 3D, 4D Microscopy and Mineral Phase Characterization in Industrial Minerals, Composites to Construction Materials

Conventional electron and optical microscopy techniques require the sample to be sectioned, polished or etched to expose the internal surfaces for imaging. However, such sample preparation techniques have traditionally prevented the observation of the same sample over time, under realistic three-dimensional geometries and in an environment representative of real-world operating conditions. X-ray microscopy (XRM) is a rapidly emerging technique that enables non-destructive evaluation of buried structures within hard to soft materials in 3D, requiring little to no sample preparation. Furthermore in situ and 4D quantification of microstructural evolution under controlled environment as a function of time, temperature, chemistry or stress can be done repeatable on the same sample, using practical specimen sizes ranging from tens of microns to several cm diameter, with achievable imaging resolution from submicron to 50 nm. Many of these studies were reported using XRM in synchrotron beamlines. These include crack propagation on composite and construction materials; corrosion studies; microstructural changes during the setting of cement; flow studies within porous media to mention but a few.

Enhanced microwave absorption property of silver decorated biomass ordered porous carbon composite materials with frequency selective surface incorporation

Porous carbon(PC)is a promising electromagnetic(EM)wave absorbing material thanks to its light weight,large specific surface area as well as good dissipating capacity.To further improve its microwave absorbing performance,silver coated porous carbon(Ag@PC)is synthesized by one-step hydro-thermal synthesis process making use of fir as a biomass formwork.Phase compositions,morphological structure,and microwave absorption capability of the Ag@PC has been explored.Research results show that the metallic Ag was successfully reduced and the particles are evenly distributed inward the pores of the carbon formwork,which accelerates graphitization process of the amorphous carbon.The Ag@PC composite without adding polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)exhibits higher dielectric constant and better EM wave dissipating capability.This is because the larger particles of Ag give rise to higher electric conductivity.After combing with frequency selective surface(FSS),the EM wave absorbing performance is further improved and the frequency region below-10 d B is located in8.20-11.75 GHz,and the minimal reflection loss value is-22.5 dB.This work indicates that incorporating metallic Ag particles and FSS provides a valid way to strengthen EM wave absorbing capacity of PC material.

Analytical Solutions of Dynamic Crack Models of Bridging Fiber Pull-Out in Unidirectional Composite Materials

An elastic analysis of an internal central crack with bridging fibers parallel to the free surface in an infinite orthotropic anisotropic elastic plane was analyzed, and the crack extension should occur in the format of self-similarity. When the fiber strength is over its maximum tensile stress, the fiber breaks. By means of complex variable functions, the problem considered can be easily translated into Reimann-Hilbert mixed boundary value problem. Utilizing the built dynamic model of bridging fiber pull-out in unidirectional composite materials, analytical solutions of the displacements, stresses and stress intensity factors under the action of increasing loads Pt5/x5, Px5/t4 are obtained, respectively. After those analytical solutions were used by superposition theorem, the solutions to arbitrary complex problems were acquired.

Sustainable Biocomposites Materials for Automotive Brake Pad Application:An Overview

Research into converting waste into viable eco-friendly products has gained global concern.Using natural fibres and pulverized metallic waste becomes necessary to reduce noxious environmental emissions due to indiscriminately occupying the land.This study reviews the literature in the broad area of green composites in search of materials that can be used in automotive brake pads.Materials made by biocomposite,rather than fossil fuels,will be favoured.A database containing the tribo-mechanical performance of numerous potential components for the future green composite was established using the technical details of bio-polymers and natural reinforcements.The development of materials with diverse compositions and varying proportions is now conceivable,and these materials can be permanently connected in fully regulated processes.This explanation demonstrates that all of these variables affect friction coefficient,resistance to wear from friction and high temperatures,and the operating life of brake pads to varying degrees.In this study,renewable materials for the matrix and reinforcement are screened to determine which have sufficient strength,coefficient of friction,wear resistance properties,and reasonable costs,making them a feasible option for a green composite.The most significant,intriguing,and unusual materials used in manufacturing brake pads are gathered in this review,which also analyzes how they affect the tribological characteristics of the pads.