Functionally graded structure of a nitride-strengthened Mg_(2)Si-based hybrid composite

The ex-situ incorporation of the secondary SiC reinforcement,along with the in-situ incorporation of the tertiary and quaternary Mg_(3)N_(2) and Si_(3)N_(4) phases,in the primary matrix of Mg_(2)Si is employed in order to provide ultimate wear resistance based on the laser-irradiation-induced inclusion of N_(2) gas during laser powder bed fusion.This is substantialized based on both the thermal diffusion-and chemical reactionbased metallurgy of the Mg_(2)Si–SiC/nitride hybrid composite.This study also proposes a functional platform for systematically modulating a functionally graded structure and modeling build-direction-dependent architectonics during additive manufacturing.This strategy enables the development of a compositional gradient from the center to the edge of each melt pool of the Mg_(2)Si–SiC/nitride hybrid composite.Consequently,the coefficient of friction of the hybrid composite exhibits a 309.3%decrease to–1.67 compared to–0.54 for the conventional nonreinforced Mg_(2)Si structure,while the tensile strength exhibits a 171.3%increase to 831.5 MPa compared to 485.3 MPa for the conventional structure.This outstanding mechanical behavior is due to the(1)the complementary and synergistic reinforcement effects of the SiC and nitride compounds,each of which possesses an intrinsically high hardness,and(2)the strong adhesion of these compounds to the Mg_(2)Si matrix despite their small sizes and low concentrations.

Performance Improvement of Kenaf/Glass Polymer Hybrid Composites by Effective Application of Fish Scale Powder as Filler:A Novel Approach

Modern technology for developing new items made from renewable resources is becoming more and more popular as a result of rising environmental concern.Recently,contemporary polymer composites have included the hybridization of natural fibers with synthetic ones,along with the inclusion of a variety of biowaste filler for developing sustainable goods.In this work,the kenaf/glass hybrid polyester composites are strengthened by the addition of fish scale(FS),which is taken from the fishs outermost layer of skin.Five different stacked-order laminates,such as KKKK,KGKG,GKKG,KGGK,and GGGG,are fabricated by using the hand lay-up method with four different weight concentrations of filler content:0%,5%,10%,and 15%.Mechanical possessions such as tensile,flexural,impact strength and micro-hardness have been evaluated through experimentation in accordance with ASTM standards.The experimental findings revealed that,the tensile strength and micro-hardness value of KGKG laminates with 15wt% of FS filler are found to be maximum of 118.72 MPa and 17.82 HV respectively which are 39.67%and 26.11%greater than that of KGKG laminates without FS filler.However,the flexural and impact strength of same laminates with 10 wt% FS filler exhibited a maximum value of 142.77 MPa and 62.08 kJ/m^(2).In order to corroborate its applicability for structural and building materials in open environment,the dimensional stability of the composite has been studied through moisture absorption test.The influences of FS filler loading on dimensional stability and resistance to moisture absorption capacity of laminates are also investigated.The experimental results reflected that the addition of FS-filler has significantly improved the dimensional stability of the laminates in moist environment by reducing the moisture absorption tendency.To further support the mode of failures,a fractography investigation of fractured surfaces was conducted.

Mechanical and wear behaviour of AZ91D magnesium matrix hybrid composite reinforced with boron carbide and graphite

In this experimental study,magnesium(AZ91D)based boron carbide(B4C)and graphite(Gr)particle reinforced hybrid composite materials were manufactured by stir casting.The tribological and mechanical properties of these composite materials were investigated.The results of the tests revealed that the graphite reinforced hybrid composites exhibited a lower wear loss compared to the unreinforced AZ91D alloy and AZ91D–B4C composites.It was found that with an increase in the B4C content,the wear resistance increased monotonically with hardness and ultimate tensile strength decreased.This study revealed that the addition of both a hard reinforcement(e.g.,B4C)and soft reinforcement(e.g.,graphite)significantly improves the wear resistance of magnesium composites.These entire results designate that the hybrid magnesium composites can be considered as an excellent material where high strength,ultimate tensile strength and wear-resistant components are of major importance,primarily in the aerospace and automotive engineering sectors.

Effect of Hybridization on the Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fiber/Kenaf Phenolic Hybrid Composites

In this study,pineapple leaf fiber(PALF),kenaf fiber(KF)and PALF/KF/phenolic(PF)composites were fabricated and their mechanical properties were investigated.The mechanical properties(tensile,flexural and impact)of the PALF/KF/PF hybrid composites were investigated and compared with PALF/KF composites.The 3P7K exhibited enhanced tensile strength(46.96 MPa)and modulus(6.84 GPa),flexural strength(84.21 MPa)and modulus(5.81 GPa),and impact strength(5.39 kJ/m2)when compared with the PALF/PF and KF/PF composites.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was used to observe the fracture surfaces of the tensile testing samples.The microstructure of the 7P3K hybrid composite showed good interfacial bonding and the addition of KF improved the interfacial strength.It has been concluded that the 3P7K ratio allowed obtaining materials with better mechanical properties(tensile,flexural and impact strengths)than PALF/PF and KF/PF composites.The results obtained in this study will be used for further comparative study of untreated hybrid composites with treated hybrid composites.

Mechanical and wear behaviour of Mg-SiC-Gr hybrid composites

The present research deals with development and characterisation of magnesium–SiC–Gr hybrid composites through powder metallurgy route.Morphology analysis of the magnesium and reinforcement powder particles has been carried out using particle size analyser(PSA)and X-ray diffraction(XRD),and then the mixed powders were analysed through scanning electron microscope(SEM).The developed composite exhibit increased hardness when compared to base material,which could be attributed to the presence of hard SiC.Furthermore,a slight decrease in hardness is observed for the hybrid composite when compared to Mg–SiC composite due to the presence of soft Gr particles.The tribological properties of the developed composite materials were investigated using pin-on-disc wear test apparatus under dry sliding conditions.The wear resistance of the developed composites improved significantly than that of the magnesium matrix due to the upright effect offered by both of the reinforcements.The SEM analysis was carried out on the worn out surfaces for better understanding of wear mechanisms.5%Gr reinforced Mg-10SiC composites confer better wear resistance among the developed composites.

Behavior of Aramid Fiber/Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Hybrid Composites under Charpy Impact and Ballistic Impact

The aramid fiber礥HMWPE (ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene) fiber hybrid composites (AF礑F) were ma-nufactured. By Charpy impact, the low velocity impact behavior of AF礑F composite was studied. And the high velocity impact behavior under ballistic impact was also investigated. The influence of hybrid ratio on the performances of low and high velocity impact was analyzed, and hybrid structures with good impact properties under low velocity impact and high velocity were optimized. For Charpy impact, the maximal impact load increased with the accretion of the AF layers for AF礑F hybrid composites. The total impact power was reduced with the decrease of DF layers and the delamination can result in the increase of total impact power. For ballistic impact, the DF ballistic performance was better than that of the AF and the hybrid ratio had a crucial influence. The failure morphology of AF礑F hybrid composite under Charpy impact and ballistic impact was analyzed. The AF礑F hybrid composites in suitable hybrid ratio could attain better performance than AF or DF composites.

Cerium vanadate/carbon nanotube hybrid composite nanostructures as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The pristine CeVO_(4) and CeVO_(4)/CNT hybrid composite nanostructured samples were facilely synthesized using a simple silicone oil-bath method.From the X-ray diffraction results,the formation of tetragonal CeVO_(4) with an additional minor phase of V_(2)O_(5) was identified.When investigated as an anode material for lithium(Li)-ion batteries,the CeVO_(4)/CNT hybrid composite nanostructure(HCNS) electrode demonstrated improved Li storage performance over the pristine CeVO_(4).The Li insertion/de-insertion electrochemical reaction with the CeVO_(4) was analyzed on the basis of cyclic voltammetry study.The cyclic voltammetry analysis revealed that the three-step reduction of V^(5+) to V^(3+), V^(3+) to V^(2+), and V^(2+) to V+ processes is involved and among them,only V^(5+) to V^(3+) is reversible during the Li-ion insertion into CeVO_(4).The CeVO_(4)/CNT HCNS electrode exhibited a discharge capacity as high as 443 mA h g^(-1)(capacity retention of 96.3%) over 200 cycles at 100 mA g^(-1), whereas the pristine CeVO_(4) is limited to 138 mA h g^(-1)(capacity retention of 48%).Even at a high current density of 500 mA g^(-1), the CeVO_(4)/CNT HCNS electrode delivered an excellent reversible capacity of 586.82 mA h g^(-1) after 1200 cycles.

STUDY ON STRESS CONCENTRATIONS IN AN INTRAPLY HYBRID COMPOSITE SHEET

A reasonably, simply and accurately modified shear-lag model was proposed. Based on the model, the stress redistributions due to the failure of some fibers in an intraply hybrid composite under tension were analyzed. The results show that the present calculating stress concentration factors very coincide with Fukuda and Chou's results, thus verifying the reasonableness and correctness of the present model and methods.

The Effects of Stacking Sequence on Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Thermal Degradation of Kenaf/Jute Hybrid Composites

This research focused on the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of woven mat jute/kenaf/jute(J/K/J)and kenaf/jute/kenaf(K/J/K)hybrid composites.Dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA)and Thermo-gravimetric Analysis(TGA)were used to study the effect of layering sequence on the thermal properties of kenaf/jute hybrid composites.The DMA results;it was found that the differences in the stacking sequence between the kenaf/jute composites do not affect their storage modulus,loss modulus and damping factor.From the TGA and DMA results,it has been shown that stacking sequence has given positive effect to the kenaf/jute hybrid composite compared to pure epoxy composite.This is because kenaf and jute fibre has increased the Tg values of the composites,thus affect the thermal degradation.Results showed that the storage modulus for kenaf/jute hybrid composites increased compared with pure epoxy composites with increasing temperature and the values of remained almost the same at glass transition temperature(Tg),the hybrid composite perhaps due to the improved fibre/matrix interface bonding.The preliminary analysis could provide a new direction for the creation of a novel hybrid composite which offers unique properties which cannot be accomplished in a single material system.

Dynamic and buckling analysis of polymer hybrid composite beam with variable thickness

This work deals with a study of the dynamic and buckling analysis of polymer hybrid composite(PHC) beam. The beam has variable thickness and is reinforced by carbon nanotubes(CNTs) and nanoclay(NC) simultaneously. The governing equations are derived based on the first shear deformation theory(FSDT). A three-phase HalpinTsai approach is used to predict the mechanical properties of the PHC. We focus our attention on the effect of the simultaneous addition of NC and CNT on the vibration and buckling analysis of the PHC beam with variable thickness. Also a comparison study is done on the sensation of three impressive parameters including CNT, NC weight fractions, and the shape factor of fillers on the mechanical properties of PHC beams,as well as fundamental frequencies of free vibrations and critical buckling load. The results show that the increase of shape factor value, NC, and CNT weight fractions leads to considerable reinforcement in mechanical properties as well as increase of the dimensionless fundamental frequency and buckling load. The variation of CNT weight fraction on elastic modulus is more sensitive rather than shear modulus but the effect of NC weight fraction on elastic and shear moduli is fairly the same. The shape factor values more than the medium level do not affect the mechanical properties.

Hybrid Composite Based on Natural Rubber Reinforced with Short Fibers of the Triumfetta cordifolia/Saccharum officinarum L.: Performance Evaluation

This article contributes to the development of the new class of fully biodegradable “green” composites by combining fibers (natural/bio) with biodegradable resin. The vegetable fibers (Triumfetta cordifolia and sugarcane bagasse) treated with NaOH and bleached were incorporated into a natural rubber matrix. The influence of the fiber ratio on the physical properties, tensile strength and surface hardness of the hybrid composites was analyzed. The results show that the addition of fibers in the natural rubber matrix increases the water absorption capacity but gradually reduces it with increasing fiber ratio. The hybrid composites of the NRT50-50B proportions show the best tensile strengths at 20 phr and a shore A hardness of 43.7 at 30 phr. The combination of two fibers has improved the physical and mechanical properties of the hybrid composites which can be used in engineering applications.

Tensile Fracture Mechanism of Claviform Hybrid Composite Rebar

Based on the shear-lag theory, a hexagonal model of fiber bundles was established to study the tensile fracture mechanism of a claviform hybrid composite rebar. Firstly, the stress redistributions are investigated on two conditions： one condition is that interfacial damage is taken into account and the other is not. Then, a micro-statistical analysis of the multiple tensile failures of the rebar was performed by using the random critical-core theory. The results indicate that the predictions of the tensile failure strains of the rebar, in which the interfacial damage is taken into account, are in better agreement with the existing experimental results than those when only elastic case is considered. Through the comparison between the theoretical and experimental results, the shear-lag theory and the model are verified feasibly in studying the claviform hybrid composite rebar.

Conceptual Design of Glass/Renewable Natural Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composite Motorcycle Side Cover

This paper presents the development process relating to the conceptual design of glass/renewable natural fibrereinforced polymer hybrid composite motorcycle side cover.Motorcycle side cover is a component frequently made from plastic or steel that functions on covering the motorcycle parts,components and systems such as frame,battery,electrical systems and mechanical systems.Function Analysis Systems Techniques(FAST)is used to identify the functions of motorcycle side cover.The right-side cover of motorcycle model SYM E-Bonus 110 has been physically studied to identify the competitive benchmarking criteria.The functions and competitive benchmarking criteria are then compiled and integrated with the environmental requirements to identify the Product Design Specifications(PDS).The coir fibre has been selected from six identified dominant renewable natural fibre used for automotive component through integration of Ranking Method and Quality Based Selection(QBS).Then the polypropylene matrix is selected after shortlisting the existing thermoplastic that is used with coir fibre and has high suitability for injection moulding manufacturing.The polypropylene matrix is then evaluated using Weighted Evaluation Matrix(WEM)by comparing to benchmark material which is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene(ABS).After that,the conceptual design development of glass/renewable coir fibre-reinforced polypropylene motorcycle side cover is carried out using an integrated Theory of Inventive Problem Solving(TRIZ)and Morphological Chart,followed by final conceptual design selection using integration of Pugh Scoring Method and QBS.The conceptual design development intended on improving the biodegradability to reduce pollution to the environment.However,the usage of glass/coir fibre-reinforced polypropylene hybrid composite may increase the weight due to higher density.Four innovative design concepts have been developed and the selected final concept design has the most minimum number of ribs and minimum thickness with the same ratio of glass fibre and natural fibre composition.

STUDY ON TENSILE FAILURE MECHANISM AND HYBRID EFFECT OF INTRAPLY HYBRID COMPOSITES

The random critical-core model is adapted to investigate the tensile failuremechanism and hybrid effect of unidirectionally arrayed hybrid composites with alternating low andhigh elongation fibers. By utilizing the model in conjunction with the results of the stressconcentration analysis in which the interfacial damage between fiber and matrix is considered, amicroscopic statistical analysis of both the first failure and ultimate failure of hybrids isperformed. The variations of the first failure strain, the ultimate failure strain and the hybrideffect as the interfacial shear strength are obtained quantitatively. The concept of the hybrideffect for strains has been clarified. The present results are compared with available experimentdata and a reasonable agreement is found between the analytical predictions and the experimentalresults.

A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF INTERFACIAL DAMAGE ON STRESS CONCENTRATIONS IN INTRAPLY HYBRID COMPOSITES

In the axial tensile failure process of intraply hybridcomposites, the breakage of some fibers may lead to interfacialdamage, thus directly influencing the local stress concentrationsnear the sites of breakage. A modified shear-lag model, in which theinterfacial damage is considered, is proposed. Based on the model,the influence of interfacial shear strength on the stressconcentrations and the lengths of interfacial damage zone is firststudied. The present results also provide an important theoreticalbasis for investigating the failure mechanism and hybrid effects forsuch kind of composites.

Nonlinear and Rate-Dependent Hysteretic Responses of Active Hybrid Composites

Nonlinear electro-mechanical behaviors of piezoelectric materials and viscoelastic nature of polymers result in the overall nonlinear and hysteretic responses of active polymeric composites. This study presents a hybrid-unit-cell model for obtaining the effective nonlinear and rate-dependent hysteretic electro-mechanical responses of hybrid piezocomposites. The studied hybrid piezocomposites consist of unidirectional piezoelectric fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, which is reinforced with piezoelectric particles. The hybrid-unit-cell model is derived based on a unit-cell model of fiber-reinforced composites consisting of fiber and matrix subcells, in which the matrix subcells are comprised of a unit-cell model of particle-reinforced composites. Nonlinear electro-mechanical responses are considered for the piezoelectric constituents while a viscoelastic solid constitutive model is used for the polymer constituent. The hybrid-unit cell model is used to examine the effects of different responses of the constituents, microstructural arrangements, and loading histories on the overall nonlinear and hysteretic electro-mechanical responses of the hybrid piezocomposites, which are useful in designing active polymeric composites.

Erosion Wear Behaviour of Kenaf/Glass Hybrid Polymer Composites

The awareness amongst the researchers to develop an environment friendly sustainable material leads to explore new class of plant-based fiber for making composites. Hybridization of such plant-based fiber with inclusion of engineered fiber is one of the promising methods to not only enhanced the mechanical performance but also suppressed the drawbacks that associate with such plant-based fiber to some extent. A usual hand lay-up method was taken-up in this work to fabricate four layered of hybrid kenaf(K)/glass(G)polyester laminates with different stacking order such as KKKK,KGKG,KGGK,GKKG and GGGG. The erosive character of the laminates was examined under three distinct particle velocities(48m/s, 70m/s,82m/s)and four different impact angles(30°, 45°, 60°, 90°). All fabricated laminates exhibited a semiductile character at lower velocities(48m/s and70m/s)as peak wear rate was observed at45° impact angle. However,they showed a semi-brittle character at high velocity(82m/s)as maximum rate of erosion was noticed at60° impact angle. Again,the influence of stacking order of piles on erosion wear was also clearly noticed. Moreover,the semi-brittle/semi-ductile characterization was also evidenced in accordance to the range of erosion efficiencies. The micro-structures of worn surfaces were inspected thoroughly from the images of scanning electron microscope(SEM)to evident the mechanism of erosion.

Study of the Diffusion Behavior of Seawater Absorption in Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Halloysite Nanotubes Hybrid Nanofillers Modified Epoxy-Based Glass/Carbon Fiber Composites

In the maritime industry, cost-effective and lightweight Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites offer excellent mechanical properties, design flexibility, and corrosion resistance. However, their reliability in harsh seawater conditions is a concern. Researchers address this by exploring three approaches: coating fiber surfaces, hybridizing fibers and matrices with or without nanofillers, and interply rearrangement. This study focuses on evaluating the synergistic effects of interply rearrangement of glass/carbon fibers and hybrid nanofillers, specifically Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and Halloysite nanotubes (HNT). The aim is to enhance impact properties by minimizing moisture absorption. Hybrid nanocomposites with equal-weight proportions of two nanofillers: 0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, and 2 wt.% were exposed to seawater for 90 days. Experimental data was subjected to modelling through the application of Predictive Fick’s Law. The study found that the hybrid composite containing 2 wt.% hybrid nanofillers exhibited a 22.10% increase in impact performance compared to non-modified counterparts. After 90 days of seawater aging, the material exhibited enhanced resistance to moisture absorption (15.74%) and minimal reduction in impact strength (8.52%) compared to its dry strength, with lower diffusion coefficients.

Modulator-directed assembly of hybrid composites based on metalorganic frameworks and upconversion nanoparticles

Hybrid composites made of metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)and lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles(UCNPs)have attracted considerable interest for their synergistically enhanced functions in various applications such as chemical sensing,photocatalysis,anticounterfeiting and nanomedicine.However,precise assembly of MOF/UCNP hybrid composites with tunable morphologies remains a challenge due to the lack of effective synthetic methods and fundamental understanding of the growth mechanisms.Herein,we propose a modulator-directed assembly strategy to synthesize a series of ZIF-8@UCNP composites(ZIF-8=zeolitic imidazolate framework-8).The UCNPs densely paved on the surface of ZIF-8 microcrystals and endowed the composites with intense upconversion blue emission,which were verified by steady-state/transient photoluminescence(PL)spectroscopy and single-particle imaging.Ethylenediamine(EDA)was firstly used as a modulator to fine-tune the predominant MOF facets and realized distinct morphologies of the composites.By adjusting the concentration of EDA from 0 to 25 mmol/L,the morphology of the ZIF-8@UCNP composites was tuned from rhombic dodecahedron(RD)to truncated rhombic dodecahedron(TRD),cube with truncated edges(CTE),cube,and finally a unique form of interpenetration twins(IT).The nucleation and growth process of the ZIF-8@UCNP composites was monitored by time-dependent scanning electron microscopy(SEM)images and the formation mechanism was thoroughly revealed.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the strategy for assembly of morphology-controllable ZIF-8@UCNP composites was generally applicable to various UCNPs with different sizes and shapes.The proposed strategy is expected to open up new avenues for the controllable synthesis of MOF/UCNP composites toward diverse applications.

Ballistic design and testing of a composite armour reinforced by CNTs suitable for armoured vehicles

This paper is investigating the use of composite armour reinforced by nanomaterials, for the protection of light armoured(LAV) and medium armoured military vehicles(MAV), and the interaction between the composite materials and high-performance ballistic projectiles. Four armour materials, consisted of front hybrid fibre reinforced polymer cover layer, ceramic strike-face, fibre reinforced polymer intermediate layer and the metal matrix composite reinforced backplate, were manufactured and assembled by adhesive technology. The proposed laminated protection system is suitable for armoured ground vehicles;however, it could be used as armour on ground, air and naval platforms. The design of the protection system, including material selection and thickness, was elaborated depending on the performance requirements of Level 4 + STANAG 4569 military standard(projectile 14.5 mm × 114 mm API B32) and especially on a design philosophy which is analysed with the specifications. The backplate of this new composite is a hybrid material of Metal Matrix Composite(MMC) reinforced with carbon nanotubes(CNTs), manufactured with the use of powder metallurgy technique. The composite backplate material was morphologically, mechanically and chemically analysed. Results show that all plates are presenting high mechanical properties and ballistic characteristics, compared to commonly used armour plates. Real military ballistic tests according to AEP-STANAG 4569 were carried out for the total composite armour systems. After the ballistic tests, AA2024-CNT3 showed the best protection results, compared with the other plates(AA2024-CNT1 and AA2024-CNT2), with the projectile being unable to fully penetrate the composite plate.