Sisir Mantry

Processing and Characterization of Jute-Epoxy Composites Reinforced with SiC Derived from Rice Husk

This article depicts the processing and mechanical characterization of a new class of multi-phase composites consisting of epoxy resin reinforced with jute fiber and filled with silicon carbide (SiC) particulates. The SiC used as filler material in this work was prepared from rice husk through plasma-processing technique. The effect of filler in modifying the physical and mechanical properties of jute—epoxy composites has been studied. It is found that the incorporation of rice husk derived SiC modifies the tensile, flexural, and inter-laminar shear strengths of the jute—epoxy composites. The micro-hardness and density of the composites are also greatly influenced by the content of these fillers.

Effect of Microstructural Variation on Erosion Wear Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

The present article describes the effect of microstructural variations—that is, lamellar, bimodal, and equiaxed—on solid particle erosion wear behavior of Ti-6AL-4V alloy at room temperature. Erosion tests were carried out at various test conditions using an air jet–type test rig and Taguchis orthogonal array experimental design. The results indicated that impact velocity is the most significant controlling factor influencing the solid particle erosion wear of Ti-6Al-4V alloy followed by impact angle, microstructural variation, and size of erodent. The lamellar microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V alloy has excellent erosion resistance, followed by bimodal and equiaxed microstructures. Ploughing or pile-up leading to platelet formation was found to be the primary mechanism of material loss in erosion of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. This mechanism of material loss is independent of its microstructural variation. These results were determined after observation of the eroded surface under a scanning electron microscope. Optical microscopy, Rockwell hardness testing, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the microstructures and eroded surfaces of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy in order to correlate the results obtained.

Erosive Wear Analysis of Plasma-Sprayed Cu Slag–Al Composite Coatings

This article depicts the solid particle erosion response of plasma-sprayed composite coatings using an industrial waste product (i.e., copper slag) and aluminum. The influence of five operating parameters—that is, impact velocity, erodent size, erodent temperature, impingement angle, and aluminum content of feedstock with four different levels each—on performance output (i.e., erosion rate) are studied using Taguchis L16 orthogonal array design. Out of the five parameters, impact velocity has been found to be most influential factor on the erosion wear rate of coated samples. Maximum erosion takes place at an impingement angle of 60°, showing the semiductile response of the coating to solid particle erosion. In addition, a multilinear mathematical equation is proposed in order to predict the wear rate. The percentage of error between experimental data and predicted data was small, with a very high correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.997 showing the correctness of the mathematical equation used.

Erosive Wear Performance Analysis of Jute-Epoxy-SiC Hybrid Composites

The present article reports the solid particle erosion response of a new class of multi-component composite system consisting of epoxy resin reinforced with jute—fiber and SiC particles derived from a bio-resource like rice husk. Erosion trials are carried out at various test conditions. For this, an air jet type erosion test rig and Taguchi’s orthogonal arrays are used. Significant control factors influencing the erosion wear rate are identified. This article also presents the development of a theoretical model for estimating erosion damage caused by solid particle impact on the composites. The model is based upon conservation of particle kinetic energy and relates the erosion rate with some of the material properties and test conditions. The theoretical results are compared and are found to be in good agreement with the experimental values.

Erosion Behavior of Glass-epoxy Composites Filled with SiC from Bamboo Leaf

Abstract The present article reports the processing, mechanical characterization and solid particle erosion response of a new class of multi phase composites consisting of epoxy resin reinforced with E-glass fiber and SiC particulates. The SiC powder synthesized from bamboo leaf employing DC extended thermal plasma technique has been used as the filler in this glass-epoxy composite. It is observed that with increasing percentage of filler particles, there is a decline in tensile and flexural strength, but there is significant improvement in hardness and erosion wear performance. It is also observed that, among all the factors, impact velocity is the most significant factor followed by filler percentage and impingement angle, while erodent size has the least significance on erosion of the hybrid composite. Taguchis orthogonal arrays have been used to identify the controlling factors influencing the erosion wear rate.

Deposition of plasma sprayed copper slag coatings on metal substrates

Abstract Copper slag is a waste product obtained during matte smelting and refining of copper. The present work explores the coating potential of copper slag by plasma spraying. This work shows that copper slag is eminently coatable. When premixed with alumina powder, the coating exhibits higher interfacial adhesion as compared to pure copper slag coatings. Maximum adhesion strengths of about 23 and 27 MPa are recorded in for the coatings of copper slag with 15 wt.% of alumina on aluminium and mild steel substrates respectively. The input power to the plasma torch is found to affect the coating deposition efficiency and morphology of the coatings.

Effect of Microstructural Degradation on Solid Particle Erosion Behavior of 2.25Cr-1Mo Steel

The present article evaluates the influence of independent control factors such as microstructural degradation, impact velocity, impingement angle, and erodent size on solid particle erosion behavior of 2.25Cr-1Mo steel using a statistical approach. Microstructural degradation in this steel has been introduced as a result of thermal aging corresponding to Larson-Miller parameter (LMP) values of 33,012, 35,402, 37,846, and 38,374. Solid particle erosion tests were carried out using a sand blast–type test rig following a well-planned experimental schedule based on Taguchis orthogonal arrays. The erosion rate of this steel decreases with increase in the severity of thermal aging. This observed phenomenon could possibly be attributed to spheroidization of lenticular-shaped carbides to globular-shaped carbides as a result of increase in the severity of thermal aging. With the help of signal-to-noise ratios and analysis of variance (ANOVA), an optimal combination of control factors to minimize the solid particle erosion behavior of 2.25Cr-1Mo steel was determined. Among all four control factors, the LMP representing the extent of thermal aging is the most significant control factor influencing the solid particle erosion behavior of this steel, followed by impingement angle, impact velocity, and size of erodent. Results indicated that the LMP has a greater static influence of 46.33%, impingement angle has an influence of 42.51%, impact velocity has an influence of 7.47%, and size of erodent has an influence of 1.13% on solid particle erosion of this steel. Material loss during solid particle erosion of 2.25Cr-1Mo steel is found to be ductile in nature and primarily controlled by cutting and ploughing action.

A study on erosive wear analysis of glass fiber–epoxy–AlN hybrid composites

Aluminum nitride reinforced glass fiber epoxy resin composite was prepared by simple hand lay-up technique and its mechanical as well as erosion wear behavior were investigated. The interactive influence of various operational variables on specific wear behavior of composite materials has been studied thoroughly. It was observed that with increasing percentage of filler particles, there is a decline in tensile strength, but there is a significant improvement in hardness and erosion wear performance. Among all the factors, impact velocity is the most significant factor followed by filler percentage and impingement angle, while temperature has the least significance on erosion of the hybrid composite. Taguchi’s orthogonal arrays were used to identify the controlling factors influencing the erosion wear rate. Scanning electron microscopy studies were conducted to understand the erosion mechanism involved during the material removal process.

A study on sintered TiO2 and TiO2/SiC composites synthesized through chemical reaction based solution method

TiO2 and TiO2/SiC composites are synthesized through chemical route followed by solid-state sintering at 1450℃. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the peaks of TiO2 and SiC for the compositional ratio up to 60:40 whereas no peak corresponding to TiO2 has been observed for the SiC percentage of 50 and 60. It is confirmed from the micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra that TiO2 has got diffused into the SiC surfaces and interfaces in the composites having higher percentages of SiC. Maximum hardness has been observed for the TiO2 and SiC composition of 50:50. No optical transition has been observed for the composites with TiO2: SiC ratio equal to or below 1.5. The increase in absorption percentages with increasing concentration of SiC indicates that these composites can be utilized as photo-catalytic active material in visible light. The electrical resistivity measurements clearly show the increase in conductivity with increase in SiC percentage up to 50% in TiO2/SiC composites. All these TiO2/SiC composites are found to have carrier concentration in the order of 1016–1018/cm3 at room temperature and hence can be proven as good ceramic semiconductors. It is observed that the insulating nature of TiO2 gets transformed to the semiconducting nature by the addition of SiC. The electrical, mechanical and optical properties are also found to be strongly dependent on the SiC percentages.

Performance Evaluation of Glass-Epoxy-TiC Hybrid Composites Using Design of Experiment

The present paper reports the processing and solid particle erosion behavior of a multiphase composite consisting of epoxy resin reinforced with E-glass fiber and TiC particles. The TiC powder synthesized from ilmenite employing DC extended thermal plasma technique has been used as the filler in these glass epoxy composites. It is observed that with increasing percentage of filler particles, there is significant improvement in hardness and erosion wear performance. It is also observed that, among all the factors, impact velocity is the most significant factor followed by TiC percentage and impingement angle, while erodent size has the least significance on erosion of the reinforced composite. Taguchis orthogonal arrays have been used to identify the controlling factors influencing the erosion wear rate.