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Egg shells and fish scales are two abundantly available by-products from food industries which can be used as filler materials to reinforce polymer composites. The bulk of discarded chicken eggshells and fish scales are disposed of in landfills, which cause environmental issues. The present research work focuses on the water absorption, mechanical and tribological properties of epoxy composites reinforced with chicken eggshells and catla fish scale particles. Hybrid composites incorporating both fillers were also made and evaluated. Results from the water absorption tests showed that the addition of fillers decreased the water absorption of the composites than neat epoxy. Tensile and impact tests revealed that the inclusion of fillers reduced the tensile and impact strength of the composites compared to neat epoxy, but improved the tensile modulus. The hybrid composite (EFREC) showed improvement in both flexural strength and modulus in comparison to neat epoxy. Also, the results from the wear tests revealed that the addition of fillers improved the wear resistance of the composites. Among all the mechanical and wear tested composite specimens, the hybrid composite (EFREC) showed the best performance. This was also validated from the SEM images of the fracture and wear surfaces of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder bed fusion laser beam, as one of the most promising forming technologies, offers unmatched benefits over traditional processing, particularly in the production of Ti–6Al–4V. The influence of laser line energy density (LLED) on the forming surface, phase composition, micro-hardness, tensile characteristics and wear resistance of Ti–6Al–4V alloy were explored to disclose the evolution of mechanical and tribological properties. According to the findings, the LLED causes 'depressions' and 'highlands' between nearby scanning tracks. The phase composition did not alter appreciably as LLED increased. Micro-hardness and tensile characteristics increased initially, then declined, and the value of maximum micro-hardness and ultimate tensile strength were 388.17 HV0.2 and 1197.5 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, when the LLED is 0.24 J mm–1, the wear resistance is optimal under the aviation lubricant medium, with an average friction coefficient of 0.1505 and volume wear rate of 6.95∗10−8 mm2∗N−1, and a wear mechanism of mild furrow wear and adhesion wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study has been carried out to investigate the mechanical and tribological characteristics of chopped carbon fiber (CCF) reinforced epoxy composites filled with nano-Al2O3 particulates, as a function of fiber and filler contents. The experiments were conducted using a pin-on-disc wear test apparatus under dry sliding conditions. The coefficient of friction and specific wear rate of these composites was determined as a function of applied normal load, sliding velocity, sliding distance, and reinforcement content. The tensile, flexural, and compression strengths of ortho cresol novalac epoxy and chopped carbon fiber (OCNE/CCF) filled composites are found to be within the ranges of 48–58.54 MPa, 115–156.56 MPa, and 48–61.15 MPa. Whereas the tensile, flexural, and compression strengths of OCNE/CCF/Al2O3-filled composites are found to be within the ranges of 96–110 MPa, 176–204.66 MPa, and 72–85.65 MPa, respectively. It has been observed that the coefficient of friction decreases and specific wear rate increases with increase in the applied normal loads. Further increases in the fiber (6 wt%) and particle (3 wt%) contents in the epoxy matrix resulted in a decrease of both the mechanical and tribological properties, but remains above that of the CCF reinforced epoxy composites. The worn surfaces of composites were examined with scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersion X-ray analyzer and X-ray diffraction analysis technique to investigate the wear mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scratch resistance behaviour of alumina-graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) (0.5, 2 and 5 vol.-%) composites was investigated using a Rockwell indenter with normal applied loads ranging from 1 to 200 N. The alumina-GNP composites behaved differently during scratch testing depending on the normal applied load. The coefficient of friction of the composites did not change much at low normal loads but increased with increasing amount of GNP in the alumina matrix for high normal loads. The addition of GNP contributed to improved scratch resistance of alumina nanocomposites only for low loads below,97 N. This correlates with the mechanical properties of the composites. As the applied load increased, the scratch resistance of the GNP composites decreased due to the presence of weakly bonded grain boundaries in the alumina matrix, which enhanced chipping of material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]