Search

This study focused on the synthesis and purification of nano-sized titanium carbide (TiC) particles through vacuum carbothermal reduction under a hydrogen/argon atmosphere. The process involved the production of carbon-coated titanium precursors, followed by heating under vacuum conditions at 1500 °C for 2.5 h. The resulting products underwent additional treatment in either a hydrogen/argon (1:1) mixed gas or pure hydrogen gas. Experimental findings revealed that TiC powders exhibiting a single phase are obtained within a molar ratio of Ti to C ranging from 1:2 to 1:4. Adjusting the molar ratio of Ti/C in the precursors allowed for controlled variation in the particle size of the synthesized TiC powders, ranging from 50 to 80 nm. Treatment in hydrogen/argon mixed gas at 850 °C for 3 h resulted in TiC products with an impressive purity of 99.40%. The subsequent incorporation of 5% Nano-TiC-3 (Ti to C ranging from 1:3) as reinforcement into an aluminum alloy by Friction stir process technique demonstrated a remarkable 19.41% improvement in tensile strength, highlighting the efficacy of this specific reinforcement. The nano-TiC-3 reinforced composite exhibited uniform distribution without porosity. Additionally, a notable 50.81% improvement in hardness and the best wear resistance were observed for the 5% Nano-TiC-3 reinforced aluminum composite. This comprehensive study contributes valuable insights into the synthesis, purification, and application of nano-sized TiC particles, paving the way for the development of high-performance aluminum-based composites with enhanced mechanical and tribological properties.

In this study, the mechanical properties of advanced composites fabricated by the hand lay-up process were investigated. The mechanical properties evaluated in this study included tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. Tensile tests were performed to measure the resistance of the composites to pulling forces, while flexural tests assessed their resistance to bending. Impact tests, on the other hand, determine the material's ability to absorb sudden forces or shocks. Results showed that all the composite materials exhibited high tensile strength, with the Carbon fiber epoxy composite displaying the highest value due to the exceptional strength of carbon fibers. In terms of flexural strength, the Glass-Fiber Polymer Matrix composite demonstrated the highest resistance to bending, while the Kevlar-Epoxy composite exhibited the highest impact strength, owing to the unique properties of Kevlar fibers, which offer excellent energy absorption capabilities. In the hardness test, the Kevlar composite to epoxy matrix showed hardness from HRB 105 to HRB 125 an increase of 19.04 %, while fiberglass increased hardness by 14.2 % and carbon fiber by 16.3 %. The Impact test shows that the Kevlar composite to epoxy matrix showed hardness from HRB 105 to HRB 125 an increase of 19.04 %, while fiberglass increased hardness by 14.2 % and carbon fiber by 16.3 %. Kevlar reinforcing composite produced the highest flexural strength, compared to neat epoxy by 91.7 %. Carbon fibre composites were 52.5 % higher, whereas glass fibre composites were 15.6 % higher. SEM imaging results from the cross-sections show that the best bonding between the base material and the fibers was observed for Kevlar reinforced with epoxy. All mechanical test showed that Kevlar (Aramid fiber) provides excellent mechanical properties when compared to carbon fibre and glass fibre. Hence, Kevlar (aramid fiber) can be an option for preparing light weight helmets, automobiles, aeronautics, safety equipments etc.

Abstract Deposition of high entropy alloy FeCoNiMnCu on SS-304 was carried out by microwave energy for application in “solid oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) interconnects”. The ball-milling has been performed by taking “Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cu” in equal 20 wt. % of before deposited on SS-304 substrate. The deposited steel with 20% Fe 20% Co 20% Ni 20% Mn 20% Cu high entropy alloy (HEA) was exposed to thermal-exposure in the air for up to 10 weeks at 800 °C. The uniform cladding distribution of 20% Fe 20% Co 20% Ni 20% Mn 20% Cu HEA particles can be apparently observed on SS-304 substrate by utilizing Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Optical microscopy analysis. Homogeneity in the interfacial layer was evident by employing Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) characterization. Results have indicated that after the thermal exposure of deposited steel with 20% Fe 20% Co 20% Ni 20% Mn 20% Cu in the air for up to ten weeks at 800 °C, a “protective Cr2O3 layer”, and “high-entropy spinel coating” of (Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu)3O4 have been formed. During microwave cladding, the emergence of harder-phases has contributed to the raised hardness. The wear behavior after coating of 20% Fe 20% Co 20% Ni 20% Mn 20% Cu HEA on SS-304 substrate has significantly enhanced due to the strengthened wear resistance and hardness of the coatings. Findings have exhibited that the formation of (Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu)3O4 phase is a potential coating material for “SOFC interconnects” applications. Moreover, the cladding of SS304 with a composition of 20% Fe, 20% Co, 20% Ni, 20% Mn, and 20% Cu has demonstrated remarkable stability under thermal expansion studies. As the findings have revealed that the composite cladding has efficiently withstand significant variations in volume when subjected to elevated temperatures for a prolonged period of time, thus, exhibiting its superior thermal stability for SOFC-interconnect applications. Furthermore, the SEM images of the cladding surface, surface hardness, and tribocorrosion behavior of the coated material have been observed to identify the 20% Fe 20% Co 20% Ni 20% Mn 20% Cu HEA coating effect on SS-304 steel-substrate.

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a prominent solid-state adhesion process. In the recent past, several investigations are performed for the property enhancement of FSSW welded joints especially on the mechanical and metallurgical characterization. In this work, an attempt has been made to analyze the effect of environmental conditions on the output quality characteristics of SiC reinforced Al6061-T6 welded joints, fabricated at optimal parametric setting. For this, welded joints are preserved at sub-zero temperature of −18 ± 2 °C for 90, 180, 270 and 360 days. Output quality characteristics in terms of tensile-shear and micro-hardness test in combination with microstructure analyses using SEM, EDS Mapping, and XRD analysis are emphasized. It is revealed that during sub-zero cooling, weld strength and micro-hardness of weldments increased over time. Additionally, a decrease in crystal size and increase in dislocation density are observed with increase in cooling period of weld joint, which eventually made suitable for extreme applications.

Abstract The present investigation has employed recycled waste glass powder (WGP) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) as reinforcing-agents within AZ91D-matrix composites. The composites were fabricated by employing the vacuum stir casting technique to mitigate the effects of oxidation and to ensure homogeneity, uniformity, and superior wettability among the AZ91D-matrix and reinforcements. A microscopic study provided confirmation of a uniform dispersion of WGP and Si3N4 particles throughout the AZ91D-matrix. The tensile strength of the AZ91D/WGP/Si3N4 composites rise with the inclusion of WGP particulates by up to 1.5 percent in AZ91D/7.5% Si3N4. However, the tensile strength of the AZ91D/9%Si3N4 composite have showed maximum value as compared to other chosen formulations/combinations in the current investigation. The tensile strength of AZ91D/1.5% WGP/7.5% Si3N4 composites has strengthened up to 12.13 percent with the comparison of base alloy AZ91D-matrix. In A1 formulated composite, the amount of WGP particulate has enhanced the hardness of the AZ91D-alloy by up to 1.5 percent. Findings, nevertheless has exhibited that the A6 formulated composite had superior outcomes in terms of hardness. The incorporation of “reinforcing-constituent particulates” with 1.5%WGP + 7.5%Si3N4 combination within the AZ91D-matrix, has further increased fatigue-strength by around 57.84 percent. A weight-loss of 0.312 mg was being unveiled for the A1 formulated fabricated composite. The weight-loss for the A6 formulated fabricated composite, however, was reported to be 0.294 mg. At 5 N loads, 2 m/s sliding speed, and 1000 m of sliding distance, the developed 1.5%WGP/7.5%Si3N4/AZ91D composites was reported to have a rate of wear, and frictional coefficient of 0.0025 mm3/m and 0.315, respectively. The investigation employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) identified the presence of corrosion pits on the surfaces that had undergone corrosion. These pits were found to be a result of localised surface assaults occurring in corrosive environments. Additionally, SEM pictures of the worn surfaces indicated the emergence of microcracks, which may be associated to the conditions of cyclic loading. Moreover, the tensile-fractography examination for the developed 1.5%WGP/7.5%Si3N4/AZ91D composites has exhibited the brittle fracture failure, including cracks and debonding phenomena. In addition, the EDS spectra-analysis have revealed an apparent existence of the observed Mg-peak, Si-peak, Al-peak, Ca-peak, and O-peak for the 1.5%WGP/7.5%Si3N4/AZ91D composites. Furthermore, the utilisation of X-ray diffraction analysis effectively determined the existence of hard phases inside the AZ91D-matrix, which significantly contributed to the reported enhancement in wear resistance. The development of harder-phases has included, α-Mg, Al12Mg17, SiO2, Si3N4, MgO, and CaO phases within the composite has been accountable for the enhancement of the tribomechanical, and wear-resistance characteristics of the AZ91D/WGP/Si3N4 composites. The Si3N4 has been discovered to have a substantial impact on enhancing mechanical performance and raising the resistance to wear.

The microstructure, homogeneity, and tribo-corrosion behavior of microwave-developed Nickel as well as titanium dioxide SS-304 cladding surfaces are the primary emphasis of this research. The study includes assessing the hardness enhancement from Ni and TiO2 particles in the cladding surface. The investigation additionally evaluates cladding surface wear rates, friction coefficients, and resistance to corrosion under tribological conditions. The microstructure, homogeneity, and tribo-corrosion behavior of SS-304 cladding surface with Ni and TiO2 developed by microwave cladding energy were investigated in this study. The microstructure was being examined to validate the uniformly homogeneous dispersion of Ni and TiO2 particles, and XRD was employed to determine cladding surface phases. The hardness of the cladding surface was evaluated, and a pin-on-disk tribometer has assessed the wear behavior. Tribo-corrosion was tested in 3.5-percent NaCl solution. To enhance cladding's efficiency, microwave hybrid heating (MHH) utilising charcoal as a susceptor has been employed. Findings exhibited that the microstructure analysis showed that the cladding surface had a uniform distribution of Ni and TiO2 particles and a compact and homogeneous microstructure. The hardness of the cladding surface was significantly improved by about 37.68% due to the incorporation of Ni and 10% TiO2 particles. The FeNi3, NiSi2, Ni3C, NiC, Ni2Si, FeNi, and TiO2 phases were seen by XRD on the cladding surface. The behavior of the cladding surface under tribological conditions was also evaluated using a pin-on-disk tribometer. The outcomes have exhibited that the Ni and 10% TiO2 cladding surface exhibited decreased wear rates and friction coefficients compared to the uncoated SS-304 substrate. Moreover, the tribo-corrosion behavior of the cladding surface was evaluated in a 3.5% NaCl solution. The wear rate and coefficient of friction of Ni and 10% TiO2 cladding surfaces were measured to be 0.00412 mm3/m and 0.297, respectively. The results indicated that the Ni and TiO2 cladding surface had enhanced corrosion resistance compared to the uncoated SS-304 substrate.

The main goal of this research is to meet the demanding need for developing lightweight materials with improved properties that are appropriate for several engineering applications. The investigators proceeded to considerable efforts to assess the mechanical, micro-structural, and tribological characteristics of Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/10 wt%SiCP/3 wt%GrP-MMC, Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/15 wt%SiCP/5 wt%GrP-MMC, and Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/20 wt%SiCP/8 wt%GrP-MMC based hybrid metal-matrix nano-composites (HMMC's). These hybrid aluminum matrix nano-composites were fabricated using the liquid processing stir casting method for automobile, aviation, defense, and chemical handling sectors owing to their superior strength, and higher thermal conductive properties. The machinability of Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/(SiCp + Grp) - MMC has received limited attention to date. Owing to its exceptional characteristics, this hybrid composite could take the role of cast iron or aluminum composites in a wide-variety multitude of engineering applications. The Mechanical properties of fabricated Hybrid-MMCs have been examined along with tribological properties & other factors, affecting the tensile strength of cast composites in this study. Additionally, the characterization has been performed through X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Optical Microscopy. The fabricated samples of hybrid metal matrix nano-composites of Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn matrix have been tested for microstructure analysis, micro hardness test, density, tensile strength, and grain size. Microstructure study clears the claim of uniform distribution of SiC & Graphite particles in Al matrix alloy. An average tensile strength has been recorded as 258 MPa and a percent-elongation of 4.6 during the tensile test. Tensile-fractography findings have portrayed the intrinsic fractured-rupture microstructure of tensile-tested samples that seemed to have particle deformation breakage and pull-outs. The density of Al/(SiCp + Grp)-MMCs have been found to be 2.76 g/cm3 whereas the average hardness has been recorded at 120HV. An increase in graphite content in Al/SiC-MMC's provides a significant improvement in friction coefficient as well as a reduction in wear rate. Findings have observed that the wear rate is increased with increasing the sliding speed, however, it is almost constant between 300 and 600 rpm, and beyond this wear rate increases drastically. Likewise, the coefficient of friction also shows a considerable increase with the increase in sliding speed. As the composition of graphite in the material increases, a considerable decrease in the wear has been noted down because of the presence of tribo-layer formed between mating surfaces. A high value of applied load and high rotating speed imposed high deformation of the surface and increase in frictional force, as a result, an increase in wear rate. Wear rate increases with the increment in load during the wear test, while friction coefficient decreases. Hence, the development of HMMCs with better mechanical, microstructural, and tribological properties that can be utilized as cast iron or aluminum composites in a diverse spectra multitude of engineering applications involving the study's scientific insights and technological developments. Manufacturers in the myriads of industries, including aerospace, ground-transportation, thermal management, industrial, recreational, and infrastructure, could profit inventors/producers from the findings of the current study.

Air pollution is increasing daily, causing global warming and many environmental issues, and it is also the cause of many diseases. According to many reports, brick kilns play a major role in the emission of black carbon that causes air pollution. It is necessary to find another way to produce bricks. The trend these days is to increase applications of natural fibers and eco-friendly materials and to reuse waste materials to control pollution. Synthetic and chemical materials are also causes of pollution, diseases, and even the deaths of many people. In this direction, eco-friendly materials were used to produce bricks. Abaca fiber, Pinus-Roxburghi leaves, fiber, wood, wheat straw, animal dung, sand, cement, phenolic resin, and gypsum were used in various percentages to create novel brick. In the investigation, it was discovered that hybrid natural fiber-based bricks had strong physical-mechanical, mechanical-chemical, and thermal stability properties, were light in weight, and had good sound absorption capabilities. Significant improvement of has been identified, AB-4 Brick shows the maximum porosity with 42.5% improvement as compared to AB-1 brick.

Inconel 718 finds extensive applications in the aviation and aerospace industries, particularly in the manufacturing of jet engines and high-speed airframe components like fasteners, bolts, buckets, instrumentation parts, wheels, and spacers. It is also utilised in the production of cryogenic tankage and gas turbine blades. The present study focuses on investigating the machining performance of graphene nanosheets on Inconel 718. Various aspects of Inconel 718's machinability through electrical discharge machining (EDM) have been examined, including material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness, surface morphology, tool rear Rate (TWR), residual stresses on the machined surface, Vickers hardness, and recast layer thickness. The investigation reveals a significant impact of process parameters on these machining characteristics. The effects of graphene nanosheets have been observed using several analytical instruments such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyzer, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, optimization of the response data with respect to input parameters has been performed in this study. TEM analysis is used to determine the size of individual debris particles in deionised water and mixed graphene nanosheet dielectric mediums. To verify that the debris particles are the same as the parent material, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) is used. To determine the compounds and crystal structures present in the base metal and machined surfaces, XRD analysis is used. A high-resolution X-ray diffractometer (HRXRD) is used to measure the residual stresses on the machined surface. EDX composition testing is used to analyze surface modification. Due to the rapid heating and quenching that takes place in the dielectric medium, the machined surface becomes harder. Deposited materials, microholes, and surface textures can all be observed through FESEM microstructure observation. Comparing conventional EDM to nanosheets mixed dielectric, the thickness of the recast layer is reduced. To recapitulate, the study explores how various machining parameters and dielectric mediums affect EDM processes. It examines debris particle size, compound formation, residual stresses, surface modification, hardness, microstructure, and recast layer thickness. The addition of graphene nanosheets to the dielectric medium produces promising results, reducing the thickness of the recast layer and improving surface quality. The results offer suggestions for improving Inconel 718 material surface properties and EDM machining effectiveness.

The microwave cladding technique for depositing Ni and 10 % B4C coatings on 304 stainless steel has yielded significant advancements in material properties and performance. The key findings of this study revealed remarkable improvements, including a 43.33% increase in material hardness, indicating enhanced wear resistance and mechanical properties. This improvement was attributed to the uniform distribution of B4C and Ni on the cladding surface, ensuring a consistent interfacial layer developed between SS 304 and the cladding surface without cracks and porosity. Microstructural analysis at 500× magnification unveiled an impressive 2233.35 grains per square inch, showcasing the refined grain structure achieved during the cladding process. Wear testing demonstrated a low wear rate of 0.00308 mm³/m and a favorable coefficient of friction of 0.1981, confirming the material's suitability for applications with demanding frictional conditions. Furthermore, the corrosion behavior of the coated 304 stainless steel was assessed, revealing a minimal corrosion weight loss of only 0.42 mg for the Ni and 10% B4C coated sample. The presence of various carbide phases, such as Cr2C, Cr23C6, Cr7BC4, Fe5C2, and Fe23B6, within the cladding further contributed to the material's enhanced mechanical and wear properties.

The rotavator blade, a part of an agricultural equipment rotavator, is used for the soil bed preparation. These blades have direct interaction with soil in agricultural land. Bad, rocky, gravel, sandy, and high rough-hard texture of soil are the main factor to damage the surface of the rotavator blade and a high wear rate is observed. This causes to decrease in the overall life of a rotavator blade. It also changes the geometry of the rotavator blade after a few operations, and that all effects the performance capability of this blade. Hence HVOF (High-velocity oxy-fuel) is used to modify the surface that improved wear resistance of the rotavator blade's surface. Feedstock powder used for the coating is WC–10%Co–4%Cr with Ni–20%Cr as a bond coat on 30MNCRB5 steel substrate (Rotavator blade's material). Six samples are prepared to test it on the Pin-On-Disc wear testing apparatus to determine the wear rate, weight loss, cumulative volume loss and linear wear rate, three bare 30MNCRB5 steel and three WC–10%Co–4%Cr coated samples are prepared with 8 mm diameter and 30 mm length in a cylindrical pin shape. Coated samples are characterized using the XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (Scanning electron microscope) with EDAX (Energy-dispersive spectroscopy), and X-ray mapping techniques. Worn out surfaces of bare 30MNCRB5 steel and WC–10%Co–4%Cr coated samples are investigated using the SEM (Scanning electron microscope) to study the microstructure of worn surface that helped out to identify the wear behavior. The HVOF (High-velocity oxy-fuel) spray coating drastically improved the surface to defend it from wear, and very less weight loss was seen in the WC–10%Co–4%Cr coated samples as compared to bare 30MNCRB5 steel material. Weight loss determined by the bare (30MNCRB5) material at 40N, 50N, 60N loads are 2.996 × 10−3 Kgm, 3.003 × 10−3 Kgm, 3.123 × 10−3 Kgm, and coated (WC–10%Co–4%Cr) sample at 40N, 50N, 60N loads are 0.006 × 10−3 Kgm, 0.030 × 10−3 Kgm, 0.038 × 10−3 Kgm respectively.

As advancements in sustainable material science continue, kenaf fiber and polylactic acid (KF/PLA) composites have emerged as promising eco-friendly alternatives. The current research article has focused on improving the physical strength of these KF/PLA composites. Methodologies like Taguchi's and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) have been employed to identify the most effective ways to enhance the chemical treatment process. The composites were manufactured using an injection molding technique while essential variables were modified. These variables comprised the choice of chemical treatments (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or sodium acetate), the concentration of these chemicals (1%, 2%, or 3% w/v), and the duration of treatment (2, 4, or 6 h). These modifications led to the production of diverse KF/PLA composite variants. The physical strength of these modified composites was evaluated using various methods, focusing on their tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation under tension, flexural strength, flexural modulus, deformability under bending, and impact resistance. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was utilized to observe the treated and tested samples in detail. The optimal values identified through GRA and mean plots were same for the composite. Improved mechanical properties of KF/PLA were observed when the optimal conditions of A1-B2-C2 (NaOH, 2%, and 4 h) were applied. Although, the morphology of the PLA matrix-based bio composites reinforced with kenaf fiber with different surface-treatments was recorded using AFM analysis in order to further reveal the surface roughness of fibers upon surface modification and dispersion.

Aluminum composite materials have gained immense popularity in the construction and aerospace industries as these materials are lightweight, durable, and exhibit a high strength-to-weight ratio. The present study aims to develop dissimilar AA2024 and AA2014-based composite materials using nano-TiO2 reinforcement particles via Friction Stir Processing (FSP) techniques. The FSP technique is a solid-state processing method that is used to modify the properties of metal alloys without altering their chemical composition. The samples were prepared by placing a nano-TiO2over AA2024 and AA2014 aluminum alloys sheet and subjected to FSP process parameters. The microstructure, hardness, and tensile properties of the composite samples were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers hardness tester, and tensile testing machine respectively. The results showed that the FSP technique led to the formation of a homogeneous and fine-grained microstructure in the composite samples. The nano-TiO2 reinforcement also provided additional strengthening to the AA2024 and AA2014 aluminum alloys matrix resulting in improved hardness and tensile properties of the composites. The resulting composites exhibited enhanced wear resistance properties. The FSP method presented in this study has implications for extending the properties of other metal alloys, opening up new avenues for research in the field of materials science.

In the present study, collagen powder in the form of Cr has been extracted from chrome-containing leather waste. Extracted collagen powder along with alumina has been used as reinforcement with AA6061 matrix material. The composite material was fabricated by the stir casting technique. Comparative behavior of composite material with and without heat treatment was observed. The microstructure image of the Al/5% Al2O3/5% collagen composite has shown the uniform distribution of reinforcement particles. Proper wettability between the collagen powder, alumina, and matrix material was observed after the solidification for Al/5% Al2O3/5% collagen composite material. Tensile strength, hardness, ductility, and impact strength of composite material were significantly improved after the heat treatment process. However, results showed that ball-milled reinforced composite has a higher Young's modulus as compared to heat-treated composite. The percent porosity of aluminum alloy was found to be 0.18%. However, the porosity of Al/5% Al2O3/5% collagen powder ball milled composite material was found to be 1%. The XRD of the heat-treated Al/5% Al2O3/5% collagen powder composite showed the presence of Al, Al2O3, Cr, and Cr2O3 phases. Thermal expansion and corrosion behavior of the composite were also observed to identify the heat treatment effect on Al/Al2O3/collagen powder composite material.

The excessive use of single-use plastic products in modern life has caused severe environmental, social, economic, and health consequences globally. Mostly all plastics manufactured are one-time-use materials that end up in landfills or as unmanageable garbage. This situation has led to the production of around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, and if this trend continues, global production will reach up to 1100 million tonnes by 2050. India alone produced over 34.7 lakh tonnes per annum (TPA) of plastic waste, with only half of it being recycled or co-processed. As such, there is an urgent need to develop ways to reduce plastic waste. One possible solution is the use of waste plastic biofuel in engines, which has been shown to have promising results. The study aimed to analyse waste plastic oil using (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) GC-MS and (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) FTIR analysis to identify its chemical composition. The findings of the study revealed the presence of various chemical compounds, such as alcohol, hydroperoxide, carbonyl acid groups, ester, carboxylic acid, ketones, aldehyde groups, and others. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of alcohol, hydroperoxide, carbonyl acid groups, methyl and methylene groups, ester, carboxylic acid, ketones, aldehyde group, symmetric and asymmetric C-H bending, C-O stretch for ethers, carboxylic acids, and esters, and=C-H bending out for alkenes. The study further explains that primary plastic consumption and packaging lifetime have a significant impact on plastic waste generation. The research indicates the need to explore alternative ways to recycle and dispose of single-use plastics to mitigate its negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, this study analyses the statistical optimisation method to develop a model fit for engine behaviour using waste plastic biofuel on a single-cylinder (common rail direct injection engine) CRDi diesel engine using the (weighted aggregated sum product assessment) WASPAS approach. Additionally, the objective is to develop a model that can optimise the engine's performance while using waste plastic biofuel. The uncertainty analysis demonstrated that the experiment was carried out with a high degree of accuracy and the results were reliable. The study employed the WASPAS methodology to evaluate the performance of different (waste plastic oil) WPO samples, and the results showed that the optimal parametric setting to obtain the desired responses can be achieved with a fuel blend of 5%, load of 21 bar, and speed of 2000 RPM. However, the results demonstrate that the use of waste plastic biofuel can significantly improve engine performance, and the proposed optimisation model can accurately predict the engine's behaviour. The regression equation that was formulated showed a reasonable degree of agreement between the actual experimental results and the predicted values, thereby indicating the reliability of the experiment. Significant effects were observed from fuel blend, and speed, whereas load did not make a substantial contribution. The findings regarding the effect of parameters suggest that a reduction in fuel blend, and engine speed resulted in a decline in the performance index, while variations in load had little impact. The relationship between load and speed demonstrates that a rise in load and a reduction in speed contributed to enhanced combustion and a higher performance index. The interaction among fuel blend and speed, with a particular emphasis on the significance of reduced fuel blend and speed values in order to optimise the performance index. The findings of the analysis underlined the vitality of process parameters, specifically fuel blend and speed, wherein speed exhibited a significant impact on the outcomes. The study concludes that the use of waste plastic biofuel in engines can be an effective way to reduce plastic waste while improving engine performance. This study's findings can be applied to various engines to improve their performance while reducing plastic waste. All in all, the outcomes of the study make a substantial contribution to the advancement of scientific information regarding the properties of waste plastic oil as well as its combustion characteristics. This expands the potential for advanced breakthrough innovations in sustainable energy solutions and the conservation of the environment.

Actively switchable metasurfaces are extremely useful for achieving a multifunctional integrated platform. The proposed design enables functional switching through the temperature-induced phase transition features of vanadium dioxide (VO2). The hypothesized metasurface can be considered a broadband absorber when VO2 is in the metallic phase, with an absorption rate approaching 90% in the frequency spectrum of 1.41–2.69 THz, according to numerical simulations. When VO2 is in the insulating phase, the proposed metasurface acts as a half-wave plate with more than 80% polarization conversion rate (PCR) in the frequency range of 0.71–2.72 THz. Furthermore, the dynamic modulation of absorbance and PCR can be achieved when the VO2 conductivity varies within a specific range. Finally, by changing the opening angle of the gold split-ring resonator to introduce an abrupt phase at the interface, the composed metacell can perform arbitrary manipulation of reflected beams in the 1.0–2.2 THz broadband range; we also design 1D and 2D focusing metalenses. Both have good subwavelength focusing characteristics. Therefore, the proposed metasurface can be effectively applied in sixth-generation communication systems, terahertz imaging, and other technologies.

The biocompatible hydroxylapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) (HA) coating is usually depositing on the titanium substrate to enhance the healing process of implant and to isolate it from the harsh body environment. However, poor mechanical properties of HA restrict its usage for orthopedic applications like hip and knee joints which have to bear the load. The biocompatibility is provided by HA and mechanical strength by the addition of reinforce with HA. Thermal post treatments have been mostly utilized to enhance the morphological and physicomechanical characteristics of as-deposition coatings. In the present research, the emphasis has been laid to analyze the outcome of thermal-processing on phases of hydroxyapatite in coatings developed by plasma spraying process. The surface-morphology of as-sprayed and thermally-processed, HA coated samples was studied using Scanning electron microscope (S.E.M.), Elemental-mapping, X-ray diffraction analysis (X.R.D.), and Fourier-transform infrared (F.T.-I.R.) spectroscopy techniques. The outcomes achieved from the X.R.D. analysis of the hydroxylapatite-coated samples after thermal-treatment reveal the formation of crystalline structure at 750 °C with some traces of CaO. Moreover, when the heat treatment was further done at 950 °C, the unwanted CaO was totally eliminated and coating with crystalline structure was obtained. No substrate element is visible in the X-ray mapping of coatings. The presence of ultrafine particles was observed on both substrates after the heat treatment of coatings at specified temperatures for 2hr in air. These ultrafine particles have the capability to bond with the bone and also helps for bone in-growth on their surfaces.

The effective utilization of tribological characteristics of the mating parts is an important concern in the automobile industry. The primary intent of this work is to evaluate & enhance the tribology of a CrN coated disc (piston ring) as well as a cylindrical lining pin utilizing Al2O3 additives. The study mainly sought to significantly raise tribological characteristics by blending nano-particles with lubricating oils. In this work, the deposition of CrN coating takes place on the grey cast iron as a substrate with the help of ion plating which undeniably exhibits a strong adhesion of the layer to the substrate with improved structure and appearance. The wear behavior has been analyzed with the help of Pin on disc test wear tester at various operating conditions like speed load and lubrication. The friction and wear behavior has been analyzed with the nano additives Al2O3 along with Castrol 15W40 as lubricating oil. One of the novel optimization technique Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been implemented for the analysis of various response parameters. The optimized value of wear rate is 0.01480 mm3/Nm at least sliding speed of 1.0 m/s and load of 80N for the nano additives lubrication. The recorded friction coefficient is 0.01140 at a load of 80N and speed 2 m/s under the influence of nano-particles in overall optimization. The wear mechanism of the CrN coating analyzed with the help of FE-SEM and EDS reveals the three body abrasion followed by erosion and particle pull-out. The increasing utilisation of Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nano-particles as nano-additives have come to the realization that they could still aid prolong the lifespan performance of automotive parts.

Chrome containing leather-wastes (CCLW) is a waste obtained from leather industries. These wastes always produced environmental pollution. However, CCLW can be utilized in the production of various materials. In this research, chromium in the form of collagen powder after extracting from CCLW has been utilized to fabricate the composite material. Extracted collagen was mechanically alloyed with alumina ceramic fragments to acquire in a separate unified facility. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to obtain the optimum combination of solid-state synthesis processing variables. Optimum mechanical-alloying parameters were found to be ball-to-powder weight-ratio (BPR) of about 5, ball milling speed of about 178 rotation per minute and ball-milling time of about 93 h. The microstructure of ball processed reinforced composite material demonstrated a uniform distribution and proper wettability in aluminum-based matrix material. Tensile strength and hardness of Al/5% Collagen/5% Al2O3 composite material were enhanced by about 38.25% and 45% respectively. However, the density, toughness and ductility of composite material were reduced by 0.16%, 25% and 24.24% respectively. Surface roughness of Al/5 wt.% Collagen/5 wt.% Al2O3 composite was found to be 3.10 μm at a speed of 190 m/min, feed of 0.14 mm/rev and depth of cut of 0.20 mm.

The wide range of aluminium variants (alloys and composites) has made it an important material for aviation, automotive components, auto-transmission locomotive section units, S.C.U.B.A. tanks, ship, vessels, submarines fabrication and design etc. regardless of the fact that the aluminium alloys were being utilized in myriads of sectors owing to its exceptional superior and versatile functional characteristics, the property such as wear-resistant ought to be enhanced in order to further prolong diverse spectrum of applications. An aluminium alloy having lower hardness and tensile strength has been incorporated with silicon carbide that drastically strengthens the properties. This study involves fabrication of aluminium silicon carbide with muscovite/hydrated aluminium potassium silicate/aluminosilicate in stir casting method to obtain a hybrid metal matrix composite. Maintaining a constant amount of aluminium and silicon carbide, muscovite or hydrated aluminium potassium silicate is varied to obtain three distinctive compositions of (Al/SiC/muscovite) composites. The mechanical characteristics like tensile-strength, flexural-strength, toughness, hardness, scratch adhesion, percent-porosity and density were studied. The dispersion of muscovite and silicon carbide particles were observed by viewing the microstructure photographs obtained using optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). EDAX analysis affirms the presence of reinforcing constituents in Al–Mg–Si–T6 alloy matrix. A drum type wear apparatus was utilized to evaluate the percentage of wear-loss in different compositions using different loads and it was found that the wear-loss decreases linearly as the muscovite percentage was increased.

This research reports the experimental outcomes of potentiodynamic analysis of the steel reinforcement in carbonated and uncarbonated high-volume fly-ash concrete powder solution extracts (CPSE). Different percentages of fly-ash content have been used to form a high-volume fly-ash concrete (0%, 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) with three different types of steel reinforced. Three different water-to-binder ratios (0.35, 0.40, and 0.45) have been used to form the reinforced concrete. The different zones of corrosion were observed through the anodic polarization curve, which was obtained through the potentiodynamic linear sweep test. It has indeed been demonstrated that concrete with up to 50% fly ash shows better resistance against carbonation, as compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. Fully active anodic polarization curve is obtained for carbonated concrete. Corrosion-resistant steel performed better as compared to TATA TMT and SISCON TMT types of steel. The ANOVA also verifies the experimental observation, which shows that the content of fly ash and types of steel decide the extent of corrosion in the concrete. It has also been observed that the interaction between the fly-ash content and water-binder proportion and also the interaction between fly ash and the type of steel show the strong effect on the corrosion activity, which decides the extent of different zones of corrosion.

Thin sheets of Ti-6Al-4V alloy of thickness 1 mm were butt welded using a pulsed Nd-YAG low-power laser setup. The goal of this research is to explore the influence of pulsation on the microstructure and mechanical properties. In addition to that, annealing at different temperatures has been performed to compare the results of pulsation and heat treatment. The results indicate that after annealing at 980 °C, the structure completely transformed into an equiaxed structure. When annealed at 1010 °C, almost the total area is composed of an equiaxed α phase, and the grains are coarse as compared to the previous. This suggests that the grain size becomes thicker when the annealing temperature is raised above 980 °C. The volume fraction of the equiaxed structure is maximum. It can be deduced that the volume–fraction is dependent on the annealing temperature. The volume fraction of the equiaxed structure increases as the annealing temperature increases. A higher tensile strength value of the sample annealed at 980 °C was found as compared with the overlapped sample (A-2). The fusion zone overlapped sample (A-2) shows high hardness with a value of 397 HV1. In the FZ sample, annealing at 980 °C has a hardness of 386 HV1. The (A-2) sample indicates higher (3–4%) hardness as compared to the annealed sample at the FZ. The β phase is increased by 16% in the XRD analysis of the overlapped samples. Hence, it is evident that the amount of β phase has increased during heating, and a complete transformation has taken place at a temperature of 958 °C.

Underground mining is a difficult area for miners to work. Miners must go to the working faces by walking, which is not only time consuming but also physically demanding. In mines, a man-rider chair lift system (MRCL) has been developed to alleviate the strain stresses caused by walking lengthy and uneven distances up to the working faces. All parameters, including horizontal and vertical distances, variation and inclination of underground mines, slope forces considering the weight of persons and chair, forces acting towards return and drive unit, curves angles, power to operate, and rope safety factor, are calculated mathematically while modelling a man-rider chair lift system for both the installation and extension phases. We analyzed the analytical approach in conjunction with practical installation of the man-rider chair lift system to establish if the installation and extension of MRCL is genuinely feasible in the current scenario. We also created a simulation model of steel wire rope in Creo 8.0 for analyzing the various stresses on it with the Ansys R 16.2 software. In both phase I and phase II, the factor of safety is above that recommended, and the system is a hundred percent reliable, risk-free, and safe for operation.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are the rising modern equipment for the generation of bioelectricity from organic matters. In this study, MFCs in two formats are assembled and concurrently operated for a 30-day period in a batch mode manner. Natural biowaste cattle dung slurry with mediators is used as a substrate persistently for the enhancement of electron transfer rate and additionally for the augmentation of required electrical parameters. Under similar conditions, the MFC setups are experimented with a variety of anode-cathode material combinations, namely carbon-carbon, copper-carbon, and zinc-carbon. The performance of these MFCs during the testing period is evaluated independently and compared by plotting polarization data generated by them. It is revealed that maximum current and power densities are achieved from all these MFCs and the best attained values are 1858 mA/m2 and 1465 mW/m2, respectively, for the novel single-chamber zinc-carbon electrode MFC. The corresponding findings present that the MFC with zinc-carbon electrodes has the better power density than other MFCs. Being conductive and higher standard potential metal electrodes have improved the capability to act in place of carbon family electrodes for MFC-based power applications. Although the MFC power generation is low, but modifications in configurations, electrodes, microbe-rich biowaste, mediators, and power management may enhance the power output to a significant level for commercialization of this technology. The unique feature of this research is to explore the pertinent use of conductive metal electrodes to enhance the power generation capability of MFCs through biowaste as an alternative power source for small applications. The novelty of this research is presented through usage of conductive metal electrodes for the performance analysis of MFCs.

Anthropogenic emissions, such as industrial, vehicular, biomass burning, and coal combustion, play a significant role in degrading the atmospheric conditions of India. Therefore, in the present study, applicability of the photocatalytic-concrete blocks was estimated in improving the ambient environment of Chandigarh, India. The photocatalytic-concrete blocks were prepared by mixing the TiO2 particles with cement. All the experiments, designed in accordance with the Box–Behnken approach, in combination with response surface methodology, were performed in a batch reactor. Further, the process parameters, namely, concentration of TiO2 (1 to 5 g), UV-A irradiance (1 to 5 mW/cm2), and relative humidity (RH) (10 to 70%), were optimized to achieve maximum degradation of NO2. Outcomes of batch experiments depicted that the maximum degradation of NO2, that is, 68.32%, was attained at 3.35 g of TiO2, 5 mW/cm2 of UV-A irradiance, and 64.60% RH. The findings of batch experiment were further theoretically applied to degrade the ambient NO2 concentration of Chandigarh, India. It was estimated that using the photocatalytic concrete for construction of Chandigarh’s pavements may reduce the ambient NO2 concentration of Chandigarh, India, to an average of 5.80 μg/m3. Afterwards, reusability of photocatalytic-concrete blocks was also assessed, and it was made evident that after five cycles, their efficiency was reduced by only 7.15%. Subsequently, it was revealed that hydrogen peroxide-based treatment of photocatalytic-concrete blocks could completely regenerate its treatment efficiency. Therefore, it is expected that the findings of this study may prove beneficial in urban planning, as it may assist scientific auditory in identifying the applicability of TiO2-based photocatalysis in mitigating the impacts of vehicular emissions.

In the present investigation, a comparative study of ballistic impact behavior of Armox 500T (base metal) and its weldments prepared by low hydrogen ferrite (weldment-1) and austenitic stainless steel (weldment-2) consumables against 7.62 AP bullet has been performed with the help of finite element analysis code Abaqus 2017. Further, the result is validated with the experimental results. The experiment has been performed on the base metal, weldment-1, and weldment-2 against 7.62 AP bullet. Further, a two-dimensional explicit model has been developed for given purpose to simulate the bullet penetration at such high strain rate (103 s−1). Both bullet and plate are considered as deformable. Experimental results revealed that the depth of penetration in the base metal, weldment-1, and weldment-2 is 10.93, 13.65, and 15.20 mm respectively. Further computational results revealed that the depth of penetration of base metal, weldment-1, and weldment-2 is 10.11, 12.87, and 14.60 mm, respectively. Furthermore, weldment-1 shows more resistance against 7.62 AP bullet than weldment-2 in experimentation as well as FEA results. The percentage difference between experimental and FEA results are less than 10% which shows the prediction capability of FEA models. A feasibility analysis has been presented for using the welding consumables to weld the Armox 500T plate. Finally, in terms of ballistic resistance, the low hydrogen ferrite consumables are more appropriate than austenitic stainless-steel electrodes.

The objective of the present work is to study the effects of laser power, joining speed, and stand-off distance on the joint strength of PET and 316 L stainless steel joint. The process parameters were optimized using response methodology for achieving good joint strength. The central composite design (CCD) has been utilized to plan the experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) is employed to develop mathematical model between laser transmission joining parameters and desired response (joint strength). From the ANOVA (analysis of variance), it was concluded that laser power is contributing more and it is followed by joining speed and stand-off distance. In the range of process parameters, the result shows that laser power increases and joint strength increases. Whereas joining speed increases, joint strength increases. The joint strength increases with the increase of the stand-off distance until it reaches the center value; the joint strength then starts to decrease with the increase of stand-off distance beyond the center limit. Optimum values of laser power, joining speed, and stand-off distance were found to be 18 watt, 100 mm/min, and 2 mm to get the maximum joint strength (predicted: 88.48 MPa). There was approximately 3.37% error in the experimental and modeled results of joint strength.