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Aluminium metal matrix composites are used in automotive and aerospace industries because of their high performance and weight reduction benefits. The current investigation aims to focus on the development of the stir cast aluminium-boron carbide composites with enhanced mechanical and tribological properties.

The aluminium-boron carbide composites are produced by stir casting process. Aluminium alloy A356 is chosen as the matrix material and three sets of composites are produced with different weight fractions of boron carbide particles. Higher particle size (63 µm) of boron carbide is chosen as the reinforcement material. Aluminium-boron carbide composites are tested for mechanical and tribological properties. The effect of process parameters like load, speed and percentage of reinforcement on the wear rate are studied using the pin-on-disc method. The interaction of the process parameters with the wear rate is analysed by DesignExpert software using RSM methodology and desirability analysis. The coded levels for parameters for independent variables used in the experimental design are arranged according to the central composite design. The worn surface of the pin is examined using a scanning electron microscope. The phases and reaction products of the composites are identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.

Aluminium-boron carbide composites reveal better mechanical properties compared to monolithic aluminium alloys. Mechanical properties improved with the addition of strontium-based master alloy Al10Sr. The ultimate tensile strength, hardness and compressive strength increase with an increase in the reinforcement content. The wettability of the boron carbide particles in the matrix improved with the addition of potassium flurotitanate to the melt. Uniform dispersion of particles into the alloy during melting is facilitated by the addition of magnesium. Wear resistance is optimal at 8 per cent of boron carbide with a load 20 N and sliding speed of 348 RPM. The wear rate is optimized by the numerical optimization method using desirability analysis. The amount of wear is less in Al-B₄C composites when compared to unreinforced aluminium alloy. The wear rate increases with an increase in load and decreases with the sliding speed. The wear resistance increases with an increase in the weight fraction of the boron carbide particles.

The produced Al-B₄C composites can retain properties at high temperature. It is used in nuclear and automotive products owing its high specific strength and stiffness. The main applications are neutron absorbers, armour plates, high-performance bicycles, brake pads, sand blasting nozzles and pump seals.

Al/B₄C composites have good potential in the development of wear-resistant products.

The purpose of this paper is to study the microstructure and the high-temperature tribology behavior of a high-speed steel (HSS) roller material with boron as the main alloy element under different heat treatments, aiming to provide some theoretical references for its engineering application.

The samples of high boron HSS were quenched at 900°C, 1,000°C, 1,050°C and 1,150°C. The microstructure, composition and phase composition of this new HSS were analyzed by OM, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffractometer. The surface hardness and the tribology behavior under high temperature were measured by Rockwell hardness tester and the high-temperature friction and wear tester. The wear morphology was observed by SEM.

The high-temperature friction coefficient and the relative wear rate of the high boron HSS decrease first, then increase with the rise of the quenching temperature. When the quenching temperature is 1,050°C, both the friction coefficient (0.425) and the relative wear rate (79 per cent) are the smallest. Under the high-temperature friction environment, the high boron HSS mainly includes oxidation wear, adhesive wear and abrasive wear. The effect of abrasive wear is weakened gradually with the rise of the quenching temperature, and the high-temperature wear resistance is improved significantly. Compared with the traditional roll materials, the service life of the new high boron HSS is greatly improved. It is an ideal substitute product for the high chromium cast iron roll.

The boron element replaces other precious metals in high boron HSS, which has the advantage of low production cost, and it has a wide application in the field of roll materials. In this paper, the microstructure, the transformation of hard phases and the high-temperature tribology behavior of this new high boron HSS under different heat treatments were studied, aiming to provide some theoretical references for its engineering application.

The aims of this study is to analyze failure of two types of high‐strength low‐alloy (HSLA) steels which are used in wheel bolts 10.9 grade, boron steel and chromium‐molybdenum steel, before and after heat treatment.

The optimum heat treatment to obtain the best tensile behavior was determined and Charpy impact and Rockwell hardness tests were performed on the two steel types before and after the optimum heat treating.

Fractographic studies show a ductile fracture for heat‐treated boron steel while indicate a semi‐brittle fracture for heat‐treated chromium‐molybdenum steel. Formation of a small boron carbide amount during heat treating of boron steel results in increment the bolt's tensile strength while the ductility did not changed significantly. In the other hand, formation of chromium and molybdenum carbides during heat treating of chromium‐molybdenum steel increased the bolt's tensile strength with a considerable reduction in the final ductility.

This paper evaluates failure analysis of HSLA wheel bolt steels and compares their microstructure before and after the loading regime.

The purpose of this study is to prepare a state-of-the-art review on advanced ceramic materials including their fabrication techniques, characteristics, applications and wettability.

This review paper presents the various types of advanced ceramic materials according to their compounding elements, fabrication techniques of advanced ceramic powders as well as their consolidation, their characteristics, applications and wetting properties. Hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of advanced ceramic materials are described in the paper with their state-of-the-art application areas. Optical properties of fine ceramics with their intrinsic characteristics are also presented within. Special focus is given to the brief description of application-based manipulation of wetting properties of advanced ceramics in the paper.

The study of wetting/hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of ceramic materials is important by which it can be further modified to achieve the required applications. It also makes some sense that the material should be tested for its wetting properties when it is going to be used in some important applications like biomedical and dental. Also, these advanced ceramics are now often used in the fabrication of filters and membranes to purify liquid/water so the study of wetting characteristics of these materials becomes essential. The optical properties of advanced ceramics are equally making them suitable for many state-of-the-art applications. Dental, medical, imaging and electronics are the few sectors that use advanced ceramics for their optical properties.

This review paper includes various advanced ceramic materials according to their compounding elements, different fabrication techniques of powders and their consolidation, their characteristics, various application area and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties.

The purpose of this study is to look into the hygroscopic and tribo-mechanical properties of a polypropylene/polyamide-6 (PP/PA6) blend and a PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite.

The hygroscopic behaviour of the PP/PA6 blend and PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite was studied using a water contact angle goniometer in this study. To validate the hygroscopic behaviour of the blend and composite, water contact angles and surface energy of the materials were investigated. Tensile strength and hardness tests were used to determine mechanical characteristics, and tribological experiments on a pin-on-disc tribometer were used to demonstrate the friction and wear rates of dry and water-conditioned blends and composites. The melting temperature of dry and water-conditioned composites was determined using DSC analysis.

The hygroscopic effect of the PP/PA6 blend was found to be minimal in the experiment, while it was relatively dominating in the PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite. Tensile strength was found to be somewhat lower in blend and composite compared to virgin PP, whereas hardness was found to be higher in both blend and composite. The composite’s tribological testing findings were fairly outstanding, with the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rates significantly reduced due to boron sesquioxide reinforcement. The reaction between boron sesquioxide and water molecules produced boric acid, which increased the tribological characteristics of the composite even further. Following 30 days of water conditioning, the weight of the blend increased by 3.64% and the weight of the composite increased by 6.45% as compared to the dry materials. After water conditioning, tensile strength reduced by 0.8% for the blend and 14.16% for the composite. Hardness was determined to be the same in the dry state and after water-conditioning for blend but dropped 1% for composite. As compared to blend, the COF and wear resistance of composite were 15.52% and 25.16% higher, respectively. After absorbing some water, the results increased to 28.57% and 34.9%, respectively.

The mechanical and thermal behaviour of polymer composites (particularly polyamide composites) vary depending on the surrounding environment. Tests were carried out to explore the effect of water treatment on the tribo-mechanical and thermal characteristics of PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite. Water treatment caused polyamides to bind with water molecules, resulting in voids in the material. The interaction between boron sesquioxide and water molecules produced boric acid, which increased the tribological characteristics of the composite.

This paper aims to produce hybrid reinforcement for the development of aluminium matrix composites using ball-billing technique to avoid or reduce the problem of agglomeration of the reinforcement during casting.

In the present investigation, a mixture of silicon carbide (SiC) and rice husk ash (RHA) powder in equal weight percentage ratio 4:4 (1:1) was alloyed mechanically in a ball-mill at distinct milling times of 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 h. Morphological Characterization and density measurements of the ball-milled powder were carried out after different intervals of milling times.

The results revealed that the process of ball milling is a novel technique for the conversion of two or more powders in to an integer powder and reduces the problem of agglomeration also. The density measurement results revealed that an increasing trend of density initially and reduction of the density with the increase of milling time. The density value of the combined particles became comparable to the density of aluminium at the milling time of 75 h for the equal weight percentage ratio 4:4 (1:1) of SiC and RHA.

The manuscript highlights the research work related to the development of the reinforcement for the aluminium hybrid composites by ball milling process. The use of this process for the development of the reinforcement not only reduces the problem of the agglomeration but reduces the density mismatch of the reinforcement and matrix material also.

Describes a technique, currently used at General Motors, which contains some of the elements of operations research and has effected important reductions in costs. The technique contains seven steps: (i) determine problem or objective, (ii) study conditions existing, (iii) plan possible solutions, (iv) evaluate possible solutions, (v) recommend action, (vi) follow up to assure action, (vii) check results. The procedure followed at each step is outlined. The investigation is carried out by a special Planning Team. This team consults other staff involved as may be necessary. During any investigation of existing plant the aim is that production should continue at a minimum cost.

Ceramic materials and glasses have become important in modern industry as well as in the consumer environment. Heat resistant ceramics are used in the metal forming processes or as welding and brazing fixtures, etc. Ceramic materials are frequently used in industries where a wear and chemical resistance are required criteria (seals, liners, grinding wheels, machining tools, etc.). Electrical, magnetic and optical properties of ceramic materials are important in electrical and electronic industries where these materials are used as sensors and actuators, integrated circuits, piezoelectric transducers, ultrasonic devices, microwave devices, magnetic tapes, and in other applications. A significant amount of literature is available on the finite element modelling (FEM) of ceramics and glass. This paper gives a listing of these published papers and is a continuation of the author's bibliography entitled “Finite element modelling of ceramics and glass” and published in Engineering Computations, Vol. 16, 1999, pp. 510‐71 for the period 1977‐1998.

The form of the paper is a bibliography. Listed references have been retrieved from the author's database, MAKEBASE. Also Compendex has been checked. The period is 1998‐2004.

Provides a listing of 1,432 references. The following topics are included: ceramics – material and mechanical properties in general, ceramic coatings and joining problems, ceramic composites, piezoceramics, ceramic tools and machining, material processing simulations, fracture mechanics and damage, applications of ceramic/composites in engineering; glass – material and mechanical properties in general, glass fiber composites, material processing simulations, fracture mechanics and damage, and applications of glasses in engineering.

This paper makes it easy for professionals working with the numerical methods with applications to ceramics and glasses to be up‐to‐date in an effective way.

Aerospace field is demanding a material with superior strength and high resistance against wear, tear and corrosion. The current study aimed to develop a new material with high performance to be applicable in aerospace field

A metal matrix composite AA8090-WC-ZrC was fabricated using stir casting method and its tribological behavior was investigated. Totally, five composites viz. AA/Z, AA/W, AA/WZ (1:3), AA/WZ (1:1) & AA/WZ (3:1) were prepared. Micro hardness, tensile and wear study were performed on the fabricated composites and the results were compared with AA8090 alloy

Vickers hardness test resulted that the AA/W composite showed the higher hardness value of 160 HB compared to other materials due to the reinforcing effect of WC particles with high hardness. Tensile test reported that the AA/W composite displayed the maximum tensile strength of 502 MPa owing to the creation of more dislocation density. Further, wear study showed that the AA/W composite exhibited the least wear rate of 0.0011 mm3/m because of the more resisting force offered by the WC particles. Furthermore, the AA/W composite showed the slightest mass loss of 0.0028 g and lower COF value of 0.31 due to the hinder effect of WC particle to the movement of atoms in AA8090 alloy

This work is original in the field of aerospace engineering and materials science which deals with the fabrication of AA8090 alloy with the reinforcement particles such as tungsten carbide and zirconium carbide. The impact of the combination of hybrid particles and their volume fractions on the tribological properties has been investigated in this work. This work would provide new scientific information to society.

This paper consolidates and presents the results of a work conducted to fabricate micro-channels on titanium grade-2 material by ultrasonic machining process (USM). In this research, the effects of important USM parameters, namely, kind of abrasives and its size, concentration of slurry, USM power rating and feed rate, have been probed on micro-channels quality for average surface roughness and process throughput in the form of material removal rate.

Multiple micro-channels on commercially pure titanium (i.e. Ti grade-2) have been fabricated in a single pass by employing micro-tool based USM process. Taguchi-based L18 (mixed level) OA has been selected for experimental design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) study and regression modeling have also been done. Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) has been used for process optimization to get optimum values of material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR).

The influence of important USM variables on SR and MRR have been investigated, and NSGA-II-based multi-response optimization has been done. The best surface roughness values obtained via NSGA-II solution for SiC and B₄C are 0.354 µm and 1.303 µm, respectively. Scanned electron microscopic investigation proves the fabrication of micro-channels with smooth surfaces, and minimum burrs and other defects. The material removed from the surface was due to ductile fractures.

Miniaturization is a modern trend these days to solve many precision, scientific and industrial problems. To manufacture precise micro-products, shapes and features, advanced and micro-machining processes can play a very prominent role. Micro-channels are typical micro-features required in micro-fluidic applications like micro heat exchangers and micro-pumps. Exhaustive review of existing research work indicated that precision micromachining of various materials can be effectively performed using USM, though not much work has been undertaken to explore the feasibility of multiple micro-channels in a single run using USM. The current work fulfills the gap, where multiple micro-channels on commercially pure titanium (i.e. Ti grade-2) have been fabricated in a single pass by employing micro-tool-based USM process.