Physicomechanical, Wettability, Corrosion, Thermal, and Microstructural Morphology Characteristics of Carbonized and Uncarbonized Bagasse Ash Waste-Reinforced Al-0.45Mg-0.35Fe-0.25Si-Based Composites: Fabrications and Characterizations.

An effort was being made to incorporate waste bagasse ash (WBA) both in carbonized and uncarbonized form into the formulation of Al6063 matrix-based metal matrix composites (MMC's) by partially substituting ceramic particles for them. In the process of developing composites, comparative research on carbonized WBA and uncarbonized bagasse powder was carried out in the role of reinforcement. Microstructure investigations revealed that carbonized WBA particles were properly distributed throughout the aluminum-base metal matrix alloy. They also had the appropriate level of wettability. The reinforcement of carbonized WBA particles in AA6063-based matrix material had a maximum tensile strength of 110 MPa and a maximal hardness of 39 BHN when 3.75 wt % of the particles were used. The deterioration in tensile strength (6.25 wt % of WBA) and the appearance of porosity and blowholes can be enumerated by tensile fractography-based scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The reinforcement of carbonized WBA particles in AA6063-based matrix material was found to have a maximal percent elongation of 14.42% and the highest fracture toughness of 15 Joules when 1.25 wt % of the particles were employed. For AA6063/3.75 wt % carbonized WBA-based MMC's, the minimum percent porosity was determined to be 5.83, and the minimum thermal expansion was found to be 45 mm3. As the percentage of reinforcement in bagasse-reinforced composites increases, the density of the material, the amount of corrosion loss, and the cost all decrease gradually. The AA6063 matrix, with a composition of 3.75 wt % carbonized WBA-based MMC's, had satisfactory specific strength and corrosion loss. The AA6063 alloy composite's microstructure analysis revealed that carbonized WBA enhanced the material's mechanical characteristics, contributing to its excellent mechanical capabilities. The results of the corrosion test showed that carbonized WBA-reinforced composites exhibited reduced weight loss due to corrosion, whereas uncarbonized bagasse powder was an inappropriate reinforcement. The SEM analysis of AA6063 alloy/3.75 wt % carbonized WBA ash reinforcement-based MMC's exposed to a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution has exhibited the development of corrosion pits as a result of localized attack by the corrosive environment. The thermal expansion test showed that the composite with uncarbonized bagasse powder as reinforcement have a high shrinkage rate in comparison with the composite with 3.75 wt %. The composite's mechanical characteristics and thermal stability were enhanced by the presence of hard phases like SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, and MgO, as revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. This made it suitable for use in a variety of applications.

Exploring Microstructural, Interfacial, Mechanical, and Wear Properties of AlSi7Mg0.3 Composites with TiMOVWCr High-Entropy Alloy Powder.

This study explored the impact of varying weight percentages of TiMoVWCr high-entropy alloy (HEA) powder addition on A356 composites produced using friction stir processing (FSP). Unlike previous research that often focused on singular aspects, such as mechanical properties, or microstructural analysis, this investigation systematically examined the multifaceted performance of A356 composites by comprehensively assessing the microstructure, interfacial bonding strength, mechanical properties, and wear behavior. The study identified a uniform distribution of TiMoVWCr HEA powder in the composition A356/2%Ti2%Mo2%V2%W2%Cr, highlighting the effectiveness of the FSP technique in achieving homogeneous dispersion. Strong bonding between the reinforcement and matrix material was observed in the same composition, indicating favorable interfacial characteristics. Mechanical properties, including tensile strength and hardness, were evaluated for various compositions, demonstrating significant improvements across the board. The addition of 2%Ti2%Mo2%V2%W2%Cr powder enhanced the tensile strength by 36.39%, while hardness improved by 62.71%. Similarly, wear resistance showed notable enhancements ranging from 35.56 to 48.89% for different compositions. Microstructural analysis revealed approximately 1640.59 grains per square inch for the A356/2%Ti2%Mo2%V2%W2%Cr processed composite at 500 magnifications. In reinforcing Al composites with Ti, Mo, V, W, and Cr high-entropy alloy (HEA) particles, each element imparted distinct benefits. Titanium (Ti) enhanced strength and wear resistance, molybdenum (Mo) contributed to improved hardness, vanadium (V) promoted hardenability, tungsten (W) enhanced wear resistance, and chromium (Cr) provided wear resistance and hardness. Anticipating the potential applications of the developed composite, the study suggests its suitability for the aerospace sector, particularly in casting lightweight yet high-strength parts such as aircraft components, engine components, and structural components, underlining the significance of the investigated TiMoVWCr HEA powder-modified A356 composites.

Investigation of surface hardness, thermostability, tribo-corrosion, and microstructural morphological properties of microwave-synthesized high entropy alloy FeCoNiMnCu coating claddings on steel.

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.

Enhancing tribo-mechanical, microstructural morphology, and corrosion performance of AZ91D-magnesium composites through the synergistic reinforcements of silicon nitride and waste glass powder.

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.

Synthesis and characterizations of super adsorbent hydrogel based on biopolymer, Guar Gum-grafted-Poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (Gg-g-Poly (HEMA)) for the removal of Bismarck brown Y dye from aqueous solution.

Chemical modification of guar gum was done by graft copolymerization of monomer hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. Optimal reaction parameters were settled by varying one reaction condition and keeping the other constant. The optimum reaction conditions worked out were solvent system: binary, [H2O] = 15.00 mL, [acetone] = 5.00 mL, [HEMA] = 82.217× 10-2 mol/L, [AIBN] = 3.333 × 10-2 mol/L, reaction time = 3 h, reaction temperature = 60 °C on to 1.00 g guar gum with Pg = 1694.6 and %GE = 68,704.152. Pure guar gum polymer and grafts were analyzed by several physicochemical investigation techniques like FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDX, and swelling studies. Percent swelling of the guar gum polymer and grafts was investigated at pH 2.2, 7.0, 7.4 and 9.4 concerning time. The finest yield of Ps was recorded at pH 9.4 with time 24 h for graft copolymer. Guar gum and grafted samples were explored for the sorption of toxic dye Bismarck brown Y from the aqueous solution with respect to variable contact time, pH, temperature and dye concentration so as to investigate the stimuli responsive sorption behaviour. Graft copolymers showed better results than guar gum with percent dye uptake (Du) of 97.588 % in 24 h contact time, 35 °C temperature, 9.4 pH at 150.00 ppm dye feed concentration as compared to Guar gum which only showed 85.260 % dye uptake at alike dye fed concentration. The kinetic behaviour of the polymeric samples was evaluated by applying many adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. The value of 1/n was between 0 â†’ 1 showing that there was physisorption of the BB dye that took place on the surface of the polymers. Thermodynamics of BB Y adsorption onto hydrogels was investigated concerning the Van't Hoff equation. -∆G° values obtained from the curve proved the spontanity of the process. Within the context of adsorption efficiency, an investigation was conducted to examine the process of sorption of Bismarck brown Y dye from aqueous solutions. The graft copolymers demonstrated remarkable adsorption abilities, achieving a dye uptake (Du) of 97.588 % over a 24-h period at a temperature of 35 °C, pH level of 9.4, and a dye concentration of 150.00 ppm. The raised adsorption capacity was additionally corroborated by the application of several adsorption isotherms and kinetic models, which indicated that physisorption is the prevailing process/mechanism. Additionally, the thermodynamic research, utilising the Van't Hoff equation, validated the spontaneity of the adsorption phenomenon, as evidenced by the presence of a negative ∆G° values. The thermodynamic analysis revealed herein establishes a strong scientific foundation for the effectiveness of adsorbent composed of graft copolymers based on guar gum. The research conclude the efficiency of the guar gum based grafted copolymers for the water remediation as efficient adsorbents. The captured dye can be re-utilised and the hydrogels can be used for the same purpose in number of cycles.

The Microstructure and Properties of Ni-Si-La2O3 Coatings Deposited on 304 Stainless Steel by Microwave Cladding.

In this investigation, microwave radiation was used alongside a combination of Ni powder, Si powder, and La2O3 (Lanthanum oxide) powder to create surface cladding on SS-304 steel. To complete the microwave cladding process, 900 W at 2.45 GHz was used for 120 s. "Response surface methodology (RSM)" was utilized to attain the optimal combination of microwave cladding process parameters. The surface hardness of the cladding samples was taken as a response. The optimal combination of microwave cladding process parameters was found to be Si (wt.%) of 19.28, a skin depth of 4.57 µm, irradiation time of 118 s, and La2O3 (wt.%) of 11 to achieve a surface hardness of 287.25 HV. Experimental surface hardness at the corresponding microwave-cladding-process parameters was found to be 279 HV. The hardness of SS-304 was improved by about 32.85% at the optimum combination of microwave cladding process parameters. The SEM and optical microscopic images showed the presence of Si, Ni, and La2O3 particles. SEM images of the "cladding layer and surface" showed the "uniform cladding layer" with "fewer dark pixels" (yielding higher homogeneity). Higher homogeneity reduced the dimensional deviation in the developed cladding surface. XRD of the cladded surface showed the presence of FeNi, Ni2Si, FeNi3, NiSi2, Ni3C, NiC, and La2O3 phases. The "wear rate and coefficient of friction" of the developed cladded surface with 69.72% Ni, 19.28% Si, and 11% La2O3 particles were found to be 0.00367 mm3/m and 0.312, respectively. "Few dark spots" were observed on the "corroded surface". These "dark spots" displayed "some corrosion (corrosion weight loss 0.49 mg)" in a "3.5 wt.% NaCl environment".

Investigation on Carbonation and Permeability of Concrete with Rice Hush Ash and Shop Solution Addition.

The goal of this study was to determine the coefficient of permeability as well as the rate of carbonation of concrete constructed with rice husk ash (RHA) as a partial replacement for cement (i.e., 5%, 10%, and 15%) and two different concentrations of soap solutions (i.e., 1 percent and 2 percent). The microstructural studies of RHA, and carbonated samples have been conducted by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. According to this study, the carbonation depth of concrete made with 1% and 2% soap solution concentration and without rice husk ash decreased by 11.89% and 46.55%, respectively. From the results, it may also be observed that the carbonation depth of concrete made with up to 10% replacement of cement by rice husk ash led to maximum carbonation resistance, while more than 10% replacement of cement showed higher carbonation depth. It is also observed that the coefficient of permeability of concrete with 2% soap solution significantly decreased as compared to the 1% soap solution and control mix. It may be observed from the SEM images that 0% soap solution (M1) concrete has a very rough concrete surface which may indicate more voids. However, 2% soap solution concrete has a much smoother surface, which indicates a smaller number of voids. Furthermore, the SEM images showed that the soap solution helps in filling the voids of concrete which ultimately helps in reduction in permeability. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) of concrete with 0% (M1) and 2% (M6) soap solution disclosed that the concrete with 2% soap solution (M6) exhibited more silica element formation than the concrete with no soap solution (M1).

Effect of Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube Cooling to Enhance the Surface-Topography and Tool-Wear in Sustainable Turning of Al-5.6Zn-2.5Mg-1.6Cu-0.23Cr-T6 Aerospace Alloy.

The aerospace metal cutting industry's search for environmentally friendly practices that do not compromise machining performance is well known. One of the major objectives is the reduction in use of cutting fluids, which play a major role in containing the harsh effects of severe heat generated during machining. Machining performance and product quality can be improved by controlling heat during machining. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of various environmentally friendly metalworking fluid (MF) strategies for the sustainable turning of aerospace aluminum alloy (Al-5.6Zn-2.5Mg-1.6Cu-0.23Cr-T6) for automotive, marine, and aerospace industrial applications. The SEM images were analyzed for worn tool surfaces and machined surfaces. Under dry conditions, heat does not dissipate well, and will enter the workpiece due to the absence of coolant. This causes extreme damage beneath a turned workpiece. Thus, at 10 µm, a drop in microhardness of approximately 20% can be observed. A similar observation was made in a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) and in compressed air; however, the drop in hardness was relatively low compared to dry conditions. This evaluation of microhardness indicated a heat-based attention in the turned workpiece, and thus, the heat-based effect was found to be lowest in RHVT and compressed air compared to dry conditions. Results showed that RHVT reduces temperature up to 10%, surface roughness 13%, and tool wear 20% compared to dry turning. Overall, RHVT was identified as more effective environmentally friendly cooling strategy than dry and compressed air for the turning of aluminum alloy 7075-T6.

In Situ Micro-Observation of Surface Roughness and Fracture Mechanism in Metal Microforming of Thin Copper Sheets with Newly Developed Compact Testing Apparatus.

A better understanding of material deformation behaviours with changes in size is crucial to the design and operation of metal microforming processes. In order to facilitate the investigation of size effects, material deformation behaviours needed to be determined directly from material characterizations. This study was aimed at the design and manufacture of a compact universal testing machine (UTM) compatible with a 3D laser-confocal microscope to observe the deformation behaviour of materials in real-time. In this study, uniaxial micro tensile testing was conducted on three different thin (0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, and 0.3 mm) copper specimens with characteristic dimensions at micro scales. Micro tensile experimental runs were carried out on copper specimens with varying grain sizes on the newly developed apparatus under a 3D laser-confocal microscope. Microscale experiments under 3D laser-confocal microscope provided not only a method to observe the microstructure of materials, but also a novel way to observe the early stages of fracture mechanisms. From real-time examination using the newly developed compact testing apparatus, we discovered that fracture behaviour was mostly brought about by the concave surface formed by free surface roughening. Findings with high stability were discovered while moving with the sample grasped along the drive screw in the graphical plot of a crosshead's displacement against time. Our results also showed very low mechanical noise (detected during the displacement of the crosshead), which indicated that there were no additional effects on the machine, such as vibrations or shifts in speed that could influence performance. The engineering stress-strain plots of the pure copper-tests with various thicknesses or samples depicted a level of stress necessary to initiate plastic flowing inside the material. From these results, we observed that strength and ductility declined with decreasing thickness. The influence of thickness on fracture-strain, observed during tensile testing, made it clear that the elongation-at-break of the pure-copper foils intensely decreased with decreases in thickness. The relative average surface-roughness Ra was evaluated, which showed us that the surface-roughness escalated with the increasing trend of plasticity deformation (plastic strain) ε. For better understanding of the effects of plastic strain on surface roughness prior to material fractures, micro tensile tests were performed on the newly developed machine under a 3D laser-confocal-microscope. We observed that homogeneous surface roughness was caused by plastic strain, which further formed the concave surface that led to the fracture points. Finally, we concluded that surface roughness was one of the crucial factors influencing the fracture behaviour of metallic sheet-strips in metal microforming. We found that this type of testing apparatus could be designed and manufactured within a manageable budget.

Productivity Enhancement by Prediction of Liquid Steel Breakout during Continuous Casting Process in Manufacturing of Steel Slabs in Steel Plant Using Artificial Neural Network with Backpropagation Algorithms.

Breakout is one of the major accidents that often arise in the continuous casting shops of steel slabs in Bokaro Steel Plant, Jharkhand, India. Breakouts cause huge capital loss, reduced productivity, and create safety hazards. The existing system is not capable of predicting breakout accurately, as it considers only one process parameter, i.e., thermocouple temperature. The system also generates false alarms. Several other process parameters must also be considered to predict breakout accurately. This work has considered multiple process parameters (casting speed, mold level, thermocouple temperature, and taper/mold) and developed a breakout prediction system (BOPS) for continuous casting of steel slabs. The BOPS is modeled using an artificial neural network with a backpropagation algorithm, which further has been validated by using the Keras format and TensorFlow-based machine learning platforms. This work used the Adam optimizer and binary cross-entropy loss function to predict the liquid breakout in the caster and avoid operator intervention. The experimental results show that the developed model has 100% accuracy for generating an alarm during the actual breakout and thus, completely reduces the false alarm. Apart from the simulation-based validation findings, the investigators have also carried out the field application-based validation test results. This validation further unveiled that this breakout prediction method has a detection ratio of 100%, the frequency of false alarms is 0.113%, and a prediction accuracy ratio of 100%, which was found to be more effective than the existing system used in continuous casting of steel slab. Hence, this methodology enhanced the productivity and quality of the steel slabs and reduced substantial capital loss during the continuous casting of steel slabs. As a result, the presented hybrid algorithm of artificial neural network with backpropagation in breakout prediction does seem to be a more viable, efficient, and cost-effective method, which could also be utilized in the more advanced automated steel-manufacturing plants.

Assessment of Dimensional Stability, Biodegradability, and Fracture Energy of Bio-Composites Reinforced with Novel Pine Cone.

In this investigation, biodegradable composites were fabricated with polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix reinforced with pine cone powder (15%, 30%, and 45% by weight) and compatibilized with graphite powder (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight) in polycaprolactone matrix by compression molding technique. The samples were prepared as per ASTM standard and tested for dimensional stability, biodegradability, and fracture energy with scanning electron micrographs. Water-absorption and thickness-swelling were performed to examine the dimensional stability and tests were performed at 23 °C and 50% humidity. Results revealed that the composites with 15 wt % of pine cone powder (PCP) have shown higher dimensional stability as compared to other composites. Bio-composites containing 15-45 wt % of PCP with low graphite content have shown higher disintegration rate than neat PCL. Fracture energy for crack initiation in bio-composites was increased by 68% with 30% PCP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the composites have shown evenly-distributed PCP particles throughout PCL-matrix at significantly high-degrees or quantities of reinforcing.

Comparative Analysis of Erosive Wear Behaviour of Epoxy, Polyester and Vinyl Esters Based Thermosetting Polymer Composites for Human Prosthetic Applications Using Taguchi Design.

In polymer composites, synthetic fibers are primarily used as a chief reinforcing material, with a wide range of applications, and are therefore essential to study. In the present work, we carried out the erosive wear of natural and synthetic fiber-based polymer composites. Glass fiber with jute and Grewia optiva fiber was reinforced in three different polymer resins: epoxy, vinyl ester and polyester. The hand lay-up method was used for the fabrication of composites. L16 orthogonal array of Taguchi method used to identify the most significant parameters (impact velocity, fiber content, and impingement angle) in the analysis of erosive wear. ANOVA analysis revealed that the most influential parameter was in the erosive wear analysis was impact velocity followed by fiber content and impingement angle. It was also observed that polyester-based composites exhibited the highest erosive wear followed by vinyl ester-based composites, and epoxy-based composites showed the lowest erosive wear. From the present study, it may be attributed that the low hardness of the polyester resulting in low resistance against the impact of erodent particles. The SEM analysis furthermore illustrates the mechanism took place during the wear examination of all three types of composites at highest fiber loading. A thorough assessment uncovers brittle fractures in certain regions, implying that a marginal amount of impact forces was also acting on the fabricated samples. The developed fiber-reinforced polymer sandwich composite materials possess excellent biocompatibility, desirable promising properties for prosthetic, orthopaedic, and bone-fracture implant uses.

Optimization of FFF Process Parameters by Naked Mole-Rat Algorithms with Enhanced Exploration and Exploitation Capabilities.

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) has numerous process parameters that influence the mechanical strength of parts. Hence, many optimization studies are performed using conventional tools and algorithms. Although studies have also been performed using advanced algorithms, limited research has been reported in which variants of the naked mole-rat algorithm (NMRA) are implemented for solving the optimization issues of manufacturing processes. This study was performed to scrutinize optimum parameters and their levels to attain maximum impact strength, flexural strength and tensile strength based on five different FFF process parameters. The algorithm yielded better results than other studies and successfully achieved a maximum response, which may be helpful to enhance the mechanical strength of FFF parts. The study opens a plethora of research prospects for implementing NMRA in manufacturing. Moreover, the findings may help identify critical parametric levels for the fabrication of customized products at the commercial level and help to attain the objectives of Industry 4.0.

Taguchi S/N and TOPSIS Based Optimization of Fused Deposition Modelling and Vapor Finishing Process for Manufacturing of ABS Plastic Parts.

Despite several additive manufacturing techniques are commercially available in market, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is increasingly used by researchers and engineers for new product development. FDM is an established process with a plethora of advantages, but the visible surface roughness (SR), being an intrinsic limitation, is major barrier against utilization of fabricated parts for practical applications. In the present study, the chemical finishing method, using vapour of acetone mixed with heated air, is being used. The combined impact of orientation angle, finishing temperature and finishing time has been studied using Taguchi and ANOVA, whereas multi-criteria optimization is performed using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The surface finish was highly responsive to increase in temperature while orientation angle of 0° yielded maximum strength; increase in finishing time led to weight gain of FDM parts. As the temperature increases, the percentage change in surface roughness increases as higher temperature assists the melt down process. On the other hand, anisotropic behaviour plays a major role during tensile testing. The Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio plots, and ANOVA results indicated that surface finish is directly proportionate to finishing time because a longer exposure results in complete layer reflowing and settlement.

Mechanical Strength Enhancement of 3D Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Polymer Components Using Neural Network Optimization Algorithm.

Fused filament fabrication (FFF), a portable, clean, low cost and flexible 3D printing technique, finds enormous applications in different sectors. The process has the ability to create ready to use tailor-made products within a few hours, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is extensively employed in FFF due to high impact resistance and toughness. However, this technology has certain inherent process limitations, such as poor mechanical strength and surface finish, which can be improved by optimizing the process parameters. As the results of optimization studies primarily depend upon the efficiency of the mathematical tools, in this work, an attempt is made to investigate a novel optimization tool. This paper illustrates an optimization study of process parameters of FFF using neural network algorithm (NNA) based optimization to determine the tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of ABS parts. The study also compares the efficacy of NNA over conventional optimization tools. The advanced optimization successfully optimizes the process parameters of FFF and predicts maximum mechanical properties at the suggested parameter settings.

Effects of waste eggshells and SiC addition on specific strength and thermal expansion of hybrid green metal matrix composite.

Chicken eggshell waste is an industrial byproduct, and its disposal constitutes a serious environmental hazard. Chicken eggshell can be used in commercial products to produce new materials with low cost and density. Low density material which can sustain at higher temperature is a remarkable area of research. Keeping these facts in the mind, the present investigation aims to study the physical behaviour, specific strength and thermal expansion of AA2014/SiC/carbonized eggshell hybrid green metal matrix composites. Microstructure of hybrid green metal matrix shows that the reinforcement particles (SiC particulates and carbonized eggshells particles) are uniformly distributed in the matrix AA2014 alloy. Specific strength for the composites containing 2.5wt.% SiC and up to 7.5wt.% carbonized eggshell was observed to be higher than that of the other selected composites. While for the same composition (AA2014/2.5% SiC/7.5% carbonized eggshell composites), porosity was observed lower than other selected composites. The results revealed that sample of AA2014/2.5% SiC/7.5% carbonized eggshell showed minimum cross sectional area reduction after the thermal expansion at 450°C among all the selected samples. Overall costs of hybrid metal matrix composites were also calculated.