Application of model for work hardening behaviour of SiC reinforced magnesium based metal matrix composites

Abstract

An understanding of the work hardening behaviour of particulate reinforced metal matrix composites is crucial in optimising the parameters for deformation processing of these materials. In the present study, SiC reinforced magnesium metal matrix composites were produced using a liquid phase process. The microstructure of the composite was characterised and the mechanical properties were determined. The results of the ambient temperature tensile testing on the extruded Mg and Mg/SiC specimens revealed that an increase in the weight percentage of SiC particulates in pure magnesium increases the elastic modulus, does not affect the 0·2% yield strength, and reduces the ultimate tensile strength and ductility. A modified continuum model was applied to relate the work hardening behaviour of the composites to microstructural parameters and to predict the fracture strain of the composites. The model is shown to predict the fracture strain of the composites quite accurately for all the three weight fractions of reinforcements evaluated in the present study.     

Investigation of the effect of surface modifications on the mechanical properties of basalt fibre reinforced polymer composites

Unsaturated polyester-based polymer composites were developed by reinforcing basalt fabric into an unsaturated polyester matrix using the hand layup technique at room temperature. This study describes basalt fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites both with and without acid and alkali treatments of the fabrics. The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of surface modifications (NaOH & H₂SO₄) on mechanical properties, including tensile, shear and impact strengths. Variations in mechanical properties such as the tensile strength, the inter-laminar shear strength and the impact strength of various specimens were calculated using a computer-assisted universal testing machine and an Izod Impact testing machine. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations of the fracture surface of the composites showed surface modifications to the fibre and improved fibre–matrix adhesion. The result of the investigation shows that the mechanical properties of basalt fibre reinforced composites are superior to glass fibre reinforced composites. This work confirms the applicability of basalt fibre as a reinforcing agent in polymer composites.     

Analysis of the diametral compression method for determining the tensile strength of transparent magnesium aluminate spinel

Attempts were made to determine the inherent tensile strength of a coarse-grained, hot-pressed magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl₂O₄) using the diametral compression test. Thick (9.6 mm) disk specimens were machined from a large (356 mm square) plate of spinel. Two pairs of tungsten carbide (WC) platens, one with flat surfaces and the other with a 20° half-arc and radius matched to the disk diameter, were used to transfer the applied load. Specimens tested using the platens with the matched radius had strength values almost 50% higher than those tested using flat platens. Images of the fracture process captured using a high-speed camera showed that irrespective of the type of platens used, fracture consistently initiated at the loading interface, resulting in an invalid test. These results show that the diametral compression test method is not appropriate for determining the tensile strength of this spinel and it raises concerns about the applicability of the method for any advanced ceramic.     

Preparation and properties of continuous glass fiber reinforced anionic polyamide-6 thermoplastic composites

Continuous glass fiber (GF) reinforced anionic polyamide-6 (APA6) composites were prepared via in situ ring-opening polymerization of caprolactam monomers. The effects of catalyst content, polymerization temperature and time on the viscosity average molar mass (M_v) and degree of crystallinity (X_c) were investigated in detail. The final mechanical properties of GF/APA6 composites were also studied. The results indicated that both high molecular weight and the high degree of crystallinity of resin matrix lead to the high mechanical properties of composites. Furthermore, the mechanical test results showed that the composites of plain woven fabric had tensile strength of 434 MPa and flexural strength of 407 MPa. The morphologies of tensile fracture surfaces of the composites specimens were observed through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The SEM analysis showed that many disorganized nano-fiber crystals appear in the tensile fracture surfaces, which improve the mechanical properties of the matrix resin. The mechanical properties of the composites with different post-heat treatments were further investigated. The mechanical properties of the composites are significantly reduced after quenching treatment, but hardly improved after annealing.     

Improvement in physical and mechanical properties of aluminum/zircon composites fabricated by powder metallurgy method

Metal–matrix composites (MMCs) are known as the most useful and high-tech composites in our world as well as aluminum (Al) as the best metal for producing these composites. Combining aluminum and zircon (ZrSiO₄) will yield a material with the best corrosive resistance and mechanical properties like strength at high temperatures. Also, the abrasive wear behavior of these composites will be improved. In the present investigation, a study on aluminum/zircon composites has been carried out. Micro-structures of these composites in powder metallurgy conditions show different size distribution of zircon with different proportions in the composite. Also, there is a case-study about density and compressive strength and hardness of aluminum/zircon composites. The green specimens prepared by isostatic pressing of prepared powders with different zircon percentages, were sintered at two temperatures. These specimens were then investigated by different physical and mechanical testing methods to observe in which conditions the best properties would be obtained. The most improved compression strength was obtained with the specimen including 5% of zircon sintered at 650 °C.     

Development and analysis of high density poly ethylene (HDPE) nano SiO2 and wood powder reinforced polymer matrix hybrid nano composites

ABSTRACT

The Hybrid composites are the emerging materials which uses two or more reinforced particles or fibres simultaneously. As potential applications of the composites, wood reinforced thermoplastic composites are commercially attractive for high volume applications, but their properties can be enhanced by adding Nano SiO₂ particles. Wood powder and nano SiO₂ were mixed with high density polyethylene as matrix material. Wood powder with fixed 5 wt. % and Nano SiO₂ with varying weight % (3, 5, 7 wt. %) are reinforced in HDPE to manufacture composite materials by compression moulding process. Mechanical properties including tensile strength, flexural strength and Izod impact strength were evaluated and it was revealed that tensile strength and flexural strength were obtained maximum at 5 wt. % of Nano SiO₂ and impact strength was obtained maximum at 3 wt. % of Nano SiO₂.     

New model for the indirect determination of the tensile stress–strain curve of concrete by means of the Brazilian test

On the basis of the results from an experimental campaign and using simple expressions, a model for the indirect determination of the tensile stress?Cstrain curve of concrete by means of a splitting tensile test (Brazilian test) is proposed. By testing complete specimens as well as specimens cut along the loading plane it was possible to determine the equivalent tensile strength component produced in the cylinder subjected to diametral compression. The model made it possible to reproduce adequately the behavior observed in tests carried out with both cylindrical and cubic specimens of materials such as concrete, mortar and rock. This model, if complemented with a more extensive experimental campaign, would provide an expression for the determination of the tensile stress?Cstrain curve of several concretes or quasi-fragile materials.     

Mechanical and tribological behaviour of nano scaled silicon carbide reinforced aluminium composites

ABSTRACT

This work assesses the impact of the presence of Nano scaled silicon carbide on the Mechanical & Tribological behavior of aluminium matrix composites. Aluminium matrix composites containing 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt.%-nano scaled silicon carbide was set up by a mechanical stirrer. The trial comes about to demonstrate that the inclusion of Nano silicon carbide brings about materials with progressively high elastic modulus and likewise brings about expanded brittle behavior, fundamentally lessening failure strain. Shear modulus and flexural shear modulus likewise increases with silicon carbide increase. The presence of Nano scaled silicon carbide in the aluminium matrix diminishes subsurface fatigue wear and increases wear resistance, because of silicon carbide lubricant activity. Wear testing, microstructure & morphological, density & void testing, hardness, flexural and tensile test of the readied composites were investigated and outcomes were analyzed which demonstrated that including nano-SiC in aluminum (Al) matrix increased wear resistance, tensile strength, and 2 wt. % of nano scaled SiC for Al MMC indicated maximum wear resistance, tensile strength, and an optimum balanced mix of both Tribological and Mechanical properties. Microstructural observation uncovered uniformand homogeneous distribution of SiC particles in the Al matrix.     

Evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties of Al/Al2O3/SiC hybrid composite fabricated by accumulative roll bonding process

In this investigation, a new kind of metal matrix composites with a matrix of pure aluminum and hybrid reinforcement of Al₂O₃ and SiC particles was fabricated for the first time by anodizing followed by eight cycles accumulative roll bonding (ARB). The resulting microstructures and the corresponding mechanical properties of composites within different stages of ARB process were studied. It was found that with increasing the ARB cycles, alumina layers were fractured, resulting in homogenous distribution of Al₂O₃ particles in the aluminum matrix. Also, the distribution of SiC particles was improved and the porosity between particles and the matrix was decreased. It was observed that the tensile strength of composites improved by increasing the ARB passes, i.e. the tensile strength of the Al/1.6 vol.% Al₂O₃/1 vol.% SiC composite was measured to be about 3.1 times higher than as-received material. In addition, tensile strength of composites decreased by increasing volume fraction of SiC particles to more than 1 vol.%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of fractured surfaces showed that the failure mechanism of broken hybrid composite was shear ductile rupture.     

Strength and toughness of barium titanate ceramics

The effect of processing variables on the mechanical and electrical properties of holmium-doped barium titanate ceramics with a positive temperature coefficient of resistance has been investigated. This paper contains details of the tests used to measure the mechanical properties of ceramics prepared using four compositional mixes. Two methods of measuring strength were used: diametral compression of disc samples and four-point bending of beam specimens. Fracture toughness was also evaluated using two methods: the failure of single edge-notched (SEN) beams under four-point loading and cracking from a surface indentation with a diamond pyramid indentor. Values of strength ranged from 18 to 82 MPa for the four materials when measured by the diametral compression test. This compared with a range of 35–79 MPa for the same materials tested in pure bending. Fracture toughness values ranged from 0.65 to 0.95 MPa m^1/2 for the SEN specimens and from 1 to 1.8 MPa m^1/2 using the indentation technique on the same samples.     

High-temperature mechanical response of A359–SiCp–30%: torsional loading (II)

Abstract

Aluminum metal–matrix composites are lightweight materials that have the potential to supplant steel in many applications. The current work helps to identify the parameters that confer maximal strength and ductility. Torsion tests were performed on the as-cast aluminum metal–matrix composite A359–SiCp–30% at a variety of temperatures and twist rates. Dependence of material properties on temperature and strain rate were identified from equivalent stress–strain curves constructed from the reduced data. Examination of the microstructure was performed on the as-cast material and on fracture surfaces. A temperature- and strain rate-dependent constitutive model was applied to simulation of the mechanical response of the torsion specimen. Trends in material properties corroborate and extend trends identified previously under tensile loading with regard to temperature and strain rate dependence. Shear properties of simulated specimens agree with properties obtained through experimentation.     

Hybridization effect on the mechanical properties of curaua/glass fiber composites

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of hybridizing glass and curaua fibers on the mechanical properties of their composites. These composites were produced by hot compression molding, with distinct overall fiber volume fraction, being either pure curaua fiber, pure glass fiber or hybrid. The mechanical characterization was performed by tensile, flexural, short beam, Iosipescu and also nondestructive testing. From the obtained results, it was observed that the tensile strength and modulus increased with glass fiber incorporation and for higher overall fiber volume fraction (%V_f). The short beam strength increased up to %V_f of 30 vol.%, evidencing a maximum in terms of overall fiber/matrix interface and composite quality. Hybridization has been successfully applied to vegetable/synthetic fiber reinforced polyester composites in a way that the various properties responded satisfactorily to the incorporation of a third component.     

Compression strength of carbon,glass and Kevlar-49 fibre reinforced polyester resins

The compression behaviour of a series of polyester resins of various compositions and in different states of cure has been investigated. Their mechanical characteristics having been established, the same range of resins was then used as a matrix material for a series of composites reinforced with carbon, glass and aromatic polyamide fibres. The composites were unidirectionally reinforced, having been manufactured by pultrusion, and were compression tested in the fibre direction after a series of experiments to assess the validity of a simple testing procedure. Rule of Mixtures behaviour occurred in glass-polyester composites up to limiting volume fractions (V _f) of 0.31 for strength and 0.46 for elastic modulus, the compression modulus being equal to the tensile modulus, and the apparent fibre strength being in the range 1.3 to 1.6 GPa at this limiting V _f. At a V _f of 0.31 the strengths of reinforced polyesters were proportional to the matrix yield strength, _my, and their moduli were an inverse exponential function of _my. For the same matrix yield strength a composite with an epoxy resin matrix was stronger than polyester based composites. At V _f=0.30, Kevlar fibre composites behaved as though their compression modulus and strength were much smaller than their tensile modulus and strength, while carbon fibre composites were only slightly less stiff and weaker in compression than in tension. The compression strengths of the polyester resins were found to be proportional to their elastic moduli.     

纳米Al2O3改性玻璃纤维增强复合材料低温力学性能研究

简述了纳米Al2O3改性玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料的制备,并对其常温、低温力学性能进行实验。结果表明,常温、低温下,复合材料的力学性能随着纳米Al2O3含量的增加都呈现先增强后减弱的趋势。低温处理使复合材料的力学性能得到提升,并且低温下Al2O3的引入对复合材料强度的改善效果比常温下明显,Al2O3含量为1%(质量分数)时,拉伸强度提高比例高达16.61%。其原因是低温下基体强度增大,另外基体热膨胀系数大,收缩明显,界面粘接强度增大,纳米Al2O3颗粒在界面处与树脂基体结合更深入,从而使纳米粒子阻碍微裂纹扩展的能力更强。     

Tensile strength and bonding in compacts: a comparison of diametral compression and three-point bending for plastically deforming materials

The tensile strength of tablets is frequently used as a measure of the bonding achieved during compaction. Tablets from two plastically deforming materials and one brittle material have been subjected to tensile strength testing using diametral compression and three-point bending. The plastically deforming materials exhibited marked inhomogeneities, with the surfaces of the tablets considerably more compact than the inner material. The results from the two tests were different, with the three-point bending test giving higher results for tensile strength. The rate of change of tensile strength with overall tablet porosity was, however, the same for the two tests. Diametral compression would thus appear to give a reasonable estimate of bonding despite the non-homogenous nature of tablets prepared from plastically deforming materials.     

Additive manufacturing of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites using fused deposition modeling

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have been successfully applied in various applications. Fused deposition modeling (FDM), one of the most popular AM techniques, is the most widely used method for fabricating thermoplastic parts those are mainly used as rapid prototypes for functional testing with advantages of low cost, minimal wastage, and ease of material change. Due to the intrinsically limited mechanical properties of pure thermoplastic materials, there is a critical need to improve mechanical properties for FDM-fabricated pure thermoplastic parts. One of the possible methods is adding reinforced materials (such as carbon fibers) into plastic materials to form thermoplastic matrix carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites those could be directly used in the actual application areas, such as aerospace, automotive, and wind energy. This paper is going to present FDM of thermoplastic matrix CFRP composites and test if adding carbon fiber (different content and length) can improve the mechanical properties of FDM-fabricated parts. The CFRP feedstock filaments were fabricated from plastic pellets and carbon fiber powders for FDM process. After FDM fabrication, effects on the tensile properties (including tensile strength, Young's modulus, toughness, yield strength, and ductility) and flexural properties (including flexural stress, flexural modulus, flexural toughness, and flexural yield strength) of specimens were experimentally investigated. In order to explore the parts fracture reasons during tensile and flexural tests, fracture interface of CFRP composite specimens after tensile testing and flexural testing was observed and analyzed using SEM micrograph.     

Effect of Tablet Lubricants on Axial and Radial Work of Failure

Abstract

During diametral compression and axial tensile strength testing force-displacement curves were obtained for tablets of microcrystalline cellulose. The area under the curve, termed work of failure, was determined by planimetry. For each of the five lubricants studied as the concentration of the lubricant was increased in the tablet, the work of failure was considerably less. The effect was especially marked in the axial plane.     

Cast metal matrix composites

Abstract

Metal matrix composites have been available in certain forms for at least two decades, e.g. boron fibre reinforced aluminium and various dispersed phase alloys and cermets. Recently, a range of alumina and silicon carbide fibres, whiskers, and particles with diameters <20 μm have become available. The possibilities of incorporating these materials into metals to improve stiffness, wear resistance, and elevated temperature strength without incurring weight penalties have attracted the attention of design engineers in the aerospace and automobile industries. The aim of the present paper is to outline the manufacturing processes for such composites, in particular those based upon liquid metal technology, e.g. squeeze casting and spray forming. Some of the mechanical and physical properties which have been determined for these materials are described. An analysis of how matrix alloy selection may influence tensile and fracture behaviour of short fibre and particle reinforced composites is attempted.

MST/770     

团簇对粉末热挤压铝基复合材料力学性能的影响

为明确晶须团簇行为对材料力学性能的影响,采用粉末热挤压法制备了硼酸镁晶须增强铝基复合材料,对不同含量的晶须增强铝基复合材料进行了力学性能测试,并基于载荷传递模式提出相应的模型对材料强度进行预测.结果表明:随着硼酸镁晶须含量的增加,团簇加剧;当晶须体积分数大于10%时,材料力学性能降低;提出的模型考虑了团簇因素,成功预测了复合材料的实验强度.     

Investigation of tensile strength of hydroxyapatite with various porosities by diametral strength test

Abstract

It is appropriate to administer the diametral test to biomedical materials used in dental applications because stresses formed on dental implants are similar to those that formed in this test. To show this similarity, an experimental study of diametral strength testing of hydroxyapatite was performed. The influence of porosity on hydroxyapatite was investigated experimentally to determine how the diametral strength was affected. Hydroxyapatite was air sintered at 1100°C for 1 h with porosities ranging from 1 to 32%. The results indicated that hydroxyapatite with improved densification had higher diametral strength values. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that sintered samples were pure hydroxyapatite.