Synthesis and characterization of dual particle (MWCT+B4C) reinforced sintered hybrid aluminum matrix composites

ABSTRACT

Metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) consist of a metal matrix reinforced with nanoparticles, featuring physical and mechanical properties very different from those of the matrix. Especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can improve the matrix material in terms of wear resistance, damping properties, and mechanical strength. The present investigation deals with the synthesis and characterization of aluminum matrix reinforced with micro-B₄C particles, and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) which have been prepared by powder metallurgy route. Powder mixture containing fixed weight (%) of B₄C and different wt% of MWCNT as reinforcement constituents that are uniaxial cold pressed and later green compacts are sintered in continues electric furnace. Microstructure and Mechanical properties such as microhardness and density are examined. Microstructure of samples has been investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). X-ray diffraction(XRD), energy dispersive x-ray (EDAX), atomic force microscope (AFM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). TEM microstructure of the nanocomposite shows the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNT in the aluminum matrix. The results indicated that the increase in wt % of MWCNT improves the bonding and mechanical properties.     

Application of Azido Esters as Energetic Plasticizers for LOVA Propellant Formulations

The study of a cyclotrimethylene trinitramine‐based low vulnerable ammunition (LOVA) propellant having cellulose acetate (CA) and nitrocellulose (NC) combinations as binders is described herein. Two propellant compositions ( 1 and 2 ) were prepared by replacing the non energetic plasticizer triacetin (TA) with the novel tetraazido ester plasticizers tetraazido malonate and tetraazido glutarate, respectively, and their ballistic, mechanical, and thermal properties were studied. Both compositions 1 and 2 showed thermal stability up to 200 °C with a heat release of 1752.81 and 1774.34 J g⁻¹, respectively. Both compositions have high impact insensitivity (h₅₀: 39 cm), friction insensitivity up to 36 kg, and an ignition temperature greater than 250 °C. The flame temperatures of 1 and 2 are 3164 and 3243 K with linear burn rate coefficients of 0.117 and 0.122 cm s⁻¹ MPa⁻¹, respectively. Similar percentage elongations at three different temperatures (−20 °C, +27 °C, and +55 °C) conditions were recorded for both compositions.     

STUDY OF A LABORATORY-SCALE FROTH FLOTATION PROCESS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

A three-layer feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) model, trained using the error back propagation algorithm, has been established to simulate the froth flotation process for the beneficiation of coal fines. The network model validates the experimentally observed qualitative and quantitative trends. The optimal model parameters in terms of network weights have been estimated and can be used to compute the parameters of the coal flotation process over wide-ranging experimental conditions.     

Continuous hydrogen production activity over finely dispersed Ag2O/TiO2 catalysts from methanol:water mixtures under solar irradiation: A structure–activity correlation

Ag₂O/TiO₂ catalysts with varying amounts of Ag₂O 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 wt% loadings are prepared by impregnation method and Ag/TiO₂ catalyst is prepared by photo deposition method. These catalysts are characterized by XRD, SEM-EDAX, DRS, XPS and TEM techniques. DRS studies clearly showing the expanded photo response of TiO₂ into visible region on impregnation of Ag⁺ ions on surface layers of TiO₂ due to the increased number of energy states created by the silver ions in TiO₂ surface lattice. TEM images are showing the fine dispersion of silver particles on TiO₂ surface. XPS of Ag₂O/TiO₂ calcined and used catalysts along with Ag₂O/TiO₂ reduced and Ag/TiO₂ photo deposited catalysts are compared and the binding energy values of Ti 2p, O1s and Ag 3d are confirming that silver ions are in interaction with TiO₂ in Ag₂O/TiO₂ calcined catalysts. EDAX analysis supports the presence of silver species on the surface layers of TiO₂. Photocatalytic hydrogen production activity studies are conducted over Ag₂O/TiO₂, Ag₂O/TiO₂ reduced and Ag/TiO₂ photo deposited catalysts in pure water and methanol:water mixtures under solar irradiation. Maximum hydrogen production of 145 μmoles/h is observed on 0.5wt% Ag₂O/TiO₂ catalyst in pure water and the maximum hydrogen production of 3350 μmoles/h is observed on 1wt% Ag₂O/TiO₂ catalyst in methanol:water mixtures. Whereas Ag₂O/TiO₂ reduced and Ag/TiO₂ photo deposited catalysts are not showing any hydrogen production activity either in water or in methanol:water mixtures under solar irradiation. Based on the XPS, DRS, TEM, SEM-EDAX studies and the hydrogen production activity on these catalysts, a structure–activity correlation has been proposed wherein the interacted Ag⁺ ions on the surface layers of TiO₂ are playing an important role in maintaining the hydrogen production activity under solar irradiation.     

Dynamic fault tree analysis using Monte Carlo simulation in probabilistic safety assessment

Traditional fault tree (FT) analysis is widely used for reliability and safety assessment of complex and critical engineering systems. The behavior of components of complex systems and their interactions such as sequence- and functional-dependent failures, spares and dynamic redundancy management, and priority of failure events cannot be adequately captured by traditional FTs. Dynamic fault tree (DFT) extend traditional FT by defining additional gates called dynamic gates to model these complex interactions. Markov models are used in solving dynamic gates. However, state space becomes too large for calculation with Markov models when the number of gate inputs increases. In addition, Markov model is applicable for only exponential failure and repair distributions. Modeling test and maintenance information on spare components is also very difficult. To address these difficulties, Monte Carlo simulation-based approach is used in this work to solve dynamic gates. The approach is first applied to a problem available in the literature which is having non-repairable components. The obtained results are in good agreement with those in literature. The approach is later applied to a simplified scheme of electrical power supply system of nuclear power plant (NPP), which is a complex repairable system having tested and maintained spares. The results obtained using this approach are in good agreement with those obtained using analytical approach. In addition to point estimates of reliability measures, failure time, and repair time distributions are also obtained from simulation. Finally a case study on reactor regulation system (RRS) of NPP is carried out to demonstrate the application of simulation-based DFT approach to large-scale problems.     

Experimental Analysis on Three Body Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Stir Cast Al LM 25/TiC Metal Matrix Composite

In this paper, the abrasive wear behavior of Al LM 25/10 wt% TiC metal matrix composite has been studied experimentally. The composite specimens were fabricated using stir casting technique. Microstructural evaluation revealed uniform distribution of reinforcement particles throughout the matrix. Abrasive wear experiments were designed for different values of load, speed and time through response surface methodology and were performed using three body abrasion tester. Surface plots for wear rate against all combinations of parameters revealed that wear rate increased with increasing load and time, but decreased with increasing speed. The generated regression equation established proper relation between parameters and wear rate, confirming the accuracy of the developed model. The results of optimization of process parameters revealed that a minimum wear rate of 0.00104 mm³/Nm was obtained at 27 N, 139 rpm and 3 min. Scanning electron microscope analysis results substantiated that wear rate was comparatively more at higher loads.     

Bismuth Modified Porous Silica Preparation,Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity Evaluation for Degradation of Isoproturon

Porous silica prepared by using an acrylic emulsion has been impregnated with bismuth ion resulting in Bi₂SiO₅ species containing surface.The as-prepared materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy （XRD）,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）,UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy（UV-Vis DRS）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,energy dispersive analysis of X-ray（EDAX）,transmission electron microscopy（TEM）,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR） and N₂ adsorption/desorption techniques. EDAX analysis confirms the penetration of bismuth ions into the framework of silica to form Bi₂SiO₅,which is substantiated by XRD.The UV—Vis DRS shows that the catalysts are optically active and XPS confirms the inclusion of bismuth into the framework of silica.FTIR spectra illustrate the formation of Bi—O—Si linkages in the porous silica framework.SEM and TEM show the spherical morphology,whereas N₂ adsorption/desorption study confirms the porosity of the prepared materials.The photocatalytic activity of the material is evaluated for the degradation of isoproturon herbicide and it is found that the material is active as compared to the commercial P-25 Degussa TiO₂.     

Numerical simulation of airflow in naturally ventilated attics for different attic geometries

Attic geometry and ventilation in a different attic geometry play a very important role in residential building energy performance. To evaluate the effect of ventilation ratio and vent balance on attic performance, a two-dimensional finite volume model is employed to simulate the buoyancy-driven turbulent ventilation and heat transfer in an attic space of different geometries like gable, gambrel, and saltbox roofs of residential buildings under winter conditions. The impact of ventilation ratio on ventilating airflow rate, heating load rate, and rate of heat gained is investigated for all three types of roof geometries. The model under consideration consists of a passive ventilation system with a ridge and soffit vent. Meshing is done by using ANSYS Workbench and numerical simulations are carried out by using ANSYS FLUENT 19 analysis software. The effect of passive ventilation on ridge-vent attic performance is evaluated in this study. Ventilation ratios for soffit vents ranging from 1/400 to 1/25 are investigated. Convection boundary conditions are used for the attic walls to account for thermal resistances of ceilings and roofs. In addition, the performance of these vented attics is compared to the heat transfer in a sealed attic. The results show that the symmetrical airflow pattern exists in a vented attic, in contrast to the asymmetrical airflow patterns found in a sealed attic. From the study, it is evident that an increase in ventilation ratio reduces attic heating load irrespective of the increase in ventilation airflow rate. The rate of airflow increases with an increase in ventilation ratio in all three types of roof geometries that is gable, gambrel, and saltbox roofs. In the case of gable roof configuration, increasing the ventilation ratio from 1/200 to 1/100 results in an increase in ventilating mass flow of 75%, while an increase of ventilation ratio from 1/50 to 1/25 only increases the ventilating mass flow by 40%. In the case of gable roofs increasing ventilation ratio from 1/200 to 1/100 results in a 20% decrease in attic heating, whereas an increase in ventilation ratio from 1/50 to 1/25 results in a 10% decrease in attic heating.     

Photocatalytic H2 production from glycerol–water mixtures over Ni/γ-Al2O3 and TiO2 composite systems

Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ prepared by impregnation, Ni/γ-Al₂O₃/CNT prepared in-situ during glycerol steam reforming, Ni/γ-Al₂O₃–TiO₂ and Ni/γ-Al₂O₃/CNT-TiO₂ were prepared by solid-state dispersion methods. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM–EDAX, UV–Vis DRS, TEM, Raman and FT-IR techniques and were evaluated as photocatalysts for the production of H₂ using glycerol:water mixtures under solar light irradiation. For the first-time, higher rate of H₂ (3400 μmol h^?1 g^?1_cat) evolution was observed under the optimized conditions using Ni/γ-Al₂O₃/CNT-TiO₂ as a photocatalyst. This enhancement may be seen as due to the favorable absorption of solar light and the structural parameters minimizing the recombination of electron–hole pairs that resulted in improved activity of the catalyst. The present study clearly demonstrates that Ni/γ-Al₂O₃/CNT-TiO₂ as most promising photocatalyst for H₂ production from glycerol–water mixtures under solar light irradiation and through characterization, the structure–activity could be established.     

Efficiency of a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical device using thionine and triturated zinc oxide at different potency

A new and novel material, triturated zinc oxide nanoparticles, which is eco-friendly, easily available, low in cost, has been used here for the first time for enhancement of photovoltage generation and efficiency of a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical device. This material when diluted and strongly agitated, together termed as potentized, is used as nanomedicine for centuries. This study using this material at two different potencies (6C and 30C) shows that addition of this material to thionine dye of concentration 0.85 μM enhances photovoltage generation significantly. The efficiency obtained with the latter is ~0.41%, whereas it is ~0.003% with dye only.