Effect of nanosized reinforcement particles on mechanical properties of high density polyethylene–hydroxyapatite composites

Abstract

The effect of nanoscaled hydroxyapatite (HA) filler particles on the mechanical properties of the high density polyethylene–hydroxyapatite (HDPE–HA) composite samples has been investigated. Nanosized HA particles with an average size in the range of 40–50 nm were synthesised by mechanical milling method. The composite samples with various amounts of nanoscaled HA particles were produced by mixing the ceramic and high density polyethylene particles using a single screw extrusion system. The results of the mechanical testing on the composite samples showed an increase in the fracture strength and the young's modulus values with increasing volume fraction of HA content in the composite samples. At the same time, there were decreases in both the fracture strain and toughness values with increasing volume fraction of the ceramic filler particles. In addition the comparison of the results obtained in this study with the mechanical properties of the commercially available composite samples (HAPEX) shows that similar mechanical properties can be reached at a much lower ceramic content, if nanoscaled HA particles are used in the fabrication of these composite biomaterials.     

Conference Report - 4th European Continuous Casting Conference

Abstract

In this research carbothermic reduction of mechanically activated hematite–graphite–copper mixture was investigated. The effects of Copper and milling time on reduction behaviour of mixtures were studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry experiments. SEM and XRD techniques were also used to evaluate microstructure and phase constituent of the samples. By mechanical activation of the hematite–graphite–copper mixture the reduction temperature could be decreased >200°C. The presence of copper in mixture has an additional effect on the initiation of the Boudouard reaction at lower temperatures. Thus the gaseous reduction of Hematite with CO was started at a temperature as low as 790°C when Cu was used in the activated mixture.     

Effect of powder characteristics on Cr internal oxidation for preparation of Cr2O3/Cu composite

Abstract

Cr O₃/Cu composite was prepared by the internal oxidation of Cu–Cr pre-alloyed powders formed by high energy milling. Effects of milling time on the internal oxidation characteristics of Cu–Cr pre-alloyed powders were also discussed in this paper. The results indicate that the degree of the internal oxidation continually increases with prolonged milling time. At the initial stage, external oxidation rather than internal oxidation occurs, resulting in coarse Cr₂O₃ particles. With further milling, the internal oxidation becomes more complete and the sizes of Cr₂O₃ particles also become finer and well distributed. The properties of the composite are therefore improved. A high quality composite specimen from Cu–1·0Cr pre-alloyed powders after 40 h milling was prepared by the internal oxidation process. The Cr₂O₃ particles with an average size of 2–5 μm in diameter and about 5–10 μm in particles space were found by a microstructure examination, and they were uniformly dispersed in the Cu matrix.     

Interfacial reaction and mechanical reliability of eutectic Sn–0·7Cu/immersion Ag-plated Cu solder joint

Abstract

In this study, the interfacial reaction and joint reliability of immersion Ag-plated Cu substrate with the Sn–0·7Cu (wt-%) ball–grid array (BGA) solder was investigated. During reflow, the Ag plating layer was dissolved completely into the molten Sn–Cu solder and some of the Cu layer was also dissolved into the molten solder. The dissolved Ag and Cu were precipitated as Ag₃Sn and Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in the solder matrix. Upon reflow, the Sn–Cu solder exhibits an off-eutectic reaction to produce the eutectic phase and precipitate (Cu₆Sn₅ and Ag₃Sn). The Cu–Sn IMC layer was formed at the solder/Cu interface after reflow, and the IMC layer grew during aging treatment. During the shear tests, the failure mode switched from a bulk-related failure to an interface-related failure. After aging for 250 h, the joint failed partially at the solder/Cu₆Sn₅ interface. The brittle fracture was linked to the formation of thick Cu–Sn IMC layer.     

Structure property relations of copolymerised polypropylene /SiO2 nanocomposites prepared by solid state shear milling (S3M) method

Abstract

In the present paper, solid state shear milling (S³M) method was used to prepare the copolymerised polypropylene (Co-PP)/nano-SiO₂ composites under the conditions of solvent free and non-organic treatment. The change of phase morphology and arrangement of SiO₂ under mechanical force were firstly observed in the complex multiphase and multicomponent Co-PP/nano-SiO₂ composite. The effect of milling cycles on the phase structure and mechanical properties was studied. It was found that the S³M method was an effective way which can adjust the phase structure of composite through change of milling cycles. After 20 milling cycles, the composite can form a structure with a lot of SiO₂ particles around the ethylene–propylene copolymer phase, the Charpy notched impact strength of the composite with 4 wt-%SiO₂ particles can be largely improved from 24·2 to 38·2 kJ m^–2. While after 30 milling cycles, the composite can form a structure with SiO₂ particles dispersed more uniformly in the Co-PP matrix. However, with this structure, the prepared composite has higher stiffness but the notched impact strength could not be greatly improved. The mechanism of the toughening effect is discussed and the structure property relation established.     

Design and implementation of automatic shading device for diffuse radiation measurement

Considering the problem of too large area the shading disc covered,complex shadow band coefficients and too big diffuse radiation measurement bias,an automatic shading device for diffuse radiometer is designed and realized. Set a shading ball on the automatic sun tracker,drive linkage parallelogram structure with the declination axis arm,the shading ball can rotate synchronously with the motion of the sun and shade beam radiation measured with pyranometer,thus shading beam radiation and measuring diffuse radiation can be realized automatically. The comparison test results show that the automatic shading device can realize diffuse radiation measurement automatically,the accuracy of diffuse radiation readings can get a 18. 7% improvement compared with traditional measure system,greatly improves the reliability and accuracy of the diffuse radiation measurement.     

Synthesis and characterisation of Si3N4p/Cu nanocomposite powders by high energy ball milling

Abstract

The present work reported the preparation of Cu–25 wt-%Si₃N₄ nanocomposite powders via high energy ball milling (HEBM). The phases and morphologies of as-milled powders with various milling times were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experimental results showed that with increasing the milling time, the irregularly shaped Cu powder became flattened, and, subsequently, refined and near spherical. After 12 h milling, the particle size of Cu–Si₃N₄ composite powders was in the range of 200–300 nm, while the grain size of Si₃N₄ particulates, 10–25 nm, was well within a nanometre scale. A uniform distribution of the nanosized Si₃N₄ reinforcing phase throughout the Cu matrix was successfully obtained. A reasonable mechanism for the formation of Cu–Si₃N₄ nanocomposite powders during HEBM was also proposed.     

Influence of casting parameters on void volume and centre segregation in continuously cast 100Cr6 blooms

Abstract

Continuously cast ball and roller bearing steel 100Cr6 exhibits comparatively strong segregation which poses a quality handicap. In the present work which was carried out in the time between 1992 and 1996 the void formation which is related to the centre segregation and the centre segregation were measured on 2 m long segments of 240 × 200 mm² blooms cast at the steel plant of Georgsmarienhütte GmbH. It was found that the segregation of carbon expressed with the ratio of C _max/C _o increases with casting speed and superheat. Many experiments were carried out to elucidate the effect of electromagnetic stirring along the lower part of the metallurgical length (F-EMS). But, unfortunately, a decrease in segregation could not be achieved by F-EMS. The only method to decrease the centre segregation in continuously cast blooms of 100Cr6 seems to be casting at low speeds with low superheat.     

Microstructure development and superplasticity in Inconel 718 sheet

Abstract

Within the range of temperatures and strain rates investigated, mechanical testing identified the optimum forming condition for Inconel 718 sheet as being 965°C with a strain rate of 10^-4 s^-1. A detailed investigation of the microstructural behaviour under these deformation conditions was carried out and is reported here. Typically superplastic deformation would generate an enhanced rate of grain growth. This was not the case with the present material; instead it was found that a slight apparent grain size reduction occurred and there was evidence of substantial dislocation activity. It was concluded that the material was deforming on the borderline between 'true' superplasticity and normal slip based deformation.     

Effect of MnS powder additions and vibratory ball peening on corrosion resistance of sintered 316LSC stainless steels

Abstract

As sintered parts are to be machined after sintering, the MnS powder is usually added to improve the machinability. Vibratory ball peening is used for deburring and improving the surface finish of sintered components in local PM industries. The effect of the MnS powder content and vibratory ball peening on the corrosion resistance of the sintered 316LSC alloys was investigated. Experimental results show that the addition of MnS powder slightly decreases the sintered density. The weight loss rate of the sintered specimens immersed in the 10%FeCl₃ corrosion test solution increases slightly with increas- ing MnS content, but decreases with increasing sintering temperature. Vibratory ball peening effec- tively decreases the weight loss rate of the sintered stainless steels. The chromium atoms actively migrate across the phase boundary and diffuse into the MnS particles during sintering. This intensive chromium diffusion affects the corrosion performance of the sintered alloys with MnS added. The surface morphology of the as sintered and the ball peened specimens before and after the corrosion test were studied with a SEM.