A new method of reinforcing graphene nanoplatelets in glass/epoxy composites

This research aims to develop a method for the amalgamation of graphene nanoplatelets in glass/epoxy composites. The poor interface bonding between the fiber and matrix is critical and hinders the full performance of the composites. Glass fabric and epoxy were used as reinforcement and matrix in the composite, respectively. Graphene nanoplatelets were utilized as an additional nano-materials filler for the composites. Glass/graphene/epoxy and glass/epoxy composites were fabricated via vacuum infusion molding. The new method of applying graphene nanoplatelets as secondary reinforcement in the composite was developed based on proper functionalization in the sonication process. The physical, tensile, flexural, and short beam interlaminar properties of fabricated composites were examined to analyze the method's effectiveness. The results showed that density decreased by around 5 %; however, thickness increased by around 34 % after introducing graphene nanoplatelets into the composites. The tensile strength and modulus of the composites declined by approximately 19 %, on the other hand, flexural strength and modulus increased by around 63.3 % and 8.3 %, respectively, after the addition of graphene nanoplatelets into the composites. Moreover, interlaminar shear strength of the composite was enhanced by approximately 50 %.     

Characterization and evaluating the mechanical performance of halloysite nanotubes reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polycarbonate composites exposed to aggressive environmental conditions

Developing light weight polymer based composites dispersed with novel reinforcements which can function well in the presence of aggressive environments is an active research field in the materials engineering. Hence, in the current work, halloysite nanotubes (1 %, 2 %, 4 %, 6 %, 8 % and 10 % by weight) were reinforced into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polycarbonate blend and the role of reinforcing phases on the mechanical performance under aggressive environmental conditions has been evaluated. Hardness was measured as gradually increased in the composites with the increased content of the reinforcements. Impact strength of the composites was observed as increased in the composites up to 4 % reinforcement and further decreased. Increased strength was measured for the composite up to 2 % reinforcement. Ductility of the composites was decreased as reflected form the decreased % of elongation with the higher fraction of reinforcements due to induced brittleness. The composites were exposed to diluted sulfuric acid for 3 h and 6 h at 60 °C and then subjected to tensile loading. With the increased time of exposure, composites with 1 % and 2 % reinforcement exhibited relatively better performance.     

Advanced cold rolled steels for automotive applications

Advanced multiphase steels offer a great potential for bodies‐in‐white through their combination of formability and achievable component strength levels. They are first choice for strength and crash‐relevant parts of challenging geometry. The intensive development of high‐strength multiphase steels by ThyssenKrupp has led to hot dip galvanizing concepts with an outstanding forming potential. Hot rolled, hot dip galvanized complex phase steels are currently produced in addition to cold rolled DP and RA steels. New continuously annealed grades with tensile strength levels of up to 1000 MPa in combination with sufficient ductility for applications mainly in the field of structural automobile elements make use of the classic advantages of microalloying as well as the principles of DP and TRIP steels. Further improvement of properties will be reached by the new class of high manganese alloyed steels.     

Shear analysis of rice husk ash (RHA) reinforced tin-0.7-copper composite solders on electroless nickel/immersion silver (ENIAg) surfaces

In this study, the mechanical performance of the rice husk ash-reinforced tin-0.7 copper composite solder was investigated. 0.01 wt.%, 0.05 wt.% and 0.1 wt.% of rice husk ash (RHA) were added to the solder matrix to prepare the composite solders. In order, to replace the costly electroless nickel immersion gold surface finish on the copper substrate, the effect of electroless nickel immersion silver (ENIAg) as the surface finish was studied. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that the composite solder exhibited lower melting temperature relative to the plain solder owing to the inclusion of rice husk ash. Shear strength analysis was carried out to investigate the influence of rice husk ash and electroless nickel immersion silver surface finish on the shear strength of the developed composite solders. The results proved that the rice husk ash failed to enhance the shear strength of tin-0.7 copper lead-free solder with the plain solder exhibiting the highest shear strength.     

Research on corrosion performance of 6061 aluminum alloy in salt spray environment

Salt spray corrosion test was carried out on 6061 aluminum alloy, and quasi-static tensile test at room temperature was carried out on the sample with universal testing machine. The effect of salt spray corrosion on the mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum alloy was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and electrochemistry. The corrosion rate of 6061 aluminum alloy was quantitatively characterized by different corrosion parameters. It was found that local corrosion of 6061 aluminum alloy occurred in salt spray environment, mainly pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion. With the increase of corrosion time, the polarization resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy decreases, and the corrosion rate significantly increases. The average corrosion rate and the maximum corrosion rate of 6061 aluminum alloy were characterized by corrosion weight loss and corrosion pit depth. And they can be transformed into each other. The mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum alloy were mainly affected by the depth of corrosion pit. With the increase of corrosion time, the tensile strength and fracture strain decreased, resulting in poor plasticity of the sample. At the same time, the change of elongation of 6061 aluminum alloy can be accurately predicted by the depth of corrosion pit.     

Evolution behavior of δ phase in Cu12Sn2Ni alloy and the corresponding effects on alloy property

With the increase of tin content in tin bronze, the rise of δ phase made the strength, hardness of tin bronze increase and the ductility decrease sharply, that difficult to process. In this paper, the Cu12Sn2Ni alloy was prepared by centrifugal casting, the microstructure and phase formation before and after heat treatment were observed by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the as-cast sample microstructure was composed of equiaxed grains rather than coarse dendrites. centrifugal casting inhibits tin diffusion to form metastable phase β′-Cu_13.7Sn. The as-cast sample had good deformability and its tensile strength and elongation were 381.9 MPa and 12.4 %, respectively, which are higher than the mechanical properties of gravity casting. The tensile strength and elongation of the sample after furnace cooling at 620 °C/8 min are 439.5 MPa and 24.4 %, respectively, the increase was 16.6 % and 85.07 %, compared with the as-cast samples, due to the solid solution strengthening, the second phase strengthening and the homogenization of the microstructure.     

A study of microstructure and performance of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy

The effects of quenching temperature on microstructure and hardness of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy containing 0.3 wt% C, 2.0 wt% B, 8.0 wt% Cr, 0.6 wt% Si, and 0.8 wt% Mn were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rockwell hardness and Vickers microhardness testers. The experimental results indicate that the as‐cast microstructure of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy consists of M₂B (M = Fe, Cr), M₇(C, B)₃, α‐Fe, and γ‐Fe. The dendritic matrix composed of lath martensite mixed with a small amount of retained austenite, and the netlike boride M₂B distribute in the grain boundary. After quenching between 950 °C and 1100 °C, the netlike eutectic boride are broken up and a new phase‐M₂₃(C, B)₆ which is distributed in the shape of sphere or short rod‐like are precipitated from the matrix. Both the macrohardness and microhardness of specimens increase with the increasing quenching temperature. At about 1050 °C, the hardness reaches the maximum value. However, when the temperature exceeds 1050 °C, the hardness will decrease slightly. With the increase of tempering temperature, the hardness of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy quenching from 1050 °C decreases gradually and its impact toughness increases slightly. Crusher hammer made of cast Fe–8Cr–2B alloy quenching from 1050 °C and tempering from 300 °C has good application effect, and its service life improves by 150–180% than that of high manganese steel hammer.     

Diffusion bonding of TiAl based alloy to Ti–6Al–4V alloy using amorphous interlayer

Powder metallurgical TiAl based alloy and Ti–6Al–4V (TC4) alloy were diffusion bonded at 915 °C for 1 h under a pressure of 80 MPa. Single Ti‐based amorphous or Ni‐based amorphous foil was utilized as an interlayer during diffusion bonding process. The tensile mechanical properties of the diffusion bonded joints between TiAl based alloy and TC4 alloy were tested. The fracture surface and microstructure characteristic of these joints were also observed carefully by scanning electron microscope. The TiAl based alloy with a fully lamellar microstructure is more suitable for diffusion bonding to TC4 alloy. Adding a Ti‐based amorphous interlayer is more conducive to the element diffusion, giving rise to the improvement in the mechanical properties of the diffusion bonded joints. Results also show that the diffusion bonded joints form a metallurgical bond and fracture in a brittle manner.