Water hyacinth (EichhorniaCrassipes) polymer composites properties - aquatic waste into successful commercial product

In modern times, the demand for natural fibers is increased due to low density, low cost, recyclability, and biodegradable properties. Following work deals with the aquatic waste of water hyacinth plant fiber. The main intent of this work is to utilize the hyacinth plant into a successive manner and convert this plant into some commercial products. It is used as reinforcement material and epoxy polymer resin in matrix material with a suitable percentage of hardener (10:1). A new method such as a mechanical way of extraction process is introduced in this work. The different weight percentage of the hyacinth fiber is reinforced with matrix material like 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35%. With the help of a compression molding, machine water hyacinth reinforced fiber composite is produced by using 1500 PSI pressure and 110 °C, 100 °C of upper and lower plate temperature. A composite sample is cut into as per ASTM standards and the mechanical tests like tensile, flexural, impact test is conducted by using universal testing machine (UTM), and Charpy impact test machine. Based on the final mechanical test results, the 30% of hyacinth composite sample tensile 36.48 MPa, flexural 48.62 MPa, impact 0.5 J, and hardness 98 attained then, the hyacinth composite samples are adopted into water and chemical absorption test with 10 hours, 1week, 1month of continuous monitoring. Based on the final results, hyacinth fiber is strongly recommended to use an alternative of synthetic fibers and conventional natural fibers. The hyacinth composite is strongly recommended for the usage of commercial and household applications

Tensile and Flexural properties of MMT-clay/ Unsaturated Polyester using Robust Design Concept

Abstract. The effect of Nano-clay on the mechanical properties of Isophthalic unsaturated polyester was studied with the help of robust design Concept. Organo modified MMT nano-clay (Nanomer 1.31PS) was used as reinforcement. The weight percentage of nano-clay, impeller blade design, mixing hours and mixing speed were taken as control factors. In Taguchi design of experiments, L9 orthogonal array was employed to investigate the effect of control factors on mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show the intercalation /exfoliation of clays in the polyester matrix

Preparation and properties of cellulose / tamarind nut powder green composites

Using biopolymer cellulose as the matrix and tamarind nut powder (TNP) obtained from agricultural waste of tamarind nuts as the filler, the green composites were made. Cellulose was dissolved in environmental friendly solvent of aq. 8 wt. % Lithium hydroxide and 15 wt. % urea which was precooled to −12 ° C. To the cellulose solutions, TNP was added in 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of cellulose separately. Each solution was evenly spread on glass plates and the wet composites were prepared by regeneration method using ethyl alcohol coagulation bath. The wet films were dried in air at room temperature. The dried composite films were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and also tested for their tensile properties. The tensile strength and the % elongation at break of the composites were higher than those of the matrix and increased with TNP content. While the matrix had a tensile strength of 111.8 MPa, the cellulose/TNP composite loaded with 25 wt.% TNP possessed a tensile strength of 125.4 MPa (12% increase). Though the thermal stability of the composites was lower than cellulose matrix, all the composites were stable up to a temperature of 350 °C

A Bio-Inspired Hybrid Computation for Managing and Scheduling Virtual Resources using Cloud Concepts

Resource allocation and scheduling is one of the major issues in manufacturing industries which are constrained to offer dynamic and virtualized resources to end users in-order to maximize the profit. Cloud manufacturing is a new paradigm that can satisfy the requirements of modern manufacturing industries. In this work, two variants of heuristic algorithm are used to solve resource scheduling issues in casting industries. Particle swarm optimization algorithm is used in this work, because it can solve large scale optimization problems with better search speed, and genetic algorithms can be used to provide solution for non-linear and highly intricate engineering problems. This work uses a hybrid approach which combines the advantages of genetic algorithm with particle swarm optimization in-order to provide global convergence at effective and optimal cost. Experimentation was carried out for casting of engine block in manufacturing industry and the simulation results shows that PSO with GA provides global optimal convergence and also produces effective results with respect to time, cost and resource utilizatio

Mechanical and thermal properties of a novel Spinifex Littoreus fiber reinforced polymer composites as an alternate for synthetic glass fiber composites

The usage of natural fiber reinforced composite is large in engineering applications due to the presence of high extensive properties and economy. This paper aims at presenting a new fiber, its characteristics, and composite in a polymeric matrix empowering the generation of less weight composites for load conveying applications. Spinifex Littoreus Fiber (SLF) is a genus of perennial coastal plants in the grass family. The comprehensive characterization that includes physical analysis, chemical analysis, thermal analysis, mechanical and microstructural characteristics have been carried out on the fiber. The effect of fiber weight percentage was studied from the point of view of the mechanical properties of the compression moulded Spinifex Littoreus Fiber Composites (SLFC). Mechanical properties attained at 40 wt% of fiber content were better. In addition to more fiber, it tends to cause inadequate bonding among the matrix and fiber, resulting in a decrease in mechanical performance. The specific properties of SLFC polymer composites are comparable to those of the glass fiber composite. This makes SLFC composite as an alternate lightweight material. SEM was performed for a study of the interfacial mechanism

Assessing Machinability and Surface characteristics of a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Processed through Wire Electro Spark Erosion Method

In this paper, a study was carried out to investigate the surface roughness and material removal rate of low carbon NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) machined by Wire Electro Spark Erosion (WESE) technique. Experiments are designed considering three parameters viz, spark ON time (SON), spark OFF time (SOFF), and voltage (V) at three levels each. The surface roughness increased from 2.1686 μm to 2.6869 μm with an increase in both SON time, SOFF time and a decrease in voltage. The material removal rate increased from 1.272 mm3/min to 1.616 mm3/min with an increase in SON time but a varying effect was observed the SOFF time and voltage were varied. The analysis revealed that the intensity and duration of the spark had an unswerving relation with the concentration of the microcracks and micropores. More microcracks and micropores were seen in the combination of SON = 120 µs, voltage = 30 V. The 2 microcracks and micropores could be minimised by using an appropriate parameter setting. Therefore, considering the surface analysis and material removal, the low carbon NiTi alloy is recommended to machine with 110μs – 55μs – 30v (SON – SOFF – V respectively), to achieve better surface roughness with minimal surface damage

Assessing Machinability and Surface Characteristics of a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Processed through Wire Electro Spark Erosion Method

In this paper, a study was carried out to investigate the surface roughness and material removal rate of low carbon NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) machined by Wire Electro Spark Erosion (WESE) technique. Experiments are designed considering three parameters viz, spark ON time (SON), spark OFF time (SOFF), and voltage (V) at three levels each. The surface roughness increased from 2.1686 μm to 2.6869 μm with an increase in both SON time, SOFF time and a decrease in voltage. The material removal rate increased from 1.272 mm3/min to 1.616 mm3/min with an increase in SON time but a varying effect was observed the SOFF time and voltage were varied. The analysis revealed that the intensity and duration of the spark had an unswerving relation with the concentration of the microcracks and micropores. More microcracks and micropores were seen in the combination of SON = 120 μs, voltage = 30 V. The concentration of the microcracks and micropores could be minimised by using an appropriate parameter setting. Therefore, considering the surface analysis and material removal, the low carbon NiTi alloy is recommended to machine with 110 μs - 55 μs - 30 V (SON - SOFF - V respectively), to achieve better surface roughness with minimal surface damage

Effect of inter-laminar fibre orientation on the tensile properties of sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites

In this present work, effects of interlamina fibre orientation on the tensile properties of composites were studied and the results were discussed. The varying types of fibre oriented composites were prepared using the compression moulding technique at a pressure of 17 MPa. The different types of oriented composites investigated were 90º/0 º /90 º, 0 º /90 º /0 º, 90 º /0 º /0 º /90 º, 0 º /45 º /0 º, 0 º /90 º /45 º /45 º /90 º /0 º, 0 º /45 º /90 º /90 º /45 º /0 º and these composites were subjected to tensile testing according to ASTM: D3039-08. The sisal fibres were arranged in various angles with the help of specially designed mould. It was found that the tensile strength of sisal fibre composites improved when 0 º oriented fibres were positioned at the extreme layers of the composites compared to 90 º oriented fibres. The highest tensile strength among the types of composites was observed for 0 º /90 º /0 º. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to understand the interphase adhesion mechanism

Effect of inter-laminar fibre orientation on the tensile properties of sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites

In this present work, effects of interlamina fibre orientation on the tensile properties of composites were studied and the results were discussed. The varying types of fibre oriented composites were prepared using the compression moulding technique at a pressure of 17 MPa. The different types of oriented composites investigated were 90º/0 º /90 º, 0 º /90 º /0 º, 90 º /0 º /0 º /90 º, 0 º /45 º /0 º, 0 º /90 º /45 º /45 º /90 º /0 º, 0 º /45 º /90 º /90 º /45 º /0 º and these composites were subjected to tensile testing according to ASTM: D3039-08. The sisal fibres were arranged in various angles with the help of specially designed mould. It was found that the tensile strength of sisal fibre composites improved when 0 º oriented fibres were positioned at the extreme layers of the composites compared to 90 º oriented fibres. The highest tensile strength among the types of composites was observed for 0 º /90 º /0 º. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to understand the interphase adhesion mechanism