An experimental insight of friction stir welding of dissimilar AA 6061/Mg AZ 31 B joints

In the present scenario, aerospace and automobile industries depend on lightweight materials such as magnesium and aluminum alloys because of their great balance between mechanical properties and weight ratio. Despite these benefits during the joining process of these dissimilar materials by welding, many challenges arises. The prominent one is related to the low melting points of these lightweight metals which make it almost impossible the joining using conventional arc welding techniques. To tackle this challenge, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) can be considered as a promising candidate tool. In this study, to demonstrate the FSW performances of joining two dissimilar materials we have investigated the joining of AA 6061 and Mg AZ 31 B using a built-in house a modified milling machine. The dissimilar combinations of AA 6061 and Mg AZ 31 B joints were successfully joined by embedding different welding conditions and varying the offset distance. The mechanical performances were evaluated by conducting specific mechanical tests such as micro-hardness, tensile, and impact tests, respectively. To explain the mechanical results, we have applied optical microscopy observation on the microstructure associated with the bonding location. The results prove that the strength of the Friction Stir Welded joints is much higher as compared to other techniques especially in terms of dissimilar metals

Effect of stacking sequence of fibre metal laminates with carbon fibre reinforced composites on mechanical attributes : numerical simulations and experimental validation

Fibre Metal Laminates are structures used primarily in aerospace applications because of their principal advantages such as high strength, lower density, and impact resistance. In the present work, a systematic assessment has been made to evaluate two different stacking sequences of FMLs (Type – I (AA 6061/Carbon Fibre/AA 6061/Carbon Fibre/AA 6061), and Type – II (Carbon Fibre/AA 6061/Carbon Fibre/AA 6061/Carbon Fibre)) against a pure carbon composite (Type - III) as baseline for improvement. The investigations are made for enhanced impact resistance, improved tensile strength, increased flexural capability, microstructural evolution, and surface composition. Mechanical-based testing resulted that Type – I shows significant performance followed by Type – II. The maximum values of tensile strength, impact test, and ultimate load bearing capacity of during flexural test were around 192.92 MPa, 9.3 J, and 155 N, respectively. Correlations of experimental results were drawn against numerical simulation to validate the tensile and flexural results. Microstructural evolution indicated good bonding capability of Type – I FML with the carbon fibre. EDX analysis was carried out analyse surface chemistry. Selected Fibre Metal Laminate sequence can help in improving aeronautical industry's structural applications because of good ductile properties together with fatigue strength and impact resistance

Drama and discounting in the relational dynamics of corporate social responsibility

Employing theoretical resources from Transactional Analysis (TA) and drawing from interviews with managers dealing with social or environmental issues in their role, we explain how CSR activity provides a context for dramas in which actors may ignore, or discount aspects of self, others, and the contexts of their work as they maintain and reproduce the roles of Rescuers, Persecutors and Victims. In doing so, we add to knowledge about CSR by providing an explanation for how the contradictions of CSR are avoided in practice even when actors may be aware of them. Specifically, we theorise how CSR work can produce dramatic stories where adversity is apparently overcome, whilst little is actually achieved at the social level. We also add to the range of psychoanalytic tools used to account for organisational behaviours, emphasising how TA can explain the relational dynamics of CSR

Antecedents Of Outsourcing Intensity And Success For Banking Automated Teller Machine Operations In Malaysia

Rising global competition, escalating operational costs and customers’ demands have resulted in banks considering outsourcing to reduce costs. This research seeks to examine the key components and the antecedents of outsourcing intensity (i.e. percentage of the key component outsourced) of ATM Operations in Malaysia. In addition, the study also investigates whether service quality and relationship quality moderate and mediate between outsourcing intensity and outsourcing success. This study utilizes sequential explanatory mixed methods. In the first phase, a survey approach was used to collect data from ATM operations personnel, data collected via online resulted in 142 usable survey questionnaires responses from ATM operations personnel (40.2 percent response rate) across 22 banks that operated in Malaysia. The survey data was then analyzed using a SMART PLS®. For the second phase, semi- structured interviews were conducted with 31 ATM personnel to further explore in more depth the related outsourcing issues to provide clearer explanations for the research questions posed in the study, NVIVO® was used to decipher the interview abstracts and form themes. The findings from both the quantitative and qualitative approaches were then triangulated to address the research questions

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs misleading the diagnosis of periapical abscess

Periapical abscesses are common but may rarely be a subclinical infection in dental clinics. If an infection progresses rapidly or slowly as a tooth ache of chronic periodontitis with clinical features misleading the diagnosis, the dentists are able to recognize the salient signs and identify the patients at risk. This article reviews a case of a rare innocuous periapical abscess presenting as angioedema of upper lip with history of consuming nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac sodium whenever needed for arthralgia on a short-term basis

Joining of hybrid AA6063-6SiCp-3Grp composite and AISI 1030 steel by friction welding

Joining of metals and aluminium hybrid metal matrix composites has significant applications in aviation, ship building and automotive industries. In the present work, investigation is carried out on Friction Welding of AISI 1030 steel and hybrid AA6063-6SiCp-3Grpcomposite, that are difficult to weld by fusion welding technique. Silicon carbide and graphite particle reinforced AA6063 matrix hybrid composite was developed successfully using stir casting method and the joining feasibility of AISI1030 steel with AA6063-6SiCp-3Grp hybrid composite was tried out by friction stud welding technique. During friction stage of welding process, the particulates (SiC & Graphite) used for reinforcement, tend to increase the viscosity and lead to improper mixing of matrix and reinforcement. This eventually results in lower strength in dissimilar joints. To overcome this difficulty AA1100 interlayer is used while joining hybrid composite to AISI 1030 steel. Experimentation was carried out using Taguchi based design of experiments (DOE) technique. Multiple regression methods were applied to understand the relationship between process parameters of the friction stud welding process. Micro structural examination reveals three separate zones namely fully plasticized zone, partially deformed zone and unaffected base material zone. Ultra fine dynamically recrystallized grains of about 341 nm were observed at the fully plasticized zone. EDX analysis confirms the presence of intermetallic compound Fe2Al5 at the joint interface. According to the experimental analysis using DOE, rotational speed and interlayer sheet thickness contribute about 39% and 36% respectively in determining the impact strength of the welded joints. It is found that joining with 0.5 mm interlayer sheet provides efficient joints. Developed regression model could be used to predict the axial shortening distance and impact strength of the welded joint with reasonable accuracy

Sustainable Bioplastics for Food Packaging Produced from Renewable Natural Sources

It is crucial to find an effective, environmentally acceptable solution, such as bioplastics or biodegradable plastics, to the world’s rising plastics demand and the resulting ecological destruction. This study has focused on the environmentally friendly production of bioplastic samples derived from corn starch, rice starch, and tapioca starch, with various calcium carbonate filler concentrations as binders. Two different plasticizers, glycerol and sorbitol, were employed singly and in a rich blend. To test the differences in the physical and chemical properties (water content, absorption of moisture, water solubility, dissolution rate in alcohol, biodegradation in soil, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and FT-IR) of the produced samples, nine samples from each of the three types of bioplastics were produced using various ratios and blends of the fillers and plasticizers. The produced bioplastic samples have a multitude of features that make them appropriate for a variety of applications. The test results show that the starch-based bioplastics that have been suggested would be a better alternative material to be used in the packaging sectors

Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Ceiba pentandra Bark Fiber

Owing to their low weight-to-high strength ratio and recyclable features, the natural fibers are the most potential choice in place of synthetic fibers and been used as reinforcement materials in polymer matrix composites. Characterization of Ceiba pentandra bark fibers (CPFs) such chemical analysis, Fourier Transform-Infrared Analysis (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) analysis has analyzed. CPFs contain 60.9% (w/w) of cellulose, 17.5% (w/w) of hemicellulose, and 23.5% (w/w) of lignin. Besides, its density and crystallinity index are 682 kg m−3 and 57.94%, respectively. TG and DTG analysis discovered that CPFs are thermally stable up to 342.1°C. Further, all the resources of CPFs ensured that it can be an excellent alternative for synthetic fibers in polymer matrix composites

Characterization of New Natural Cellulosic Fiber from Heteropogon Contortus Plant

Natural fibers are one of effective substitute for switching artificial fiber and concentrating to reinforce polymer matrixes due to their decomposable character. This study was implied to realize physico-chemical properties of bio fiber obtained from Heteropogon contortus (HC) plant. Heteropogon contortus fibers (HCFs) had cellulose (64.87 wt. %), hemicellulose (19.34 wt. %), lignin (13.56 wt. %), and low density (602 kg/m3). The chemical functional group of HCFs was established by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal stability of the fiber up to 220°C discovered by thermogravimetric analysis. Further the assets of HCFs proved that it can act as an excellent reinforcement material as a bio composite. Finally, the tensile properties were carried out through single fiber tensile tests, such as tensile strength, tensile modulus and microfibrillar angle

Characterization of natural cellulosic fiber from Epipremnum aureum stem

The natural fiber Epipremnum aureum was extracted from its plant. E. aureum fibers (EAFs) were investigated by chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and single fiber tensile test. Chemical analysis, FTIR, and X-ray analysis evidenced that these fibers has 66.34% cellulose content with crystallinity index of 49.33%. The thermogravimetric analysis reveals that EAFs can thermally withstand temperatures until 328.9°C. The morphology of the EAFs was observed by scanning electron microscope. It was established that the fiber can be utilized as reinforcement in polymer composites