Development of Asbestos - Free Brake Pad Using Bagasse

Development of asbestos-free brake pad using bagasse was investigated with a view to replace the use of asbestos whose dust is carcinogenic. The bagasse were sieve into sieve grades of 100, 150, 250, 350 and 710µm. the sieve bagasse was used in production of brake pad in ratio of 70%bagasse-30%resin using compression moulding. The properties examined are microstructure analysis, hardness, compressive strength, density, flame resistance, water and oil absorption. The microstructure reveals uniform distribution of resin in the bagasse. The results obtained showed that the finer the sieve size the better the properties. The results obtained in this work were compared with that of commercial brake pad (asbestos based) and optimum formulation laboratory brake pad Palm Kernel Shell based (PKS), the results are in close agreement. Hence bagasse can be used in production of asbestos-free brake pad

Effects of Silica Ceramic Particle Sizes on the Properties of Recycled Polyethylene Composites

ABSTRACTParticulate filled polymeric composites are becoming attractive because of their wide applications and lower production cost. To evaluate the possibility of using waste silica based ceramic materials as reinforcing filler in recycled polyethylene (PE) composite, the effect of ceramic (PC) particle sizes on the mechanical, wear and thermal behaviours of polyethylene (PE) composites were investigated at (2wt% filler) and grain sizes (40µm-150µm). The wear behaviour was characterized using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression to determine the main and interactive effects of the process parameters such as speed, load and time on the wear behaviour of the fabricated PE-PC composites. Test results show that the decreasing the ceramic particles 150µm-40µm improved the mechanical, wear and thermal properties of the recycled polyethylene (PE) composites. Factorial design of the experiment can be successfully employed to describe the wear behavior of the samples and developed linear equation for predicting wear rate with in selected experimental conditions

Effects of Silica Ceramic Particle Sizes on the Properties of Recycled Polyethylene Composites

Particulate filled polymeric composites are becoming attractive because of their wide applications and lower production cost. To evaluate the possibility of using waste silica based ceramic materials as reinforcing filler in recycled polyethylene (PE) composite, the effect of  ceramic (PC) particle sizes on the mechanical, wear and thermal behaviours of polyethylene (PE) composites were investigated at  (2wt% filler) and grain sizes (40µm-150µm). The wear behaviour was characterized using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression to determine the main and interactive effects of the process parameters such as speed, load and time on the wear behaviour of the fabricated PE-PC composites. Test results show that the decreasing the ceramic particles 150µm-40µm improved the mechanical, wear and thermal properties of the recycled polyethylene (PE) composites. Factorial design of the experiment can be successfully employed to describe the wear behavior  of the samples and developed linear equation for predicting wear rate with in selected experimental conditions

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pressed Palm Oil Fruit Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite for Building Partition Panels

The density, water absorption, and mechanical properties of the pressed palm oil fruit fiber (PPOFF) epoxy composite were investigated. The fibers were matted randomly and laminated with epoxy resin and hardener using hand-lay-up method. The result of the analysis of the developed composite indicated that mass fraction of the PPOFF used in this study was less than the threshold to effect increase in the tensile properties of the resin. However, the properties increased with increase in the fiber content. Also, the density of the composite decreased while the water absorption increased as the fiber content increases. The XRD result indicated that the fibers has high crystallinity index indicating rich cellulose content but the scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph revealed weakly bonded fibers to the matrix due to the poor dispersion and wet-ability between the two phases. The developed composite can be useful in building partition panels

Surface modification, strengthening effect and electrochemical comparative study of Zn-Al2O3-CeO3 and Zn-TiO2-CeO3 coating on mild steel

Surface enhancement of engineering materials is necessary for preventing service failure and corrosion attacks industrially. The surface modification, strengthening effect and electrochemical comparative study of Zn-Al2O3-CeO3 and Zn-TiO2-CeO3 coating on mild steel was investigated. Deposition was performed to obtain a better surface adherent coating using the electrodeposition technique. Co-deposition of mild steel resulted into surface modification attributes to the complex alloys that were developed. Films of mild steel were electrodeposited on zinc electrodes using the chloride bath solutions. The effect of deposition potentials was systematically studied using a focus ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) and an atomic force microscope (AFM) to observe the surface morphology, topography and the surface adherent properties of the coatings. The elemental composition and the phases evolved in composite coatings were measured by means of the energy dispersed spectrometer (EDS). The microhardness measurements and corrosion behaviours of the deposits were investigated. Weight loss measurement was conducted on the plated samples to observe the rate of corrosion and it was observed that there was severe corrosion on the controlled sample in comparison to the plated samples and that Zn-TiO2-CeO3 resisted more corrosion attacks

The mechanical performance of sugar palm fibres (Ijuk) reinforced phenolic composites

Sugar palm fibres are one of the natural fibres which have many features and need further study to understand their properties. The aim of this work is to investigate the flexural, compressive and impact properties of sugar palm fibres reinforced phenolic composites. Sugar palm fibres were used as a filler (particle size 150 μm) and with loading of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol.%. The fibres were treated by sea water and then fabricated into composites by hot press technique. Flexural, compressive, and impact tests were carried out as per ASTM D790, ASTM D695-08a, and ASTM D256 standards, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the morphology and the interfacial bonding of the fibres-matrix in composites. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites improve with the incorporation of fibres. The composite of 30 vol.% particle loading exhibit optimum values which are 32.23 MPa, 61.66 MPa, and 4.12 kJ/m2 for flexural, compressive, and impact strength, respectively. This was because good compatibility of fibre-matrix bonding. Consequently, sugar palm fibre is one of the prospective fibres and could be used as a potential resource to reinforcement polymer composite

Gambling Behavior and Violent Game Engagement and Their Association with Cannabis Substance Abuse Among In-school Adolescents

There are public health issues related to gambling, violent video game participation, and substance abuse among adolescents in Nigeria. The current state of knowledge regarding the prevalence and association of these high rising maladaptive behaviors among adolescents in Nigeria is insufficient, as results from recent studies (e.g. Ede et al., 2021) have demonstrated. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the incidence of gambling behavior and violent games engagement among adolescents in Nigeria and their association with Cannabis substance abuse. The study involved a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 1300 in-school adolescents in Enugu state, Nigeria. Participants completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Game Engagement Questionnaire (GEQ), and Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R). The results revealed that gambling behavior and violent games engagement are common among the in-school adolescents. Additionally, the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed a positive and significant relationship between gambling behavior and violent game engagement and cannabis use. In summary, the research suggests that a substantial amount of in-school adolescents engage in gambling and violent games, and it could be linked to cannabis abuse

Effect of Zircon Silicate Reinforcements on the Microstructure and Properties of as Cast Al-4.5Cu Matrix Particulate Composites Synthesized via Squeeze Cast Route

The as-cast microstructure and properties of Al-4.5Cu/ZrSiO4 particulate composite synthesized via squeezed casting route was studied, varying the percentage ZrSiO4 in the range of 5-25wt%. The result obtained revealed that addition of ZrSiO4 reinforcements, increased the hardness value and apparent porosity by 107.65 and 34.23% respectively and decrease impact energy by 43.16 %. As the weight percent of ZrSiO4 increases in the matrix alloy, the yield and ultimate tensile strength increased by 156.52 and 155.81% up to a maximum of 15% ZrSiO4 addition respectively. The distribution of the brittle ZrSiO4 phase in the ductile matrix alloy led to increase strength and hardness values. These results had shown that, additions of ZrSiO4 particles to Al-4.5Cu matrix alloy improved properties