Response Surface Modeling and Optimization of Gelcast Fused Silica Micro Hybrid Ceramic Composites

Abstract

In the current work, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was effectively implemented to the technique of fabrication of fused silica (SiO2) advanced hybrid ceramic composites using gelcating, a near net shaping process. The influence of process variables like solid loading (SL), monomer ratio (MR) and monomer content (MC) on flexural strength (FS), porosity (P) and dielectric constant (e) was explored using central composite face centered design (CCFCD) with six centre points approach to an experimental work. The interaction between the process parameters on the responses was studied and modeled. Three mathematical models were created through RSM related independent process parameters to portray the flexural strength, porosity and dielectric constant as the responses. The acceptability of the derived model was examined with the help of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95% confidence level and through other parameters. The statistical analysis of the outcomes demonstrated that in extend considered the three input factors have critical impact on the response. The RSM models obtained have high R2 values (0.999, 0.994, and 0.995) which demonstrate exceptional relation between the actual and predicted models. The optimum values obtained through RSM was experimentally confirmed and it was 87.36 MPa for flexural strength, 35.66% for porosity and 4.783 for dielectric constant (e) obtained at 52 vol% solid loading, 15:1 monomer ratio and 5 wt% monomer content respectively.