Automobile Applications Research Articles

Assessment of the degree of reliability in the declarations of the rural environmental register relation to the SIGEF area certifications

The Brazilian Forest Code was sanctioned in 2012, bringing forth a tool for analyzing rural properties known as the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR). This is a nationwide electronic public record mandatory for all rural properties. The registration tool has shown some discrepancies, particularly in the georeferencing section aimed at identifying land use, occupation, and perimeter information. This study aims to assess the divergences in information obtained through CAR due to different map insertion methods and to analyze the precision and accuracy of the methods. For each property, a map generated from Google Earth was produced in a KML file format. These maps were obtained through public consultation of the rural environmental registry provided by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment, comparing them against the orbital image contained therein for each method. The comparisons between methods were analyzed using simple correlation, categorized into four groups based on property size. The results obtained indicate that the registration quality is directly related to the quality of the georeferencing section within the CAR application. When combined with certification data, we obtain a more reliable declaration result.

Effect of TiO2 Nano-Filler with Jute/Kenaf/Glass in Tensile and Impact Properties on Fiber Stacking Sequence

Objective: The prime goal of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis, modelling, and optimization of various independent factors and coming up with a material that suits in structural application in automobile. Method: Composite is prepared using hand lay-up technique. The analysis is carried out through the utilization of the Central Composite Design (CCD) approach. Mathematical models are formulated for ultimate tensile strength and impact resistance, employing the RSM. These factors include fiber orientation, fiber sequence, and filler percentage, with a focus on their influence on mechanical properties. Finding: These models act as valuable tools for the selection of the most favourable independent variables to maximize the mechanical properties related to tensile strength and impact resistance. In conclusion, the experimental findings emphasize that the inclusion of Nano-filler results in an enhancement of 20% and 36% on tensile strength and impact properties respectively. Novelty: TiO2-infused polymers exhibit unparalleled strength and flexibility, promising transformative advancements in this work that can be implemented in aerospace, indoor, automobile, and medical industries. Keywords: Titanium dioxide, Nano­filler, Hybrid composite, Response surface methodology, Epoxy

Nano reinforced aluminium based Metal Matrix Hybrid Composites - an overview

Aluminium and its alloys find their application in aerospace, automobile, and marine sectors as it costs less and properties like low density, good ductility, high resistance to corrosion etc. However, aluminium has many drawbacks like low resistance to abrasion and wear, poor strength etc. These drawbacks can be overcome by adding certain materials as reinforcement into pure aluminium and its alloy. Hybrid reinforcement imbibes superior properties to Al matrix composites, compared along with single reinforced Al composites. The properties of Al matrix composite is enhanced by reinforcing with nano particles compared to micro reinforcement. In recent years, research advancement is focusing on fabrication of composites prepared by nano reinforcement materials. Various nano materials are used to fabricate aluminium/alloy matrix composites for improved abrasion, enhanced wear properties, high specific strength, better corrosion resistance etc. This review paper gives an overview of various processing techniques, different nano reinforcements used for fabrication of aluminium and its alloy matrix. Further, Hybrid Nano composite properties along with their types, concentration of reinforcement and microstructure of the composite fabricated are discussed. Finally, Future trends and potential applications of aluminium based nano composites are presented and have been concluded with recent advancements in the specified area.

Free vibration analysis of jute/kenaf/banana hybrid biocomposites: effects of various stacking sequences

This work provides an insight of the free vibration behaviour based on experimental modal analysis of hybrid natural fibre reinforced polymer composites fabricated via compression moulding method. This study aims to study the impact of different polymer matrices (vinyl ester and epoxy) and stacking order of different natural fibres (Jute, Kenaf and Banana) on the composite’s free vibration characteristics. Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Epoxy (JKBE) matrix composites exhibited enhanced free vibration properties compared to single fiber reinforcements, except the banana/epoxy composites. Additionally, Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Vinyl ester (JKBV) composites demonstrated improved free vibration properties in comparison to single fiber reinforcements, with the exception of kenaf/vinyl ester composites. Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Jute-Banana-Kenaf-Epoxy (KBJJBKE) and Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Jute-Banana-Kenaf-Vinyl ester (KBJJBKV) hybrid composites showed the highest natural frequencies of 68.36 Hz and 97.66 Hz, respectively. However, there was no significant improvements in the natural frequencies of Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Epoxy (JKBKBJE) and Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Vinyl ester (JKBKBJV) hybrid composites. The highest damping factor was observed for JKBKBJE (0.153) and JKBKBJV (0.224) hybrid composites. These hybrid composites with better free vibration properties shall be a potential candidate in the automobile interior applications.

Optimization of FDM printing parameters for square lattice structures: Improving mechanical characteristics

Integrating lattice structures into the design of products manufactured using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) can enhance the weight and strength ratio of printed models. In this research, the square lattice structure widely employed planar lattice structure is implemented, and Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament is utilized as the feedstock material for FDM printing due to its favorable properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, controlled degradation, sterilization, and mechanical characteristics. The Taguchi optimization technique is utilized to optimize the printing parameters for the square lattice structure. Design of experiment is developed based on the factors that have the most significant impact on the 3D printed product, which they determine through a literature survey of similar work. L9 orthogonal array is utilized from the design of experiments, with the requirement of three factors and three levels each: layer height (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm), printing temperature (190, 200, and 210 °C), and printing speed (50, 75, and 100 mm/s). This research aims to optimize FDM printing parameters for the square lattice structure, focusing on enhancing the weight and strength ratio of printed samples with the help of S/N ratio and ANOVA. The optimal combination of design factors includes a smaller layer height of 0.1 mm, a printing temperature of 190 °C, and a printing speed of 100 mm/s shows improvement of 25.4 % of tensile strength. The research improves productivity and material utilization and holds relevance in automobile and medical applications. The advancements achieved through this research can benefit industries that require exceptionally lightweight and durable products.

Manipulating interfacial bond for controlling load transfer in 3D printed fiber reinforced polymer composites

The fiber/matrix interface is a critical item that affects Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites mechanical performance due to its control of the load transfer mechanism. Partially bonded interfaces have been shown to affect the failure mode of FRP composites. This article examines the significance of manipulating the fiber/matrix interfacial bond in 3D printed FRP composites on the mechanical performance of multilayer 3D printed FRP composites. Three designs are investigated with different fiber stacking sequences, fiber orientation, and interfacial bond configurations. The designs have a low coefficient of variation in load fractions between layers to enable a gradual load transfer and progressive failure. Utilizing 3D printer chamber temperature changes, a composite with a controlled bond configuration is achieved using thermal blocks. It was observed that the controlled bond configurations resulted in promoting progressive failure and increased the strain at failure of 3D printed FRP composites. The observations of direct tension tests were supported with interlayer shear strength and interfacial adhesion tests which explained the weakened load transfer in the thermal block configurations. Using the interface manipulation strategy with thermal blocks in 3D printed specimens, a 25% lower interlayer shear strength and a 65% lower interfacial adhesion was achieved compared with un-modified interfaces. These changes attribute to the altered load transfer mechanism in 3D printed glass fiber reinforced composites and high strain to failure of up to 5% using high strength high stiffness fiber orientations. This work does not incorporate any new materials into the thermoplastic-fiber 3D printed structure which has been the strategy of past work to modify mechanical performance. Alternatively, a unique approach by using chamber and print bed temperature characteristics to modify the interfacial bond has been adopted that has shown to promote progressive failures and improve ductility in FRP composites. This study furthers the development of ductile designs in FRP composites with 3D printing technology in aerospace, wind, infrastructure, and automobile applications.

Improving the Load Carrying Capacity through Asymmetric Spur Gear using WC-Fe Metal Matrix Composite for Automobile Applications

Gears are the components that have been used for a century to transmit power from one place to another place. Symmetric spur gears are commonly used in the gearbox to transmit power between two parallel shafts. In order to increase the load carrying capacity of the spur gear with reduced noise and vibration, its profile can be modified. This can be achieved by changing the gear tooth design into asymmetric form. Asymmetrically toothed gears are used in power transmission for transmitting the power in one direction. These teeth help to improve the load carrying and power transmitting capacity of the gear. The strength can be further increased by changing the material used in gears. This can be made possible by using Metal Matrix Composite as a gear material. The metal matrix composites have high stiffness and strength to weight ratio compared to the Alloy Steel. The main objective of this project is to increase the load carrying capacity of the spur gear by using WC-Fe metal matrix composite material. The symmetric and asymmetric gear modeling has been done for existing car gear (Maruthi 800) using Ansys parametric design language software. The contact stress, bending stress and von Mises stress of the composite, as well as conventional gear material, is analyzed and the results are compared to find the percentage increase in strength of the gear.

A partially hollow BCC lattice structure with capsule-shaped cavities for enhancing load-bearing and energy absorption properties

Lattice structures have gained larger design space and wider application in aerospace, automobile, civil and other engineering fields due to the advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) technology. Seeking the optimal lattice structure configuration for the purpose of enhancing mechanical performance holds paramount importance. The hollow lattice structure possesses high material utilization efficiency, but often suffers from premature failure at the node interconnections. In this paper we propose a partially hollow lattice structure (PHBCC) with solidified nodes and capsule-shaped cavities in the middle of truss components. Quasi-static compression tests were performed on the partially hollow body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices manufactured via selective laser melting technology (SLM). The effects of various geometric parameters were analyzed through finite element simulations. The findings demonstrate that the introduced PHBCC lattice exhibits enhanced mechanical properties. Specifically, there is an observed increase of 92%, 51.9%, and 22.8% in terms of specific stiffness, specific strength, and specific energy absorption, respectively, in comparison to the conventional BCC and hollow BCC (HBCC) structure. Notably, the proposed PHBCC lattice displays superior energy absorption capacity compared to a majority of existing lattice structures.

Optimization on stir casting process parameters of Al7050 based composites using Taguchi technique

Aluminium Alloy Metal Matrix Composites (AAMMCs) are broadly used for various applications such as aerospace, military, marine, transport and automobile applications. Aluminium alloys are not sufficient for satisfying the needs of the fastest growing industries. The more combination of properties are needed for fulfil the need of fastest growing countries. The input process parameters of fabrication methods of composites are more important in connection with mechanical and tribological properties. In this research, optimization on stir casting input process parameters of AA7050/4wt.%WC composite was done by utilizing the Taguchi technique. The melting temperature (650, 700 and 750 °C), stirring speed (150, 200 and 250 rpm) and stirring duration (10, 20 and 30 min)were selected as input parameters to optimize the stir casting input process parameters. The chosen response parameter for the investigation was wear loss. The wear test was conducted by using pin on disc setup at the condition of 2500 m sliding distance, 25 N applied load and 1.5 m/s sliding velocity. The optimized input process parameters of stir casting is high level of melting temperature (750 °C), low level of stirring speed (150 rpm) and low level of stirring duration (10 min). The increasing of melting temperature decreases the wear loss and increasing of stirring duration and stirring speed enhances the wear loss due to accumulation of reinforcements in the matrix AA7050. The contribution percentage of melting temperature, stirring speed and stirring duration is 81.02 %, 12.4 % and 6.4 % respectively. The high strength MgZn2 precipitate was formed while using optimized stirring temperature, stirring duration and stirring speed and it was confirmed by XRD. The SEM image of AA7050/4wt.%WC confirmed that uniform distribution of WC in matrix AA7050 material and it caused to offer higher wear resistance. The obtained low wear loss for confirmation test specimen is 16 mg.

Experimental Study on Mechanical Characteristics of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with Titanium Oxide (TiO2) and Graphite (Gr) Particles Processed by Stir Casting Method

Abstract: In recent trend Aluminium based metal matrix composites are most used in mechanical and automobile component design applications because of their excellent mechanical, Tribological and its physical properties. Also, Aluminium metal matrix composites are used for a variety of applications such as military, aerospace, electrical industries, and automotive purposes. The present work concentrates on the experimental study on the effects of TiO2 and Gr on aluminium alloy. During this investigation, Titanium oxide (TiO2) and Graphite (Gr) particles was reinforced with aluminium and it was prepared using stir casting technique with various weight percentage combinations of TiO2 particles 2% by wt., 4% by wt., and 6% by wt. and 3% of Gr constant for all trials. Mechanical parameters were estimated by selecting the standard test methods.

How To Get Isocyanate?

Isocyanate, a pivotal chemical intermediate to synthesize polyurethane with widespread applications in household appliances, automobiles, and construction, is predominantly produced via the phosgene process, which currently holds a paramount status in industrial isocyanate production. Nonetheless, concerns arise from the toxicity of phosgene and the corrosiveness of hydrogen chloride, posing safety hazards. The synthesis of isocyanate using nonphosgene methods represents a promising avenue for future development. This article primarily focuses on the nonphosgene approach, which involves the formation of carbamate through the reaction of nitro-amino compounds with carbon monoxide, dimethyl carbonate, and urea, among other reagents, subsequently leading to the thermal decomposition of carbamate to get isocyanate. This paper emphasizes the progress in catalyst development during the carbamate decomposition process. Single-component metal catalysts, particularly zinc, exhibit advantages such as high activity, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with a wide range of substrates. Composite catalysts enhance isocyanate yield by introducing a second component to adjust the active metal composition. The central research direction aims to optimize catalyst adaptation to reaction conditions, including temperature, pressure, time, and solvent, to achieve high raw material conversion and product yield.

Synthesis of aluminium (Al) and alumina (Al2O3)-based graded material by gravity casting

Abstract In the present work, aluminium alloy-based composites were developed for automobile applications. Aluminium-based functionally graded material (FGM) was developed by adding 2.5, 5 and 7.5 wt% of nanoparticles of alumina. The composites were made using gravity casting in an open hearth furnace with the surface temperature of FGM maintained at 750, 850 and 1,000°C. The microstructure of the samples was studied using scanning electron microscopy and particle distribution. The particle distribution was higher at the bottom in all compositions, which can be attributed to more solidification time. As the wt% of the Al2O3 increased, the volume fraction of particles also increased from the top surface to the bottom surface of the samples. After adding 7.5 wt% of Al2O3 and heating up to 1,000°C led to the grain refinement of the alloy. The increase in hardness from the top surface to the bottom surface of the sample verified the development of FGM. Due to increase in the solidification temperature, better reinforcement was observed in the developed FGM.

Design and analysis of a nozzle-less twin-entry turbine volute for automobile application

Due to the increasing demand for improved fuel economy in passenger cars, recent internal combustion engines come with a turbocharger. Turbochargers are a method of engine downsizing that forces more compressed air into the combustion chamber, enabling a high power density. Two main types of turbines are commonly adopted in turbochargers; single-entry and multiple-entry. The multiple-entry type includes twin-entry and double-entry volutes. A twin-entry volute consists of two inlets with a divider that feed the entire circumference of a rotor whereas a double-entry volute has two separate inlets that feed the rotor separately. A twin-entry volute's design is based on a single-entry volute by merely placing a divider into the volute. The conventional design approach of a twin-entry volute gives relatively little consideration to the design aspects such as the divider's length, the divider's width, and the cross-sectional shape of the volute. The above-mentioned design aspects of a twin-entry volute have an impact on the performance of a turbine. This paper intends to design a new twin-entry volute with a specified divider length and width. The volute's profile is based on a single-entry volute. In addition, the performance of this twin-entry turbine is compared with the asymmetric double-entry turbine. The comparison of these configurations relies on consistent criteria, including the A/R ratio, mixed-flow rotor, and cross-sectional of the volute. The simulation was executed at two different turbine speeds; 30k RPM (50 %) and 48k RPM (80 %). The validation simulation shows great agreement with the experimental data with a Root Mean Square Error of less than 5 % for both speed lines. Based on the results obtained, the twin-entry turbine shows a lower swallowing capacity than the asymmetric double-entry turbine at both operating conditions. At both speed lines, the twin-entry turbine's efficiency begins to fall toward the end. The incidence angle of the twin-entry turbine is 24.4° at 50 % operating speed and -3.72° at 80 % operating speed. In both turbines, entropy generation reduces as the speed line increases, and both turbines exhibit a similar entropy generation at both speed lines. The existence of a horseshoe vortex near the hub surface and the tip leakage vortex near the shroud region of the blade substantially influence both the turbines' performance.

Synthesis of a Mesoporous SnO2 Catalyst Support and the Effect of Its Pore Size on the Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness and challenges of applying mesoporous tin oxide (SnO2)-based supports for Pt catalysts in the cathodes of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) to simultaneously achieve high performance and high durability. Recently, the focus of PEFC application in automobiles has shifted to heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), which require high durability, high energy-conversion efficiency, and high power density. It has been reported that employing mesoporous carbon supports improves the initial performance by mitigating catalyst poisoning caused by sulfonic acid groups of the ionomer as well as by reducing the oxygen transport resistance through the Pt/ionomer interface. However, carbon materials in the cathode can degrade oxidatively during long-term operation, and more stable materials are desired. In this study, we synthesized connected mesoporous Sb-doped tin oxides (CMSbTOs) with controlled mesopore sizes in the range of 4-11 nm and tested their performance and durability as cathode catalyst supports. The CMSbTO supports exhibited higher fuel cell performance at a pore size of 7.3 nm than the solid-core SnO2-based, solid-core carbon, and mesoporous carbon supports under dry conditions, which can be attributed to the mitigation of the formation of the Pt/ionomer interface and the better proton conductivity within the mesopores even at the low-humidity conditions. In addition, the CMSbTO supports exhibited high durability under oxidative conditions. These results demonstrate the promising applicability of mesoporous tin oxide supports in PEFCs for HDVs. The remaining challenges, including the requirements for improving performance under wet conditions and stability under reductive conditions, are also discussed.

Enhanced interfacial bonding strength in K-300 adhesive joint between aluminum alloy and mild steel substrates through effective resin precoating treatment

In this work, two different surface treatments, such as grinding and acid-pickling, were applied to both mild steel and aluminum alloy substrates for performance comparison. A novel method known as resin precoating (RPC) has been used effectively to seal the micro-cavities surface and enhance substrate wetting. The RPC solution consists of 10 % resin, and 90 % acetone (without hardener) is applied onto the grinding and acid-pickling metal substrate. The acetone solution facilitates resin penetration into the micro-cavities formed through grinding and acid pickling. It enables effective coating and wetting of micro-debris, ultimately eliminating micro-voids or gaps between the metal substrate and the adhesive joint. Then, the standard K-300 adhesive (with hardener) is applied to the metal substrate surface. The adhesive bonding strength was determined using a single-lap shear test on varied surface conditions. The topography of surface-treated samples was analyzed using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Contact Angle Goniometer. The grinding and acid-picking surface treatment increased the surface roughness of the substrate, which reduced the contact angle and improved the mechanical interlocking effect. The single lap shear test results show that the bonding strength of the grinded samples was superior to that of the acid-pickled samples. The RPC treatment further enhanced the bonding strength of all the grinded samples by 16.83–19.77 % and for acid-pickled samples by 20.79–44.97 %, which is higher than the values observed without RPC treatment. The combination of grinding and RPC surface-treated samples exhibited a superior bonding strength of 14.05 MPa. This value was 12.38 % greater than the bond strengths of acid-pickled samples, and the failure mode shifted from adhesive to cohesive failure mode. Thus, RPC treatment enhanced the wettability of metal substrates and maximized the utilization of contact areas on roughened substrate surfaces, consequently improving adhesive bond strength. These grinding and acid-pickling surface treatments are effective and well-suited for aerospace, automobile, and aviation applications.

Tribological investigations on piston alloy based hybrid nano composite and GGG40 spheroidal cast iron under reciprocating dry sliding conditions

GGG40 spheroidal cast iron is commonly used in engine blocks of passenger vehicles. However, it adds to the weight and wear of the engine block thereby costing us more energy. In this paper, fabrication and tribological investigations are carried out on dual particle sized hybrid nano composites to examine their potential to replace conventional GGG40 in engine applications. The SiC single and SiC-Si3N4+Gr dual sized ceramic reinforcements are introduced in piston alloy-Al6061 alloy through liquid metallurgy route. The tribological properties of GGG40 under reciprocating dry sliding conditions are also studied and compared to the fabricated composites. At 10 N, GGG40 shows 0.6714 coefficient of friction while it is 0.424 for the hybrid composite (decreased by 51.74%). At 25 N, coefficient of friction for hybrid composites comes out to be 0.4732 which is 26.11% less than GGG40 for which it is 0.5955. Wear rate for hybrid composites at 10 N is 4.71 × 10–6 mm3/Nm which is 62.71% less than the wear rate of GGG40 which is 20.2 × 10–6 mm3/Nm. At 25 N, the fabricated composites show wear rate equal to 9.41 × 10–6 mm3/Nm which is 16.5% less than GGG40 which shows 11.7 × 10–6 mm3/Nm wear rate. Micro sized SiC with nano sized Si3N4 generate a compact and smooth tribo film on the surface of base alloy with graphite further adding to the durability of the tribo film. The fabricated composites can be the good replacement of conventional GGG40 in automobile applications.

Assessment of mechanical and tribological behavior of Mg-4Zn-1RE-0.7Zr alloy: Novel mixture of Si3N4/TiC/MoS2 utilizing casting technique

In the modern era, manufacturers aim for their parts to possess a sleek finish and increased durability to ensure continued functionality. Both the automotive and aerospace industries are actively seeking new materials and methodologies to enhance the surface quality of components during the preparation process and make the most of available resources. Employing casting, advanced techniques, and new materials is crucial for achieving this goal. Industries commonly utilize alloys and composite materials in the production of their components. This study focuses on magnesium composite Mg-4Zn-1RE-0.7Zr alloy to find the influence of varying three different reinforcement particles on mechanical properties and wear rate. An attempt was made to choose a constant 5% Si3N4 as the primary reinforcement and 2.5% to 7.5% of TiC/MoS2 as the secondary reinforcement, respectively. The samples of magnesium hybrid composites are prepared using a centrifugal casting process. The ZE 41 alloy/5% (TiC-MoS2)/5%Si3N4 has a high tensile strength of 942 MPa. In addition, 5% TiC/5% MoS2 with 5% Si3N4 composite has enhanced hardness, which is beneficial for transmission in aircraft like Boeing 727 and die-casting fittings in automobile applications.

Experimental investigation of physical, mechanical, and thermal behaviour of Bi-directional date palm fiber reinforced epoxy composite

The present study attempts to fabricate lightweight polymer composites with superior physical, mechanical, and insulating properties by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique. This produces bidirectional woven palm fiber epoxy composites with four different fiber loading i.e. 27, 28, 29, and 30 Wt%. The epoxy composite processed with VARTM technique has been characterized by physical, mechanical, and thermal properties along with increasing fiber loading. The test results signified that the mechanical properties including tensile, interlaminar shear, hardness, and impact strength improve with fiber loading. The maximum tensile strength and tensile modulus were observed at a fiber loading of 30 wt%, resulting in values of 64.852 MPa and 3.74 GPa, respectively. The recorded ILSS values for the epoxy composites loaded with 30 wt% were found to be 7.28 MPa. The observed improvements in the mechanical characteristics of the composite produced by the VARTM technology can be attributed to the enhanced interfacial bonding between the matrix and discontinuous prepreg fiber (DPF). The identification of a superior composite, known as DPF-4, was achieved through the incorporation of 30 wt% of bi-directional palm fiber loading. This resulted in notable improvements in the mechanical properties of the composite, as a significant enhancement of 311% and 173% in tensile and impact strength, respectively. These mechanically strengthened epoxy composites could be used as low-grade housing, structural, and automobile component applications.

Investigation of the mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties of electrical corrosion resistance glass reinforced polyimide-based composite produced by spark plasma sintering

Polyimide polymer matrix composites have gained numerous attentions in the design and fabrication of components for automobile, aerospace, and electronics applications as a result of their outstanding properties. Composites are currently replacing polymers as structural, insulation and dielectric materials, and the improvement of mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties of polyimide (PI) becomes important. Thus, in this paper, the enhancement of the mechanical, thermal stability, and dielectric properties of PI composites with boron-free E-glass (electrical corrosion resistance (ECR) glass) reinforcements (0, 5, 10, and 15 wt%) using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) process is presented. X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), nanoindentation tests, thermogravimetric analyser, and LCR meter tester were used to investigate the morphology, mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties of the developed composites, respectively. The SEM results revealed that the ECR-glass powder particles were well dispersed in the PI matrix. The introduction of the ECR into the PI matrix, improves its hardness, stiffness, and modulus. From the obtained results, a notable improvement in its hardness (9.36%), stiffness (30.77%), and modulus (43.58%) was revealed for ECR/PI loaded with 15 wt% ECR compared to pure PI. The thermal stability of the PI composites was observed to be improved with the incorporation of the ECR-glass particles. The heat resistance index of the PI was recorded to be improved by 3.8% at 15 wt% ECR incorporation. Furthermore, the composites depicted low dielectric constant and dissipation factor. In consideration, the obtained properties make the composites promising for mechanical load-bearing, thermal management and electronics applications.

Smart Garden on Chili Plants Based on IoT

Abstract:Cultivating chili plants requires special attention such as temperature and soil humidity. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is a technology that allows objects around us to be connected to the internet network. The widespread adoption of various internet of things technologies has a very pronounced influence in the domestic sector such as home and smart car applications, and the agricultural sector is no exception.Temperature monitoring system, humidityIoT-based soil pan on chili plants (smart garden) is an IoT-based monitoring system design to control temperature and soil moisture on chili plants which can make it easier for farmers to measure soil and plant conditions and to make it easier for farmers to monitor the quality of their agricultural land. The process of creating a monitoring system design begins with interviews to collect primary data and literature studies to collect secondary data. Then carry out system design, tool assembly and implementation. The system for monitoring and controlling temperature and soil moisture using IoT can be run using Windows operating system software. The hardware used is the DHT11 temperature sensor, Moisture Sensor, Arduino, and Nodemcu ESP8266. This system utilizes a pump and fan for its hardware, using an automatic system implementation from a microcontroller so that it can make the hardware run without user intervention.If the humidity value displayed on the LCD is <70% then the pump will be on and the plants will be watered, and if the humidity is >80% then the pump will be off and stop watering.