Distribution Of Nano-reinforcement Research Articles

A Hierarchical Nano to Micro Scale Modelling of 3D Printed Nano-Reinforced Polylactic Acid: Micropolar Modelling and Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing technique widely used for rapid prototyping. This method facilitates the creation of parts with intricate geometries, making it suitable for advanced applications in fields such as tissue engineering, aerospace, and electronics. Despite its advantages, FDM often results in the formation of voids between the deposited filaments, which can compromise mechanical properties. However, in some cases, such as the design of scaffolds for bone regeneration, increased porosity can be advantageous as it allows for better permeability. On the other hand, the introduction of nano-additives into the FDM material enhances design flexibility and can significantly improve the mechanical properties. Therefore, modelling FDM-produced components involves complexities at two different scales: nanoscales and microscales. Material deformation is primarily influenced by atomic-scale phenomena, especially with nanoscopic constituents, whereas the distribution of nano-reinforcements and FDM-induced heterogeneities lies at the microscale. This work presents multiscale modelling that bridges the nano and microscales to predict the mechanical properties of FDM-manufactured components. At the nanoscale, molecular dynamic simulations unravel the atomistic intricacies that dictate the behaviour of the base material containing nanoscopic reinforcements. Simulations are conducted on polylactic acid (PLA) and PLA reinforced with silver nanoparticles, with the properties derived from MD simulations transferred to the microscale model. At the microscale, non-classical micropolar theory is utilised, which can account for materials' heterogeneity through internal scale parameters while avoiding direct discretization. The developed mechanical model offers a comprehensive framework for designing 3D-printed PLA nanocomposites with tailored mechanical properties.

Fabrication and prediction of tensile strength of Al-Al2O3 nano composites

Abstract In the current work composites are intentionally fabricated to achieve tough ideal properties to materials. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are fabricated by powder metallurgical technique with mechanically alloyed ingredients such as aluminum (Al) and nano-Alumina (Al2O3) powders. This study also elucidates the effect of altering nano reinforcement content in Al matrix; on mechanical properties of Al/Al2O3 composites. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, percentage of elongation and hardness are considered. Micro structural analysis like XRD, SAD reveals uniformity in distribution of nano reinforcement in the Al matrix. Prediction of tensile strength and efficacies of various trained artificial neural network (ANN) models are discussed on account off number of hidden layers and neurons.

Microstructure and morphological study of ball-milled metal matrix nanocomposites

Due to the difficulty of preparation and beneficial properties achievable, copper and iron matrix nanocomposites are materials for which fabrication via the powder metallurgy route is attracting increasing research interest. The presence of ceramic nanoparticles in their matrix can lead to considerable changes in the microstructure and morphology. The effects of the type of metallic matrix and ceramic nanoparticle on the distribution of nano reinforcements and the morphology of ball-milled composite powders were evaluated in this study. For this purpose, 25 wt % of Al2O3 and SiC nanoparticles were separately ball-milled in the presence of iron and copper metals. The SEM, FESEM, and XRD results indicated that as-received nanoparticles, which were agglomerated before milling, were partially separated and embedded in the matrix of both the metals after the initial stages of ball milling, while prolonged milling was not found to further affect the distribution of nanoparticles. It was also observed that the Al2O3 phase was not thermodynamically stable during ball milling with copper powders. Finally, it was found that the presence of nanoparticles considerably reduce the average size of metallic powder particles.