High Abrasion Resistance Research Articles

A laser-processed micro/nanostructures surface and its photothermal de-icing and self-cleaning performance

Micro/nanostructures have garnered significant attention and widespread applications in areas such as photocatalysis, coated fabrics, microchips, and sensors. However, high-resolution and multifunctional micro/nanostructures fabrication remains a great challenge. In this work, a novel self-assembly-femtosecond laser processing for the regular micro squares and nano bumps surface on steel substrates is proposed, and a great potential in the field of anti-icing/de-icing and self-cleaning is demonstrated. The surface tension gradient-driven liquid–air self-assembly provides a silica microsphere monolayer, while the post-femtosecond laser process can give precise micro/nano decoration. We systematically explore the impact of laser repetition frequency, scanning speed, and laser incident power on the size and shape of micro/nano decorations that have been studied. The different performances of self-cleaning effects, ice adhesion, and the photothermal de-icing capability due to the change in surface wettability have been demonstrated. This research shows a new pathway for the creation of smart micro/nanostructures surface which possess stable super hydrophilic and highly adhesive superhydrophobic properties, as well as high abrasion resistance. The discovery achieves a suitable blend of multiple functions on the surface of a single material, which can be applied to various surface engineering fields.

Tribological study of fourth-stage crusher coatings applied in an iron ore processing plant

In the present work, a tribological study was carried out on concave and mantle linings of cone crushers used in the fourth-stage crushing process of an iron ore processing plant. Initially, an analysis of the characteristics over the lifetime of the applied coatings was carried out, and samples of the parts that suffered the most critical wear were selected to carry out the tribological study. Investigation of the wear mechanism and deformation was performed via microhardness analysis, optical microscopy (OM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. The mantle and concave were composed of the same alloy, austenitic manganese steel with 12% Mn. Abrasion tests in the rubber wheel configuration were performed on the mantle and concave samples, and the results were compared with those of two other commercial alloys of manganese steel (one with 18% Mn and one with 18% Mn and 2.5% Cr). It was observed that concave wear occurs differently from mantle wear. While the concave suffers more indentation, the mantle has a more abrasion-dominant profile. This analysis is of paramount importance for conducting a review of the maintenance strategy. The mantle presented less work hardening and a higher wear rate than the concave. The predominant wear mechanism is abrasion. Austenitic manganese steel with 18% Mn and 2.5% Cr presented high abrasive wear resistance, with a wear rate 18% lower than that of the alloy used in the manufacture of cone crusher linings. Higher hardness values result in a lower wear rate, and the use of austenitic manganese steel with 18% Mn and 2.5% Cr represents an opportunity to increase the useful life of cone crusher linings.

Preparation and properties of rice husk ash silica filled natural rubber

AbstractRice husk ash silica obtained from the chemical purification of rice husk ash is a bio‐based silica. As a sustainable raw material, the bio‐based silica has attracted much attention in recent years. It can be used to replace traditional carbon black and silica in tire rubbers. Our experimental results show that the bio‐based silica can bring similar mechanical properties and higher wet grip to natural rubber in comparison with traditional silica. The wet mixing method is successfully used to disperse the bio‐based silica in natural rubber latex, obtaining a bio‐based silica/natural rubber composite with higher abrasion resistance and lower rolling resistance than the composite prepared by traditional dry mixing. The mechanical properties of bio‐based silica/natural rubber composites depend on the silica loading and mixing methods. Mixing natural rubber and bio‐based silica through wet‐mixing method is a green and sustainable approach to the tread rubbers with excellent mechanical properties, low rolling resistance, high abrasion resistance, and wet grip.

Advances in E-Skin research: materials, functions and applications

The need for long-term physiological signal surveillance during everyday life is brought on by the ageing of the population and the rise in health-related worries. Electronic skin is a system that replicates the properties of human skin as well as performs comparable sensory tasks. It has recently demonstrated significant promise in the fields of health monitoring, human-machine interface, and machine perception as a result of its high abrasion resistance and adaptability. The material qualities, functional aspects, as well as typical applications of contemporary electronic skin research are reviewed in this paper. The goal of the project is to make e-skins stretchable, self-healing, and bio-compatible while simultaneously monitoring physical, chemical, and electrophysiological signals in real-time. Finally, the difficulties and potential solutions for e-development skin’s are examined. In order to realize its full potential, e-skin requires the scientists collaboration from multiple areas, including materials, information, engineering, and life, to realize its full potential.

Development of the composition of matte glaze with usage of pharmaceutical glass waste for the production of porcelain stoneware

The paper shows the prospects of using pharmaceutical glass waste for partial replacement of high-value frits in the glazes composition. According to the results of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, the glass wastes belong to the group of alkali-containing aluminoborosilicate glasses. The results of thermomicroscopic and dilatometry studies showed that the combination of industrial waste frits and glass waste allows obtaining coatings that, according to their technological characteristics, meet the conditions of porcelain stoneware high-speed firing. The conditions for the resource-valued glass waste use as part of porcelain stoneware tiles glazes have been established. This allowed to use their potential as efficiently as possible and to partially replace (within 15–30%) high-value frits. Combinations of waste glass and industrial boron-free frits with high crystallization ability due to the increased content of alkaline earth oxides (RO=22–34 wt.%) were studied to prepare opaque matte coatings. Glazes compositions have been developed, which under conditions of high-speed firing, form matte coatings due to the directed crystallization of phase’s complex (ZnAl2O4, Zn2SiO4 and CaAl2Si2O8). Ceramic granite with white color coating (brightness coefficient of 80–83%) that differs by "silky" mattness (mirror reflection coefficient of 31–42%), high heat resistance (10 or more heat changes) and abrasion resistance of III–IV class was obtained. The best results were observed when using matte glazes in a complex with engobe, which includes the same glass waste in the amount of up to 30 wt.%. This is in general ensures a high level of their utilization, a significant high-value raw materials saving and an energy costs reduction for fritting.

An overview of polyurethane biomaterials and their use in drug delivery

Polyurethanes are a versatile and highly tunable class of materials that possess unique properties including high tensile strength, abrasion and fatigue resistance, and flexibility at low temperatures. The tunability of polyurethane properties has allowed this class of polymers to become ubiquitous in our daily lives in fields as diverse as apparel, appliances, construction, and the automotive industry. Additionally, polyurethanes with excellent biocompatibility and hemocompatibility can be synthesized, enabling their use as biomaterials in the medical field. The tunable nature of polyurethane biomaterials also makes them excellent candidates as drug delivery vehicles, which is the focus of this review. The fundamental idea we aim to highlight in this article is the structure-property-function relationships found in polyurethane systems. Specifically, the chemical structure of the polymer determines its macroscopic properties and dictates the functions for which it will perform well. By exploring the structure-property-function relationships for polyurethanes, we aim to elucidate the fundamental properties that can be tailored to achieve controlled drug release and empower researchers to design new polyurethane systems for future drug delivery applications.

Study on the Milling Machinability of Bamboo-Based Fiber Composites

Bamboo-based fiber composites, known as recombinant bamboo, have emerged as a new material in the construction and decoration industry. With its excellent mechanical and ornamental properties, recombinant bamboo is gaining popularity. However, its high hardness and abrasion resistance pose challenges in the milling process. To address this, we conducted an experimental study to investigate the milling machinability of recombinant bamboo. We studied the impact of various factors—fiber angle, feed rate, and spindle speed—on the tangential and normal roughness of milled surfaces. Our findings indicated that increasing the spindle speed within an acceptable range can effectively mitigate issues such as carbonization and endface cracking on a milled surface. Additionally, we developed a prediction model to assess the probability of end splitting in recombinant bamboo. This research aimed to enhance the milling quality of recombinant bamboo, improve control over surface roughness, reduce the likelihood of end splitting, and, ultimately, expand application possibilities.

Washing and Abrasion Resistance of Textile Electrodes for ECG Measurements

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are often measured for medical purposes and in sports. While common Ag/AgCl glued gel electrodes enable good electrode skin contact, even during movements, they are not comfortable and can irritate the skin during long-term measurements. A possible alternative is textile electrodes, which have been investigated extensively during the last years. These electrodes, however, are usually not able to provide reliable, constant skin contact, resulting in reduced signal quality. Another important problem is the modification of the electrode surface due to washing or abrasion, which may impede the long-term use of such textile electrodes. Here, we report a study of washing and abrasion resistance of different ECG electrodes based on an isolating woven fabric with conductive embroidery and two conductive coatings, showing unexpectedly high abrasion resistance of the silver-coated yarn and optimum ECG signal quality for an additional coating with a conductive silicone rubber. Sheet resistances of the as-prepared electrodes were in the range of 20–30 Ω, which was increased to the range of 25–40 Ω after five washing cycles and up to approximately 50 Ω after Martindale abrasion tests. ECG measurements during different movements revealed reduced motion artifacts for the electrodes with conductive silicone rubber as compared to glued electrodes, suggesting that electronic filtering of such noise may even be easier for textile electrodes than for commercial electrodes.

Use of Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag (BOFS) in Superpave Mix Design: BOFS Aggregate Properties

This research aims to evaluate the properties of basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS) as aggregates used in Superior Performing Asphalt Pavements (Superpave) mix design. A total of five different aggregates, including one limestone and four BOFS aggregates with different ages, were evaluated by the following aggregate properties: specific gravity, water absorption, Los Angles abrasion, aggregate crushing value, angularity, flakiness, soundness (sulfate chemical and freeze-thaw resistance), and expansion characteristics. Then, the volume stability of the hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixture was also discussed based on the aging effect of BOFS aggregate. Test results indicated that aged BOFS aggregate performs better than unaged BOFS aggregate: Aged BOFS aggregate has lower water absorption, lower aggregate crushing value, higher abrasion resistance, and less expansion. The flakiness and angularity of BOFS aggregates were satisfied with Superpave criteria. However, if free-lime (f-CaO) and free magnesium (f-MgO) in BOFS aggregate exist, it may cause the volume stability of asphalt mixtures with BOFS aggregate. In conclusion, if BOFS is appropriately aged and weathered, BOFS can be an alternative to conventional aggregate.

Strengthening Mechanisms and Retention Properties of Sintered Iron-Based Matrix Material for Metallic-Diamond Tools.

This work presents the analysis of mechanisms controlling the deformation strengthening of the surface during abrasion and their impact on structural changes and mechanical properties of Fe-Mn-Cu-Sn-C matrix material, which was prepared by means of powder metallurgy (PM). The powder mixture was ball-milled for 8 h and densified to <1% porosity using hot pressing at 900 °C and 35 MPa. Phases and structural transformations taking place in austenite during plastic deformation were identified. The participation, distribution, and morphology of the phases, as well as the physicomechanical properties of the matrix material, were tested. It has been shown that during grinding, deformation twins are generated in areas where an austenitic microstructure is present. To test the ability of the matrix to keep diamond crystals firmly cylindrical (Ø11.3 mm× 5 mm), diamond-impregnated specimens containing diamond grits of 30/40 mesh in size and at a concentration of 20 (5% vol.) were prepared. It was finally determined by the diamond-retention index, which is the number of retained diamond particles compared to the total number of diamond particles and the pullouts on the working surface of the segment. This research shows that materials containing Ti- and Si-coated diamond particles, deposited by the CVD method, have the highest abrasion resistance and, therefore, have the best retention properties. In order to determine the bonding mechanism at the matrix-diamond interface, specimens were also analyzed by SEM and TEM.

Electrostatic induced self-assembled MXene/EPOSS for high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding materials

It is still a challenge to prepare flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials based on Ti3C2Tx MXene through a facial and scalable method. In this study, epoxied octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane (EPOSS) was self-assembled with Ti3C2Tx to construct EMI shielding composites via facial spraying coating. Because the EPOSS decreased the surface free energy of Ti3C2Tx in the acid-base component, the Ti3C2Tx/EPOSS suspension was able to be sprayed on carboxylated polybutadiene (CPB) uniformly. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were explored to demonstrate the interaction energy between EPOSS and CPB with different –COOH contents. The prepared EMI shielding composite has high abrasion resistance and good bending durability because EPOSS reinforced the interface interaction between Ti3C2Tx and CPB through covalent bonds. Based on a pre-stretching spray method, the prepared composite has high surface roughness, leading to a high specific EMI shielding effectiveness of 1800 dB cm2 g−1 at a low Ti3C2Tx loading of 8.5 wt%. Additionally, the physically protective effect of Si–O–Si cages in EPOSS provided good flame retardancy. Therefore, the proposed EPOSS-assisted Ti3C2Tx spraying strategy could prepare EMI shielding materials with high effectiveness, excellent abrasion resistance, and good flame retardancy, which has a broad prospect for the application of high-power, portable, and wearable flexible electronic devices.

Application of Vietnamese Nano Graphene as SBR Rubber Reinforcement for Abrasion Resistance Conveyors

Graphene has been extensively considered as an ideal additive to improve the mechanical properties of many composite materials, including rubbers, because of its novel strength, high surface area, and remarkable thermal and electron conductivity. Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) is considered a good material for abrasion resistance conveyors in industries. However, the mechanical properties of SBR still need to be improved. This study shows the enhancement of Vietnamese nano graphene (GNPs) on mechanical properties of SBR rubber such as tensile strength, tear strength, abrasion resistance, and adhesion strength. The distribution of the Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP)-modified GNPs in the SBR matrix was investigated using scanning electron spectroscopy. Results show a significant increase in SBR/GNPs nanocomposite mechanical properties with the presence of GNPs (tensile strength, and tear strength increased by 29.67% and 31.89% respectively in comparison with SBR rubber without GNPs, and abrasion weight loss was decreased by 30.84% in comparison with SBR and adhesion strength with polyester fabric was 3 times higher than that of SBR). The evaluation of GNPs content in SBR/GNPs nanocomposite material was carried out. Results show that 0.5 phr of GNPs content in SBR/GNPs nanocomposite material was the optimal GNPs content with good mechanical properties, high abrasion resistance, and good adhesion with polyester fabric.

ZrN-based plasmonic sensor: a promising alternative to traditional noble metal-based sensors for CMOS-compatible and tunable optical properties.

In this article, we introduce a novel comb shaped plasmonic refractive index sensor that employs a ZrN-Insulator-ZrN configuration. The sensor is constructed using Zirconium Nitride (ZrN), an alternative refractory material that offers advantages over traditional metals such as silver and gold, as ZrN is standard Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible and has tunable optical properties. The sensor has recorded a maximum sensitivity, figure of merit (FOM), and sensing resolution of 1445.46 nm/RIU, 140.96, and 6.91 × 10-7RIU-1, respectively. Beyond that, the integration of ZrN offers the sensor with various advantages, including higher hardness, thermal stability at high temperatures, better corrosion and abrasion resistance, and lower electrical resistivity, whereas traditional plasmonic metals lack these properties, curtailing the real-world use of plasmonic devices. As a result, our suggested model surpasses the typical noble material based Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) arrangement and offers potential for the development of highly efficient, robust, and durable nanometric sensing devices which will create a bridge between nanoelectronics and plasmonics.

Mechanical and durability characteristics of concrete containing induction furnace steel slag as an alternative to coarse aggregates

One of the greatest issues in today's world is the elimination of industrial disposal materials. To solve this problem, recycling waste has become a necessity in many countries according to regulations. Induction furnaces are systems where the heat is generated by induced currents by the electromagnetic field. Every production cycle, the system generates 15% of by-products as slag. In the present study, induction furnace steel slags are replaced with coarse aggregate at the ratios of 0, 50, and 100% in concrete samples with 150×150×150 mm size. The Los Angeles abrasion test, compressive strength test, and density calculations were made. Samples were also subjected to electronic and optical systems such as SEM, EDX, and XRD to determine the surface and microanalysis. This experimental study shows that utilizing induction furnace steel slag increased the physical and mechanical properties of concrete. The addition of these slags in concrete will allow the efficient usage of natural resources as well as the production of economical concrete. Due to their composition, the slags have high abrasion resistance and density compared to ordinary aggregates. For this reason, increasing the ratio of steel slags in concrete may result in the formation of heavy concrete.

The Role of Abrasion Resistance in Determining Suitability of Low-Density Plantation Timber for Engineered Flooring

Abrasion resistance is an important property for the functional performance and serviceability of timber floors. Although hardness is the conventional criterion used in selecting species for flooring applications, it shows greater variations and restricts the use of low-density species, whereas abrasion resistance could generate a more reliable indication of a product’s surface performance. Eucalyptus nitens is a fast-grown global plantation species extensively available in Tasmania, Australia. Until recently, this material has been perceived as unsuitable for appearance applications such as flooring. This study assesses several engineered flooring prototypes comprised of E. nitens—sawlog managed and fibre-managed resources—compared to an existing market product (E. obliqua and a commercial engineered timber flooring product with UV-cured coating). Tests were performed in accordance with the EN 14354:2016, sandpaper method using Taber abraser and further modified to test flooring prototypes. The highest abrasion resistance was observed in the E. nitens veneer composite product. Fibre-managed E. nitens resulted in the greatest level of abrasion, while sawlog-managed E. nitens was comparable to native regrowth E. obliqua, a commonly used flooring species historically used in Australia. Therefore, the findings from this research suggest there are suitable flooring applications for plantation E. nitens as engineered wood products in some domestic and residential dwellings when compared to existing native products.

Mechanical Resistance and Tissue Structure of Claw Denticles of Various Sizes in the Mud Crab, Scylla serrata.

Decapod crustaceans have tooth-like denticles on their claw fingers, which come into direct contact with predators and prey. Since the denticles are subject to more frequent and intense stress than other parts of the exoskeleton, they must be especially resistant to wear and abrasion. We clarified the mechanical resistance and tissue structure of the denticles arranged in a line on the fixed finger of the mud crab, which has huge claws. The denticles of the mud crab are small at the fingertip and become larger closer to the palm. The denticles have a twisted-plywood-pattern structure stacked parallel to the surface regardless of size, but the abrasion resistance strongly depends on the size of the denticles. Due to the dense tissue structure and calcification, the abrasion resistance increases as the denticle size increases, reaching its maximum at the denticle surface. The denticles of the mud crab have a tissue structure that prevents them from breaking when pinched. The high abrasion resistance of the large denticle surface is an essential feature for the frequent crushing of shellfish, which is the mud crab's staple food. The characteristics and tissue structure of the claw denticles on the mud crab may provide ideas for developing stronger, tougher materials.

Mechanical and thermal properties of polyamide‐6 nanocomposites reinforced by graphene oxide with low loading by double extrusion method

AbstractThe high toughness, high abrasion resistance, and high water absorption capacity of polyamide‐6 (PA6), and the restacking of graphene oxide (GO) sheets make it quite challenging to get uniformly dispersed GO/PA6 nanocomposites. Herein, GO of different parts per hundred ratios (phr) was melt‐mixed with PA6 matrix by double extrusion using a twin‐screw compounder, followed by the micro twin‐screw extruder, and composites were prepared by injection molding method. The stress–strain curves from tensile measurements showed strain hardening in nanocomposites. The yield strength and Young's modulus increased by 11.3% and 16.7% respectively, for 0.1 phr GO loading. The crystallization and melting temperatures in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were increased by 4.7 and 9.6°C, respectively with 0.1 phr GO reinforcement. The Raman and XRD analysis showed continuous shifting in the intensity peaks with increasing reinforcements. Moreover, a double extrusion process imparts good mechanical and thermal stability to our composites. The significant improvement in mechanical and thermal performance of injection molded nanocomposites at very low reinforcements leads to their potential applications in automobiles, civil constructions, smart textiles, packaging, and sensors.

Robust 3D porous superhydrophobic foam with excellent photothermal effect and Joule heating effect for efficient all-weather cleanup of highly viscous crude oil spills

Crude oil spill is difficult to deal with and still a global challenge due to its high viscosity. Developing foams with excellent mechanical properties, photothermal effect and Joule heating effect simultaneously to achieve crude oil all-weather recovery is desirable. Here, 3D porous foams were successfully fabricated by the composite of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by a combination of sacrificial template method and laser etching treatment. Benefiting from the low surface energy of PDMS itself and the micro-nano structures constructed in the preparation, the obtained foams exhibit excellent superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties (WCA of 157° and OCA of 0°). Significantly, MWCNT do not exist as a coating around the foam surface, but as the main component constituting the foam skeleton, so the foam shows excellent mechanical property, low temperature resistance, high temperature resistance, salt resistance and abrasion resistance. Moreover, taking the advantage of the addition of MWCNT, the foam shows excellent photothermal effect requiring 1 sun irradiation to attain a temperature of 60.7 ℃ after 4 min and a stable temperature of 71.6 ℃ after 10 min, and Joule heating effect requiring only 9 V voltage to attain a temperature of 64.5 ℃ after 1.5 min and a stable temperature of 91.1 ℃ after 10 min, respectively. Besides low viscosity oil–water separation, it can achieve rapid crude oil spill recovery under the photothermal effect or Joule heating effect. The combination of the two effects can realize the coupling effect and achieve high-efficiency all-weather high viscosity crude oil recovery, thus making the foam more practical. This foam is expected to be an ideal material for all-weather dealing with oil spills.

Preliminary Study of New Low-Temperature Hard Abrasion Resistant Fe-P and Fe-P-X (X = C or/and B) Casting Alloys.

This article analyses the as-cast state of practically unknown Fe-P-based cast alloys with or without an addition of carbon and/or boron, cast into a grey cast iron mould. The melting intervals of the alloys were determined by DSC analysis, and the microstructure was characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy with an EDXS detector. The hardness and microhardness of the alloys were also measured. Their hardness reached values between 52 and 65 HRC depending on chemical composition and microstructure, showing their high abrasion resistance. The high hardness is a consequence of the eutectic and primary intermetallic phases of Fe3P, Fe3C, Fe2B or mixed type. By increasing the concentration of metalloids and combining them, the hardness and brittleness of the alloys were increased. The alloys with predominantly eutectic microstructures were the least brittle. Depending on the chemical composition, the solidus and liquidus temperatures ranged from 954 °C to 1220 °C and were lower than those of the well-known wear-resistant white cast irons.

Preparation and mechanical properties of natural rubber composites reinforced by modified molybdenum disulfide

AbstractThe filler‐rubber interaction and filler dispersion in natural rubber (NR) composites are important factors in determining mechanical properties. Herein, Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and Al2O3‐coated MoS2 nanospheres are incorporated in NR/carbon black composites. The effects of MoS2 and Al2O3‐coated MoS2 on the morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the NR composites are investigated. The morphology analysis indicates that Al2O3‐coated MoS2 could greatly improve the dispersion of carbon black in NR composites. MoS2 filler and carbon black show a synergetic effect on improving the properties of NR composites, leading to high abrasion resistance, tensile strength, elongation at break and expected dynamic mechanical properties. The thermal conductivity of NR composites increases with increasing the content of MoS2 and Al2O3‐coated MoS2. The thermal stability of the NR composites is also effectively improved by filling MoS2 and Al2O3‐coated MoS2. Furthermore, a small amount of Al2O3‐coated MoS2 significantly improves the abrasion resistance, wet grip and decreases rolling resistance of the composites. Al2O3‐coated MoS2 exhibits its potential application in green tires with good performance.