Distribution Of Reinforcement Research Articles

Vibration characteristics of multilayer functionally graded microplates with variable thickness reinforced by graphene platelets resting on the viscoelastic medium under thermal effects

Due to their improved mechanical properties and adaptability, microplates with tailored variable thickness profiles are becoming essential parts of advanced micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). This study conducts a thorough analytical analysis of the vibration properties of thermally loaded, multilayer functionally graded graphene platelet-reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) microplates of linearly or parabolically varying thickness resting on viscoelastic medium under different boundary conditions. The Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model and the law of mixtures are employed to calculate the effective material characteristics for various reinforcement distributions in the microplate. These distributions encompass uniformly symmetric and asymmetric arrangements. The study utilized the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) in conjunction with the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) and Hamilton's principle to generate the dynamic governing equations for the structure, accounting for size-dependent effects. The resulting equations are afterwards solved using the utilization of the Galerkin technique. This enables the evaluation of the proposed solution's correctness and precision. The impact of various factors on vibration behavior is investigated through numerical analysis. These factors encompass length scale parameters, temperature fluctuations, temperature distribution profiles, boundary conditions, the distribution pattern of the GPL, taper constants in both unidirectional and bidirectional scenarios, the weight fraction of the GPL.

Microstructure and tribological behaviour of CoCrCuFeTi high entropy alloy reinforced SS304 through friction stir processing

Surface modification by suitable technique aids in improving the characteristics of material to resist severe wear in demanding environments and challenging applications. The present study aims to analyse the tribological performance of Stainless Steel (SS304) reinforced with CoCrCuFeTi High Entropy Alloy (HEA) through friction stir processing and compares the results with annealed specimens. The CoCrCuFeTi HEA was ball milled and revealed irregular fragment particles with Body Centred Cubic (BCC) phase. The processed samples exhibited excellent refinement in grains with uniform HEA reinforcement distribution. The grains were observed to be in nano level post-annealing promoting exceptional microhardness. The pin-on-disc wear test was conducted by varying load (10-40N), sliding velocity (0.5–3.5 m/s) and sliding distance (500–2000 m) and the respective worn surface was analysed. The processed sample with HEA after annealing offered 29.8%, 57.4% and 58.49% improved wear resistance at the minimum level of load, sliding velocity and sliding distance than the processed base samples. The worn morphology revealed delamination, abrasion, adhesion and oxide layer formation to be the predominant wear mechanisms.

Study of Stir Casting and Microstructure of Al-B<sub>4</sub>C MMCs

The economic, performance, and environmental advantages of accepting Aluminium (Al) metal matrix composites (MMCs) over steel, cast iron and light alloys are driving forces behind their utilisation. The transportation industry benefits from reduced noise, reduced emissions from airplanes, and reduced fuel use. Continuous research in this field has resulted in improved manufacturing procedures, allowing these Aluminium based composite materials to be used in aerospace industry, marine and vehicle applications rather than most monolithic materials. The industrial sector is rapidly developing, which increases demand for innovative materials. In cases where 'wear' is a critical issue, conservative materials and alloys have limits in reaching the appropriate hard characteristic. Al-MMCs are composite materials that contain Al or an alloy of Al. It acts as the matrix and the reinforcement distributed across the matrix. Common reinforcing materials include fibres, whiskers, and particles. Because of its enhanced density, great hardness, and thermal stability, ceramic reinforcement is the most used. However, they have limits such as less ability to wet and compatibility with the Al matrix. The major production processes for Al-MMCs are powder and liquid metallurgy. All the manufacturing procedures outlined are appropriate, however casting with stir to mix is cost-effective, particularly for big production runs. The distribution of reinforcement evenly to generate a flaw-free structure at micro level and hence raise the resistance to hard behaviour is a critical difficulty in the synthesis of MMCs of Al. Al-MMCs with particle reinforcement have increased mechanical characteristics and wear resistance. Furthermore, the production of MMCs reinforced with particulates is an exciting task, with questions arising due to ductility decline as the weight percent of ceramic particulate reinforcement is increased, gravity segregation due to denser particulates, and oxidation due to the use of Al alloy, which is very susceptible to oxidation. In the present study Al6061-3% B4C MMCs have been developed by stir casting technique. Al6061 is an extruded raw material as purchased from the supplier (and not an ingot) used before remelting and manufacturing the MMCs. The microstructure of the manufactured Al-alloy and Al-MMCs are evaluated. It is observed that stir casting is a suitable method to manufacture Al-MMCs.

Stir‐cast Al2024‐based composite reinforced with boron carbide and graphene particles: Mechanical and dry sliding wear characteristics

AbstractBecause of its improved formability, lower production costs, and mechanical properties, aluminum metal matrix composite is the highly intriguing engineering material. It can meet the needs of modern engineering applications used in the automotive, military, aerospace, and marine industries. Hybridization of reinforcement is adopted to develop tailor‐made properties of composites for specific application. In this study, Al‐B4C‐Gr hybrid composites were produced with varying graphene content (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1 wt.%) and keeping boron carbide (10 wt.%) as constant, the effect of graphene proportion on the mechanical properties of produced composites was evaluated. It has been observed that increasing the Gr reinforcement particles in the synthesized composites improves the mechanical characteristics of the composites, such as raising the tensile strength to 215 Mpa and the hardness to 110 HV due to the presence and proper distribution of reinforcement in the matrix. When compared to the base alloy, the tensile strength and hardness of Al10B4C0.75Gr composites rose by 27.174% and 67.290%, respectively. The dry sliding wear behavior of Al‐10 wt.% B4C‐wt.%Gr hybrid composites confirms that graphene and B4C particles in the matrix increase the wear resistance of the produced MMCs. The each parameter such as sliding distance, sliding velocity and load has its influence toward the better wear resistance of the developed composites and were discussed.

Effects of Prestressing Magnitude and Position on Seismic Performance of Unbonded Prestressed Concrete Beams

To study the effects of the jacking stress level, height and strength ratio of the prestress tendons (λ) on the seismic performance of unbonded prestressed concrete (UPC) beams, six UPC beams and one reinforced concrete (RC) beam were tested under cyclic loads. The hysteretic characteristics, skeleton curves, ductility properties, energy dissipation capacity, strain distribution of reinforcement and self-centering capability of the specimens were studied and discussed. Numerical parameter analysis was also carried out by using OpenSees. The results indicate that three failure modes of UPC beams under cyclic loading were observed, namely the tension-failure mode involving a broken rebar, the compression-failure mode involving concrete crushing and the balanced failure. By considering the influence of the prestress position and magnitude, the modified reinforcing index ω was proposed to determine the failure mode. The ω is suggested to be less than 0.3 to ensure sufficient ductility. The effective stress level is linearly and positively related to the stiffness from cracking to yield Kcr and the ultimate bearing capacity of the UPC beam under cyclic loading. The stiffness of the UPC beam is slightly larger than that of the RC beam before yielding, and significantly greater than that of the RC beam after yielding. Due to the large strength reserve after yielding, the integrated seismic performance of the UPC beam is similar to that of the RC beam. When the λ was unchanged, the increase in the relative height of the prestressed tendons αh is beneficial for the overall performance factor F, ductility and crack control. The stiffness degradation performance depends on the λ but is independent of the αh. The total energy dissipation of the non-tensioned UPC specimen was 59% higher than that of the RC beam. The cumulative total energy dissipation of the tensioned UPC specimen was only 13% lower than that of the RC beam with the same number of cycles, indicating that the UPC specimen had a considerable energy dissipation capacity.

Investigation of reinforcement curtailment in tall lightly reinforced structural concrete walls

SummaryRecent studies have investigated the impact of minimum longitudinal reinforcement limits on the ductility of the plastic hinge region of reinforced concrete (RC) walls, resulting in revised minimum reinforcement limits in design standards. The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of the longitudinal reinforcement distribution or termination rules for the additional reinforcement at the end regions of the wall up the wall height on the response of taller lightly RC walls. A model utilizing a displacement‐based fiber element was developed and validated against tested walls with a range of longitudinal reinforcement contents. Pushover analyses were then conducted on a 20‐story wall prototype to investigate the sensitivity of key design parameters, including axial load pattern, curtailment heights of the longitudinal reinforcement in the plastic hinge region, reinforcement content at wall base, reinforcement strain‐hardening ratio, and the length over which the reinforcement curtailment occurred. The results indicate that the current minimum reinforcement provisions in ACI 318–19 are insufficient to prevent reinforcement yielding outside the plastic hinge region at the wall base.

Studies on Al-Si based hybrid aluminium metal matrix nanocomposites

A lightweight Hybrid Aluminium Metal Matrix Nanocomposite (HAMNC) is proposed for brake rotor application in this work. Hypereutectic Aluminium-Silicon (Al-Si) grade LM30 alloy is opted as the matrix with Boron Carbide (nB4C) and Rutile (nTiO2) nanoparticles as reinforcements. The brake rotor samples are produced using ultrasonic squeeze-assisted stir-casting, which is cost-effective and feasible for mass production. The hybrid nanocomposite specimens are fabricated by maintaining 1 wt% of nB4C and by varying TiO2 nanoparticles from 0 wt% to 1.00 wt% in steps of 0.25 wt%. The formulations are subjected to microstructure study and dry sliding wear test. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Micrographs (FESEM) reveal that the stir-casting method combining ultrasonic and squeeze effects aids in the uniform distribution of nano reinforcements. The tribological findings show that the hybrid nanocomposite containing 0.75 wt%. of nTiO2 has an 82.76% lower specific wear rate compared to the parent LM30 alloy. Further, the HAMNC brake rotor is 60% lighter than the brake rotors made of Grey Cast Iron making it a potential replacement material.

Study on the influence law of cavities behind the shotcrete lining on the lattice girders

The field monitoring data showed that a small amount of main reinforcement bars of lattice girder at the arch of a tunnel were pulled, and the calculation showed that the initial support structure should be compressed. To find out the reason for the tension of the main reinforcement, the geological radar was used to detect the cavity in the sprayed concrete layer at the tension position. In order to clarify the tension mechanism of the main reinforcement and the influence of factors such as the position and size of the cavity on the main reinforcement, numerical simulations were carried out. The results show that the cavity causes the eccentric compression of the shotcrete layer, resulting in moment of the lattice girder and the change of the stress distribution of the main reinforcement. The main reinforcement experiences tensile stress when the cavity size surpasses 3 m × 0.2 m, reaching a tensile stress of 81 MPa at a cavity size of 6 m × 0.2 m. Notably, the cavity located at the foot of the arch is more likely to produce substantial tensile stress on the primary reinforcement compared to those at the arch crown and waist. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the interpretation and analysis of tunnel lattice girder monitoring data.

Toughening and strengthening of Cu-coated carbon nanotubes reinforced AZ61 magnesium matrix nanocomposites by improving interfacial bonding

Interfacial modification without damaging the structure of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is urgently needed to improve the performance of CNTs reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites. To fabricate CNTs/AZ61 nanocomposite with strong interfacial bonding, copper-coated CNTs (0.15–2.4 vol%) and AZ61 powder were employed through the process of ball milling mixing, vacuum hot pressing and extrusion. The powder and nanocomposites were characterized by HRTEM, SEM, XRD and compressive test to study the distribution of reinforcements, microstructures, interfacial structure and compression behavior. During the high-temperature fabrication process, in-situ interfacial reactions occurred between Cu particles of CNTs and Mg, Al and Zn elements in AZ61 matrix. As a result, the formation of interfacial reaction phases, such as AlCu3, Al2Cu, Cu2Mg, CuMg2, Cu0.61Zn0.39 and MgAl2C2 phases, and their diffused and/or coherent interface significantly strengthen the interfacial bonding. With only 0.15 vol% CNTs, the work of fracture and compression strength of the composite are 40 % and 20 % higher than those of pure AZ61, respectively. The dominating toughening mechanisms are the load transfer role of scattered CNTs and fine-grain effect. The dominating strengthening mechanisms are thermal mismatch and Orowan strengthening.

Review On Development, Nanoparticle Reinforcement and Sustainable Materials For Enhancement Of Mechanical Properties In Aluminium Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

Aluminium alloys are popular in many advanced applications and are considered to be an essential class of engineering materials mainly due to their desirable combination of low density, high strength, and cost-effectiveness compared to competing materials. Aluminium metal matrix composites and hybrid metal matrix composites will further enhance these properties by incorporating hardened particles as reinforcements. Hybrid metal matrix composites are second-generation composites that exhibit superior mechanical properties due to the synergistic combination of different reinforcement combinations. Various combinations of reinforcing particulates are being explored. The fabrication of the hybrid composites is done using a stir casting route, which will significantly influence the mechanical properties, microstructure and reinforcement distribution. Aluminium HMMCs offer lightweight, high strength, good wear resistance, and other properties that allow them to be extensively used in the structural, aerospace, marine, and automotive industries. Hybridization of metal alloys provides flexibility in designing components and quality control during manufacturing. Thus, this review paper is focused on the fabrication and characterization of hybrid Aluminium metal matrix composites, advancements in their mechanical properties, recent developments and applications.

Green metal matrix composites: a multi-faceted study on Al alloy composites with egg shell powder and silicon carbide as reinforcements

This article is about Green Metal Matrix Composites (GMMCs) produced with aluminum alloys and reinforcements include silicon carbide and eggshell powder. The GMMCs offer a new approach to sustainable materials through the use of ecofriendly reinforcements. A novel class of composites results from a combination of silicon carbide, which has superior mechanical properties, and agricultural waste based eggshell powder. Furthermore, eggshell powder mainly comprised of calcium carbonate lowers its density as well as serves as long-term reinforcement. Silicon carbide enhances their mechanical properties in terms of strength and hardness respectively. This report involves a systematic study using mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy to explain microstructural evolution and evaluate performance during mechanical loading. Further, wear resistance gives indications on suitability for different industrial applications. Variations in reinforcement contents were done so as to include 3–12% silicon carbide, and 2–8% eggshell powders in the aluminum alloys. Production strictly adhered to guidelines that controlled some variables such as stirring speed and duration which was aimed at achieving exact control. These cast composites were subjected to wear tests, tensile tests, and hardness tests as well as microstructural analysis. EDS-SEM results demonstrate successful incorporation of the reinforcements into the hybrid composites. Unveiling a surprising evenness of distribution of reinforcements throughout the Aluminum matrix through Microstructural examination is amazing. Unique wear behavior trends are presented here. The matrix alloys show mainly adhesive wear while the composites display abrasive wear mediated by reinforcements. This research proposes an eco-friendly method for metal matrix composites, thus advancing sustainable materials and offering hope for strong yet lightweight green materials suitable for aerospace, automotive and other engineering sectors.

Steel Chips Reinforcement in Aluminum-Based Composites: Revolutionizing Manufacturing via Stir Casting Technique

This study investigates the utilization of waste steel chips as reinforcement in aluminum-based composites through the stir casting technique. Steel chip particles were introduced gradually into the molten aluminum alloy while stirring at 400 rpm for 10 minutes to ensure uniform dispersion. Precise temperature control prevented premature solidification, facilitating effective incorporation of steel chips. The resulting composite exhibited a predominantly uniform distribution of reinforcement, indicating successful processing.The addition of 7.5% waste steel chips led to remarkable improvements in mechanical properties. Tensile strength increased by 15.67%, while hardness showed a substantial enhancement of 25.56% compared to the base composite. Moreover, wear resistance exhibited a notable improvement of 19.45%. These enhancements underscore the efficacy of waste steel chips as reinforcement, revolutionizing manufacturing practices in aluminum composites. The findings highlight the potential for sustainable and cost-effective approaches to enhance mechanical performance, contributing to advancements in materials engineering and promoting eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

Analitičko ispitivanje poroznih laminiranih ploča od funkcionalno gradiranih kompozita ojačanih ugljeničnim nanocevima (FG-CNTRC) na izvijanje i slobodne vibracije

Introduction/purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the buckling and free vibration behavior of laminated composite plates reinforced with carbon nanotubes when various sources of uncertainty are taken into account with 1 the main focus being the existence of porosity. Methods: A porous laminated plate model is developed using a high order shear deformation theory. Different configurations of functionally graded aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes throughout the thickness of each layer are being investigated. The effective properties of materials are evaluated through the extended rule of mixture while considering an upper bound for the effect of porosity. The governing equations are derived and solved using the virtual work principle and Navier's approach. The validity of the current formulation is confirmed by comparing the results with the existing data from literature sources. The impact of numerous parameters such as porosity, carbon nanotube volume fraction, reinforcement distribution types, lamination scheme, and the number of layers on the buckling and free vibration responses is investigated in detail. Results: A key finding of this study is the significant reduction in buckling resistance of laminated FG-CNTRC plates due to porosity, contrasting with the minor impact on the free vibration response. Conclusion: The results of this paper emphasize the critical role of porosity in structural integrity and provide novel insights into the behaviour of advanced composite materials.

Optimization on the electrical discharge machining (EDM) process parameters of aged AA7075/TiC metal matrix composites

The need to optimize the process parameters in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) for aged AA7075 Metal Matrix Composites (AAMMCs) is evident as it impacts various aspects such as mechanical properties, tool wear, surface finish, integrity, precision, accuracy, process stability, process consistency, and cost-effectiveness. In this study, aluminium alloy AA7075 was chosen as the matrix material because of the need to enhance its mechanical properties. Titanium Carbide (TiC) was chosen as the reinforcing material owing to its superior mechanical properties. Therefore, TiC holds the capability to improve the mechanical attributes of AA7075. The selection of the stir cast method for the manufacturing of AA7075/TiC (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 wt.%) was based on its ease of fabrication, ability to achieve a uniform distribution of reinforcements, reduced susceptibility to oxidation and porosity, and improved control over the microstructure. This AA7075/12wt.%TiC MMC underwent an aging process at 520 °C for 180 min and was subsequently cooled within the furnace environment. The density of the aged and non-aged AA7075/TiC-based composites was determined through a density test using the Archimedes’ principle. Microhardness testing was conducted on the non-aged and aged AA7075-based MMCs employing a Vickers microhardness tester. Tensile strength and compressive strength of the aged and non-aged AA7075-based MMCs were determined by the usage of a universal testing machine (UTM) and a compression testing machine (CTM). The optimal combination of the manufactured AA7075/TiC MMCs was determined based on their mechanical properties. The most effective combination was identified as AA7075/12wt.%TiC MMC due to its superior values in hardness, tensile strength, compressive strength, and density compared to other combinations. The aging process aimed to enhance the mechanical properties without the need for additional reinforcements. EDAX and X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) tests were employed to determine the weight percentage of the matrix and reinforcements and to identify the formation of precipitates in the AA7075/12wt.%TiC composites. The SEM equipment was utilized to verify the uniform distribution of titanium carbide in the matrix material AA7075. Optimization of EDM process parameters for aged AA7075/12wt.%TiC composite was carried out using Taguchi design-based Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The selected input parameters for the optimization included the chromium concentration (g×l-1), current (amps) and pulse-on time (µs). The response parameters chosen for optimization were surface roughness (SR) and tool wear rate (TWR). The sequence of influencing EDM input parameters is chromium concentration, pulse on time and current. The optimized EDM process parameters were 8 g×l-1 chromium concentration, 5 amps current and 240 µs pulse on time and the corresponding response were 0.198 TWR and 1.56 SR.

Effect of SrTiO3 incorporation in Mg matrix: Microstructure, mechanical, corrosion and in vitro bioactivity study

In the present study, magnesium-strontium titanate (Mg-SrTiO3) composites were prepared using powder metallurgy route. The physical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of pure Mg were compared with those of Mg-SrTiO3 composites with varying SrTiO3 concentrations (0, 1 and 5 wt%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the SrTiO3 and Mg peaks in the composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the composite revealed the uniform distribution of reinforcement in the Mg matrix. An electrochemical corrosion study showed that the Mg-SrTiO3 composite has more positive ECORR than pure Mg. The lowest corrosion rate was observed in the Mg-1 %SrTiO3 composite. An in vitro biocompatibility and antimicrobial study revealed that Mg-SrTiO3 composites are non-toxic and have mild antibacterial property.

Effects of milling time and sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of 8 wt% WC/AlCoCrFeNiTi0.5 high entropy alloy matrix composite

The present study investigates the effect of milling time, and sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the spark plasma sintered 8 wt% WC/AlCoCrFeNiTi0.5 high entropy alloys matrix composite (HEAC). The results show that the grain size is decreased first and then increased with an increase of milling time. The refined grain along with the homogeneous distribution of reinforcements is observed when milling for 15 h. It also shows both of relative density and compression strength of compacts are increased first and then decreased with an increase of sintering temperature. A highest relative density of 99.89 % and a fracture strength of 2683 MPa are obtained at 1150 °C. Another, sintering leads to crystal structure transition from BCC to FCC for the solid solution phase. The formation of (Fe, Co)6W6C complex carbide as a main strengthening phase is conducive to the enhancement of hardness. The strengthening mechanism is mainly attributed to dislocation strengthening and Orowan mechanism.

Static, dynamic and buckling behavior of functionally graded beams with tunable inclusions

The introduction of microstructurally tunable materials endorses functionally graded (FG) beams with distinctly inspiring functionalities and mechanical properties. In order to facilitate the multiscale design of FG beams and evaluations of corresponding mechanical behavior, analytical solutions are developed in the present research on the static, dynamic and buckling responses of FG beams reinforced with graphene platelets, porosity or origami inclusions, etc. To facilitate the analytical derivation as well as numerical extension, this paper establishes a theoretical framework, firstly formulating the principle of virtual work and reciprocal theorem of work for the FG beams, and then deriving and proving the principles of minimum potential and complementary energies, the former of which is used for the establishment of the variational principles for the static bending, free vibration and buckling phenomenon in the present work. Following the proposed variational principles and considering Timoshenko beam theory, the strong-form partial differential governing equations as well as the corresponding boundary conditions can be obtained for static bending, free vibration and buckling responses of FG beams. The Ritz method is finally employed to obtain the explicit expressions of transverse bending and rotation as well as the frequencies and critical loads for FG beams with different boundary conditions. What’s more, it should be noted that the FG of the beams is achieved through tailoring micromechanical parameters, such as volume fraction and distribution of reinforcement, which are usually unevenly distributed. The mechanical responses of FG beams are also predicted through micromechanics approaches, such as Halpin-Tsai expression. Conventional GPL distributions as well as graphene origami (GOri) distributions with negative Poisson's ratios (NPR) are also presented to validate the analytical derivation and solutions. Finally, the proposed solutions are employed to investigate the effect of the microstructural parameters on the effective behavior of FG beams.

Effect of C content on the microstructure and properties of in-situ synthesized TiC particles reinforced Ti composites

Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) have garnered substantial attention from researchers owing to their outstanding properties. Nonetheless, the strength and ductility of TMCs hardly co-exist and often show a trade-off between each other. In this study, we employ an ultra-thin graphite powder sheet as the carbon source and employ Ti/C composites with varying carbon contents, prepared via a layer-stacked laminated sintering method, to ensure a comprehensive in-situ reaction and uniform reinforcement distribution. With increasing carbon content, noticeable alterations occur in the size, concentration, and morphology of the titanium carbide (TiC) particles. The increase of TiC particle content is found to boost the ultimate tensile strength of the composite. However, this improvement comes at the expense of reduced elongation. Notably, as the carbon content reaches 1.81 wt%, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the composites soar to 354.4 MPa and 575.4 MPa, respectively. These values represent a remarkable increase of 75.4% and 65.0% compared to pure titanium, while maintaining an acceptable elongation of 6.45%. This study unveils a promising approach for significantly enhancing the mechanical properties of titanium alloys.

Effects of particle size and content of cladding powder on in situ synthesized WC‐reinforced Ni‐based cladding layers

AbstractLaser cladding technology can obtain a cladding layer with good metallurgical bonding with the substrate and excellent performance. In situ growth of hard phase can effectively solve the problem of uneven distribution of reinforcements directly doped with hard particles. In this paper, 45# steel was adopted as the matrix material, WO3, B4C, Al, and Ni60 powder were used to prepare laser cladding and in situ synthesized WC (Tungsten Carbide) hard phase reinforced Ni‐based cladding layers. The effects of different laser cladding parameters, powder particle size, hard phase content on the microstructures and electrochemical properties of in situ synthesized WC hard phase reinforced Ni‐based cladding layer were analyzed. The results revealed that when the (WO3 + B4C + Al) mixed powder content was 25%, the bulk particles of WC phase in the cladding layer were most uniformly distributed in the cladding layer, which enhances the mechanical properties of the cladding layer. When the B4C particle size was 5 μm, the microhardness of the cladding layer was significantly higher than other cladding layers, and the enhancement mechanism of hardness by B4C is due to the Orowan strengthening caused by too small particle size of B4C.

Opportunities and challenges in machining of aluminium metal matrix composites using electrical discharge machining

The machining of aluminium metal matrix composites (aluminium MMCs) presents a dynamic landscape of opportunities and challenges, with electrical discharge machining (EDM) emerging as a promising technique. This review article systematically navigates the intricate interplay between AMMCs’ unique characteristics and the EDM process. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, we uncover the underlying mechanisms that govern the machining dynamics of AMMCs, exploring their compositional variations, reinforcement distribution and thermal properties. The article delves into the opportunities offered by EDM, such as precision machining of intricate geometries, inherent thermal control and the ability to navigate the varying hardness levels in AMMCs. Furthermore, the review addresses the challenges that arise, including electrode wear, surface integrity preservation and the influence of reinforcement particles on material removal rates. The authors highlight the role of parameter optimisation in achieving desirable machining outcomes, underlining the need to strike a balance between material removal efficiency and surface finish quality. Additionally, environmental considerations in EDM of AMMCs are discussed, emphasising sustainable machining strategies in line with contemporary ecological concerns. As the field of advanced materials and manufacturing continues to evolve, this review article provides valuable insights for researchers, engineers and industries seeking to harness the potential of EDM in machining AMMCs. By navigating the intricate landscape of opportunities and challenges, this article contributes to a holistic understanding of the nuanced relationship between EDM and AMMCs, laying the foundation for future advancements in precision machining of these composite materials.