Silica Sand Nanoparticles Research Articles

A comparative study of particle size measurement of Silver, Gold and Silica Sand nanoparticles with different nanometrological techniques

A comparative study of particle size measurement of Silver, Gold and Silica Sand nanoparticles with different nanometrological techniques

Improvement in mechanical and thermal properties of unsaturated polyester- based hybrid composites

Polymer matrix composites are used in automobile, structure and aerospace industries due to their light weight and high strength. The present research has an aim to reinforce locally developed silica nanoparticles and glass fibers in unsaturated polyester to produce polymer-based hybrid composites. Composites were synthesized by hand lay-up method with 1, 2, 3 and 4 wt% of silica sand nanoparticles and glass fiber. Mechanical tests like tensile, impact and micro-hardness were performed on the obtained polymer hybrid composites. The results of mechanical properties of the hybrid polymer matrix composites revealed an increasing trend. The SEM analysis was performed on the developed and fractured tensile testing samples. The SEM analysis showed the presence of silica nanoparticles in the samples and pulling action of fibers were seen under fractured tensile tests. The pulling actions of fibers from polymer matrix delayed the fractured mechanism and enhanced the mechanical properties. Silica nanoparticles filled the cavities generated during tensile test and extensive enhancement was revealed in tensile as well as impact energy. Toughness of the hybrid composite was also enhanced as a result. The thermal properties of the hybrid polymer composites were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal stability of the composite has been marginally increased with increasing wt% of reinforcement.

Effect of Thal silica sand nanoparticles and glass fiber reinforcements on epoxy-based hybrid composite

Epoxy is a hard, brittle but strong polymeric material and various types of research works are being carried out to exploit its unique properties in commercial service particularly as composite materials. One of these researches is to study the effect of addition of Thal silica sand nanoparticles and glass fiber on epoxy-based hybrid composites. The silica sand was collected from Thal desert situated in Punjab province of Pakistan, milled to nanoparticles using a ball mill. The production of silica sand nanoparticles was verified using a Zeta sizer nanoparticles analyzer and SEM analysis. These silica sand nanoparticles were utilized to develop the epoxy-based composites. The glass fibers were cut into small pieces of 2 cm in length and thoroughly mixed with epoxy along with silica sand nanoparticles. Hand-lay-up fabrication technique was proceeded by room temperature curing which was used to develop the epoxy-based hybrid composites. The tensile and impact specimens were made according to ASTM standard and tested using universal tensile testing and charpy impact testing machines. A Vickers hardness tester, applying 50 g load for 10 s, was used to determine the hardness of the composites. The thermo-gravimetric analysis was carried out to analyze the thermal behavior of the composites particularly to evaluate mass loss or gain due to decomposition and oxidation using TGA apparatus. The interaction of glass fiber and silica sand nanoparticles with epoxy was studied using scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that with increasing silica sand nanoparticles and glass fiber contents, the hardness, tensile, and impact properties of the epoxy-based hybrid composites increased. The TGA results showed that the developed hybrid composites became stable at 300 °C.

Process Parameters Optimization of Silica Sand Nanoparticles Production Using Low Speed Ball Milling Method

Experiments are designed using Taguchi method to find the optimum parameters for silica sand nanoparticles production using low speed ball milling. Orthogonal array and signal-to-noise ratio are applied to study performance characteristics of machining parameters which are the ball to powder weight ratio, volume of milling jar, and rotation speed. Results obtained from signal-to-noise ratio analysis showed that ball to powder weight ratio is the most influential parameter.

Mechanical Milling of Tronoh Silica Sand Nanoparticles Using Low Speed Ball Milling Process

Silica sand nanoparticles are widely used as filler, coating and reinforcer to increase materials strength and durability. The objective of the research is to design a new technique of converting Tronoh silica sand to silica sand nanoparticles by using ingenious combination of milling process and heating mechanism. Raw Tronoh silica sand was milled for 10 hours with heating process after every 2 hours of milling and the results are analyzed using particle size analyzer. Particles size of less than 100 nm has been repeatedly achieved in this research. Findings from this research provide a simple and low cost alternative method of producing silica sand nanoparticles.

Studying the Formation of Fe<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>4</sub> and Pearlite Phasesin Iron-Silica Sand Nanoparticle Composites

Metal matrix composites have grown rapidly with their usefulness in many applications for industries. The present research aims to study the formation of Fe2SiO4 and pearlite phases, the reaction product of iron-silica sand nanoparticles composites. In this study iron based silica sand nanoparticles composite with 5, 10, 15 and 20wt.% of silica sand nanoparticles were developed using powder metallurgy technique being sintered at 1100°C. It was observed during the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and XPS analysis that the reaction between iron and silica sand nanoparticles forms the Fe2SiO4 phase. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis at higher magnification also reveals the formation of pearlite phase. The presence of liquid phase sintering is also observed with frozen liquid spots at microstructure of iron-silica sand nanoparticles reaction.

Studying the Effects of Adding Silica Sand Nanoparticles on Epoxy Based Composites

The research about the preparation of submicron inorganic particles, once conducted in the past decade, is now leading to prepare polymer matrix composite (PMC) reinforced with nanofillers. The objective of present research is to study the modified effects of reinforcement dispersion of nanoparticle silica in epoxy resin on the physical properties, mechanical and thermal behaviour, and the microstructure of resultant composites. Stirrer mixing associated with manual mixing of silica sand nanoparticles (developed in our earlier research) (Ahmad and Mamat, 2012) into epoxy was followed by curing being the adopted technique to develop the subject nanocomposites. Experimental values showed that 15 wt.% addition of silica sand nanoparticles improves Young’s modulus of the composites; however, a reduction in tensile strength was also observed. Number of holes and cavities produced due to improper mixing turn out to be the main cause of effected mechanical properties. Addition of silica sand nanoparticles causes a reduction in degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposites as being observed in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis.

Physico-Mechanical Properties of Sintered Iron-Silica Sand Nanoparticle Composites: A Preliminary Study

The present study aims to develop silica sand nanoparticles using the ball-milling process and to utilize these nanoparticles as reinforcement for iron-based metal matrix composites. Iron-based metal-matrix composites with 5, 10, 15 and 20wt.% of the processed silica sand nanoparticles were developed using powder metallurgy technique and sintered at 900°C, 1000°C and 1100°C. The results showed that the addition of silica sand nanoparticles to iron as reinforcement decreased the green density, albeit with an improvement in sintered densities. It was also observed that the increase in the sintering temperature results in an improvement of microstructure and microhardness of the composites. The maximum hardness of 168HV in iron-based composites was found with the addition of 20wt.% of silica sand nanoparticles at a 1100°C sintering temperature. It is proposed that the mechanism for the occurrence of this observed increment in microhardness is due to diffusion of silica sand nanoparticles into porous sites of the composites, resulting in the formation of FeSi phase.

Tronoh Silica Sand Nanoparticle Production and Applications Design for Composites

Tronoh silica sand was ground to nanoparticles using a ball mill and it was observed that the milling process increased the percentage purity of silica in silica sand. The size of the nanoparticles of silica sand was verified by using a ZetaSizer nanoparticles analyzer and FESEM analysis. The silica sand nanoparticles were used to develop and study the characterization and properties of metal, ceramic and polymer based composites. The powder metallurgy and powder processing techniques were used to develop MMC and CMC composites. Compression moulding was used to develop polymer matrix (HDPE) composites. An increased hardness in the case of MMC and CMC was observed. The tensile strength and flexural strength exhibited an increasing trend in the case of PMC with up to 15wt.% of silica sand nanoparticles.

Characterization and Properties of Copper-Silica Sand Nanoparticle Composites

Copper-based microcomposites fabricated by powder metallurgy with subsequent plastic deformation have received increasing attention over recent years. These microcomposites possess good electrical conductivity in combination with high mechanical properties. The present study aims to explore potential technical merits in developing a prealloyed powder metallurgy copper based composites with silica sand nanoparticles reinforcement. Relevant mechanical properties and electrical conductivity improvements are the main targets. A copper based composite with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.% of silica sand nanoparticles were developed through the powder metallurgy process. It was observed that by addition of silica sand nanoparticles with 20% increased the hardness up to 143HV. Optimum electrical conductivity of the composites was achieved in the 15 wt.% silica sand nanoparticles. Advanced particle rearrangement mechanism due to homogeneous and fine distribution of silica sand nanoparticles into pore sites of the composites was also observed. The silica sand nanoparticles composites properties that are much more surface-related seen to be improved convincingly compared with the bulk controlled.

Development and Characterization of Alumina-Silica Sand Nanoparticle Composites

Ceramic-ceramic composites are used around the world in demanding thermal, structural and electrical insulating applications. The present study aims to develop Alumina-Silica sand nanoparticles composites through powder processing route. Effect of amount of silica sand nanoparticles on the composite properties at different sintering temperatures was studied. Composites with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.% of silica sand nanoparticles were developed and sintered at 1300, 1400 and 1500 oC. It was observed that the incorporation of silica sand nanoparticles enhanced the hardness and sintered density of the composites. FESEM and EDS analysis evidenced the proposed liquid phase sintering, mullite and spinel formation mechanisms are primary cause of the composites mechanical properties improvement.

Characterization and Properties of Iron/Silica-Sand-Nanoparticle Composites

Metal matrix-particulate composites fabricated by using powder metallurgy possess a higher dislocation density, a small sub-grain size and limited segregation of particles, which, when combined, result in superior mechanical properties. The present study aims to develop iron based silica sand nanoparticles composites with improved mechanical properties. An iron based silica sand nanoparticles composite with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.% of nanoparticles silica sand were developed through powder metallurgy technique. It was observed that by addition of silica sand nanoparticles with 20 wt.% increased the hardness up to 95HRB and tensile strength up to 690MPa. Sintered densities and electrical conductivity of the composites were improved with an optimum value of 15 wt.% silica sand nanoparticles. Proposed mechanism is due to diffusion of silica sand nanoparticles into porous sites of the composites.

The Development and Characterization of Zirconia-Silica Sand Nanoparticles Composites

The present study aims to develop zirconia-Silica sand nanoparticles composites through powder processing route and to study the physical properties, mechanical properties and microstructure of the composites. Zirconia based silica sand nanoparticles composite with 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.% were developed through powder processing technique and sintered at 1500 ℃ for two hours. A decreasing trend of green density however an improvement in sintered density was observed. Also the addition of silica sand nanoparticles with 20 wt.% increased the hardness up to 12.45 GPa and microstructures indicated the diffusion mechanism of silica sand nanoparticles into pore sites of the composites.