A Novel Tool to Enhance The Lubricant Efficiency On Induction Heat-Assisted Incremental Sheet Forming of Ti-6Al-4V Sheets

For heat-assisted single point incremental sheet forming (SPIF) works of Ti-6Al-4V sheets, the use of lubricant has shown significant effects on surface quality and geometric accuracy at higher temperatures. Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) is a common lubricant widely used in SPIF works, however, it usually indicates ineffective performance at high temperatures. This article has studied different lubricants of MoS2 lubricants and proposed a novel mixture of MoS2 to provide better surface quality and improve geometric accuracy. A forming tool with a ball-roller and water channel was designed to enable the MoS2 mixture to pass through the tool tip, allowing easy application of the lubricant on the localised area and reduce the thermal expansion on the ball-roller. Surface roughness analysis has revealed that the water-cooling MoS2 mixture performed well in reducing friction effects and achieved better geometric accuracy. Forming forces measurements, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX) and micro-hardness tests also indicated that a higher strain hardening behaviour was detected for the water-cooling MoS2 mixture.

Application of solid lubricant for enhanced frictional efficiency of deep drawing process

Manufacturing processes are usually energy intensive, contributing to the global carbon dioxide emissions. Deep Drawing is one of the most common types of sheet metal forming processes with great potential for energy efficiency improvement. In this paper, the optimised combination of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and graphite is proposed as a solid lubricant to reduce the punching force and energy consumption of deep drawing process. Different mixtures of MoS2 and graphite are prepared and their tribological performance are measured using experimental tests on tribometer. In order to investigate the friction reduction rate in deep drawing process, finite element simulation of the drawing process is performed. Results show that friction reduction using proposed combination of lubricants has significant effect on punching force and would provide greater process efficiency.

Fabrication and characterization of composite MoS2-TiO2 coating material

Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) is a popularly used solid lubricant in various applications due to its superior tribological behaviour. However, it possesses poor wear resistance which requires further improvement. In the present study efforts have been made to enhance the tribological properties of pure MoS2 coating film by doping TiO2 nanoparticles as a reinforcement material. The Manganese phosphating is selected as a pre-treatment method to improve the bond strength between coating and substrate. The coating is bonded with the substrate material employing sodium silicate as a binder. The effects of wt. % of TiO2 onto the mechanical properties of composite MoS2-TiO2 coating such as hardness and bond strength have been studied. In addition coating microstructure before and after experimental test was studied using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. It was also found that with increase in wt. % addition of TiO2 upto 15% into MoS2 base matrix, the hardness of coating increases proportionally. Beyond 15 wt. % addition of TiO2, the coating becomes brittle in nature. This leads to reduction in the scratch resistance.

Performance Enhancement of Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cell through Sputter Coated Molybdenum Disulphide Surface Films

The current research focuses on sol-gel derived synthesis and RF sputter deposition of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) over polycrystalline Si solar cell. Various coating layers were obtained under different sputter deposition at regular intervals. The influence of MoS2 sputter coating on optical, thermal chemical structural properties was examined through various characterisation techniques. 30 minutes coated solar cell reported maximum light transmittance of 95 % in the visible spectrum and minimum electrical resistivity of 2 × 10-3ohm-cm. 30 minutes coated solar cell exhibited maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.19 % (open source) and 21.01 % (controlled source). Thermal imaging data reveal that the optimal coating layer experiences a minimum temperature of 33.9 °C and 49.9 °C. From experimental results, sputter deposited MoS2 Si solar cells experience minimum light reflectance and enhanced cell performance.

Dry sliding wear performance of AA7075/MoS2 composite materials

This article aims in exploring the dry sliding wear performances on the aluminum (AA7075) metal matrix composites reinforced with molybdenum disulphide which is a solid lubricant using response surface methodology (RSM). Specific Wear Rate (SWR) for the AA7075 pure alloy, AA7075+2wt% molybdenum disulphide and AA7075+4wt% molybdenum disulphide were measured according to ASTM G99 standards in pin-on-disc apparatus. Design of experiments was selected with changed parameters like the varying percentage of molybdenum disulphide (%), applied load (N), and sliding velocity (m/s) based on Central Composite Design in response surface methodology considering them as continuous factors. Experiments for the specific wear rate of pure alloy and the composites were conducted. The volume loss was measured using the pin-on-disc apparatus from which the specific wear rate value was calculated. The obtained results are analyzed and a mathematical model was formulated using the response surface methodology. The optimum level parameters for the specific wear rate has been identified and the results of the experiment specify that the sliding velocity and molybdenum disulphide percentage have a substantial role in controlling the wear behaviour of composites when compared with the other parameter. The optimum condition for the specific wear rate was identified and experimented with for studying the result.

Biosynthesis of 3D/2D Ceo2/Mos2 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity to Degrade Organic Dye in Wastewater and Statistical Optimization of Reaction Parameters

Nanocomposites synthesized by alternative approaches like biosynthetic methods are safer than those prepared by traditional chemical techniques. Further, this approach is both economically and environmentally feasible. In this study, we report an eco-friendly methodology for preparing cerium dioxide/molybdenum disulphide (CeO2/MoS2) nanocomposites. Moringa oleifera peel was used as the reducing/stabilizing agent for synthesizing CeO2 nanoparticles. The prepared nanocomposite were characterized using FT-IR analysis, SEM and EDAX analysis, TEM and SAED pattern analysis, X-Ray Diffraction Pattern, Zeta Potential, UV-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectra, X-Ray Photon Spectroscopy and Photoluminescence spectra. Particle size and morphology were characterized by TEM and SEM. The photocatalytic pursuit of CeO2/MoS2 was explored by the degradation of methyl violet (MV) under visible light irradiation. Our methodology proved to be 96.25% effective in the degradation of MV. Further, we used this Response Surface Methodology for enhancing the process factors like volume of photocatalyst, time for degradation and concentration of MV.

Three-dimensional architectures composed of two-dimensional atomic layer molybdenum disulphide for solar cell and self-powered photodetectors with improved performance

Research in the physical sciences is critical to the development of new materials technologies for clean energy. Aims in the present work are to synthesise and characterise three-dimensional architectures composed of two-dimensional atomic layer molybdenum disulphide for solar cells and self-powered photodetectors with improved performance. Nanostructured molybdenum disulphide was prepared by using a spin coating method with controlled process times. Prior to each deposition, the layer was dried with hot air for 5 min. A rough, irregular and clustered surface type was generated when the number of spin coating runs was increased. This type of surface was consistent with the morphologies expected for two-dimensional atomic layer molybdenum disulphide in three-dimensional architectures. The nanoscale morphologies, composites, and electronic properties of molybdenum disulphide were examined using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and micro-Raman scattering spectroscopy, respectively. Moreover, three-dimensional architecture-based prototypes for solar cells and self-powered photodetectors were designed, fabricated and tested. In photovoltaic mode, the obtained responsivity and response speed were almost 10 times larger and 20 times faster, respectively, than those recently reported for a single monolayer molybdenum disulphide-based self-powered prototype. In addition, the effects of bias, heat, humidity and a static field on the generated photocurrent and the response time were evaluated. It is expected that the newly designed prototype will exhibit exceptional properties: a broadband spectral response, a high signal-to-noise ratio and excellent stability.