Investigation of ZnO doping on LaFeO3/Fe2O3 prepared from yarosite mineral extraction for ethanol gas sensor applications

<abstract> <p>In this study, we used a natural resource, yarosite minerals, as a Fe₂O₃ precursor. Yarosite minerals were used for the synthesis of LaFeO₃/Fe₂O₃ doped with ZnO via a co-precipitation method using ammonium hydroxide, which produced a light brown powder. Then, an ethanol gas sensor was prepared using a screen-printing technique and characterized using gas chamber tools at 100,200, and 300 ppm of ethanol gas to investigate the sensor's performance. Several factors that substantiate electrical properties such as crystal and morphological structures were also studied using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. The crystallite size decreased from about 61.4 nm to 28.8 nm after 0.5 mol% ZnO was added. The SEM characterization images informed that the modified LaFeO₃ was relatively the same but not uniform. Lastly, the sensor's electrical properties exhibited a high response of about 257% to 309% at an operating temperature that decreased from 205 ℃ to 180 ℃. This finding showed that these natural resources have the potential to be applied in the development of ethanol gas sensors in the future. Hence, yarosite minerals can be considered a good natural resource that can be further explored to produce an ethanol gas sensor with more sensitive response. In addition, this method reduces the cost of material purchase.</p> </abstract>

Optimization of machining parameters in drilling hybrid sisal-cotton fiber reinforced polyester composites

<abstract> <p>Machining natural fiber reinforced polymer composite materials is one of most challenging tasks due to the material's anisotropic property, non-homogeneous structure and abrasive nature of fibers. Commonly, conventional machining of composites leads to delamination, inter-laminar cracks, fiber pull out, poor surface finish and wear of cutting tool. However, these challenges can be significantly reduced by using proper machining conditions. Thus, this research aims at optimizing machining parameters in drilling hybrid sisal-cotton fibers reinforced polyester composite for better machining performance characteristics namely better hole roundness accuracy and surface finish using Taguchi method. The effect of machining parameters including spindle speed, feed rate and drill diameter on drill hole accuracy (roundness error) and surface-roughness of the hybrid composite are evaluated. Series of experiments based on Taguchi's L₁₆ orthogonal array were performed using different ranges of machining parameters namely spindle speed (600,900, 1200, 1600 rpm), feed rate (10, 15, 20, 25 mm/min) and drill diameter (6, 7, 8, 10 mm). Hole roundness error and surface-roughness are determined using ABC digital caliper and Zeta 20 profilometer, respectively. Optimum machining condition for drilling hybrid composite material (speed: 1600 rpm, feed rate: 25 mm/min and drill diameter: 6 mm) is determined, and the results are verified by conducting confirmation test which proves that the results are reliable.</p> </abstract>

Influence of normalizing post carburizing treatment on microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture behavior of low alloy gear steels

<abstract> <p>Steel is a versatile metal, got a wide range of applications in all the fields of engineering and technology. Generally, low carbon steels are tough and high alloy carbon steels are hard in nature. Certain applications demand both properties in the same steel. Carburization is one such technique that develops hard and wear resistant surfaces with a soft core. The objective of this work is to study the influence of post carburizing treatment (normalizing) on three grades of steels (EN 3, 20MnCr5, and EN 353). Post carburizing treatments are necessary to overcome the adverse effects of carburization alone. Here carburization was carried out in the propane atmosphere by heating the gas carburizing furnace to 930 ℃ for more than a day. Normalizing was carried out at 870 ℃ for 1 h and cooled in air. Tensile, hardness, Charpy impact tests along with SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and EDAX (energy dispersive X-ray analysis) were conducted to analyze the phase transformation, failure mode analysis in all the samples. Carburized steels displayed the formation of ferrite, pearlite, and sometimes bainite phases in the core and complete coarse pearlite in the case regions, whereas in the post carburized steels, increased amount of ferrite, fine pearlite, and bainite in the core and fine pearlite with traces of bainite in the case region was observed. Normalizing also refines the grain with increased UTS (ultimate tensile strength), hardness, and impact resistance. EN 353 showed higher UTS among the steels with 898 MPa after carburization and 1370 MPa after normalizing treatment. Maximum hardness of 48 HRC was observed in 20MnCr5 and toughness was superior in EN 3 with energy absorbed during test i.e., 8 and 12 J before and after normalizing treatment. Based on the fracture surface analysis, in EN 353 steel, a finer array of dimples with voids and elongated bigger clustered dimples containing ultrafine dimples array are observed in the core and case respectively during carburizing whereas, more density of river pattern and cleavage failure (brittle) are observed in the core and case respectively after post carburizing (normalizing) treatment. There is a reduction in the ductility of the steels after post carburizing treatment. It was observed that normalizing treatment produces superior mechanical properties in the carburized steels by grain refinement and strong microstructures like bainite. Normalizing as post carburizing treatment can be recommended for engineering applications where ductile core and hard surface are of great importance.</p> </abstract>