Project m otivation and objectives

1. Fabrication of Smart materials via Aluminum Matrix Byron Williams and Dr. Gap-Yong Kim1Department of Mechanical Engineering,2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa Sate University Results and Discussion Results and Discussion Project motivation and objectives • Determine the manufacturing parameters needed to produce an aluminum E-glass composite • To produce an Aluminum composite with a superior strength to weight ratio Experimental setup • Determine the mixing parameters of the E-glass fibers and aluminum composite • Ball milled 10g of Al6061+5wt% E-glass fiber at 1725 rpm with ethanol for 120 minutes • Ball milled 10g of Al6061+5wt% E-glass fiber at 1725 rpm without ethanol for 120 minutes • Determine the parameters of the E-glass fiber to be consolidated • Heated E-glass fibers in a furnace to 450°C and 500°C in an air environment • Heated E-glass fibers in a vacuum furnace to 400°C and 450°C in an Argon gas environment • Determine the affect of E-glass concentration on the compressive strength of the aluminum composite • Measured the compressive strength of aluminum E-glass composites with 10,15,and 20 weight percentage • Determine the affect of ball milling time on flexural strength • Al6061+1wt%Graphene was ball milled for 10, 30, 60 and 90 minutes, .23 g of the composite was removed at each time increment Aluminum 6061 and E-glass fiber without Ethanol after 15 minutes of ball milling Aluminum 6061 and E-glass fiber without Ethanol after 25 minutes of ball milling Aluminum 6061 ball milling with Ethanol after 3 minutes Aluminum 6061 and E-glass heat treated at 400°C after 15 minutes of ball milling Conclusions Methods • The optimum length of time for ball milling with the E-glass fibers was determined to be 15 minutes. Any length of time after that point and the quality of the fibers began to degrade. • Ball milling without Ethanol reduced the length of time from ball milling to consolidation by 24 hours • Heat treatment at 400°C effectively stripped the fibers of their protective coating without causing the Fibers to become brittle • Graphene reinforced Aluminum composites produced the most substantial strength to weight increase of all the Aluminum composites, ball milling for 60 minutes produced the greatest increase in flexural strength. • Acknowledgements Experimental Setup E-glass heat treated at 500°C prior to ball milling Aluminum 6061 and E-glass at 450 °C after 15 minutes of ball milling Microscopy Punch Furnace Die set Metal Powder 38.6 mm Furnace controller 40.2 mm Aluminum and 1 wt% Graphene composite- 30 minutes of ball milling Aluminum and 1 wt% Graphene composite- 10 minutes of ball milling • I’d like to extend a personal thank you to Dr. Gap Kim and Can Zhu for guiding me through the research process in Mechanical Engineering, and for helping me understand the project • I would also like to thank the National Science Foundation for providing the funding for the REU Program Aluminum and 1 wt% Graphene composite- 60 minutes of ball milling Aluminum and 1 wt% Graphene composite- 90 minutes of ball milling