The effect of the interaction between silica (nS) and hydroxyapatite (nHap) nanomaterials on the characteristics of unidirectional glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy (GF/Ep) composite systems is investigated in this work. The goal of the study is to use these nanofillers to improve the microstructure and mechanical characteristics. Pultrusion was used to produce hybrid nanocomposites while keeping the GF loading at a consistent 75% by weight. The hybrid nanocomposites were made with a total filler loading of 6 wt.%, including nHap, and a nS loading ranging from 2 to 4 wt.%. The mechanical performance of the composite was greatly improved by the use of these nanofillers. Compared to neat GF/Ep, hybrid nanocomposites with 6 wt.% combined fillers exhibited increased hardness (14%), tensile strength (25%), interlaminar shear strength (21.3%), and flexural strength (33%). These improvements are attributed to efficient filler dispersion, enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion, and crack propagation resistance. Incorporating 4 wt.% nS alone improved hardness (6%), tensile strength (9%), tensile modulus (21%), interlaminar shear strength (11.4%), flexural strength (12%), and flexural modulus (14%). FTIR analysis indicated Si-O-Si network formation and increased hydrogen bonding, supporting enhanced interfacial interactions. Ultraviolet reflectance measurements showed increased UV reflectivity with nS, especially in hybrid systems, due to synergistic effects. Impact strength also improved, with a notable 11.6% increase observed in the hybrid nanocomposite. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the nanofillers act as secondary reinforcements within the matrix. These hybrid nanocomposites present a promising material choice for various industries, including marine structural applications and automotive components.

In the present study, the influence of the addition of copper (Cu) on the wear behavior of a Al-12.6Si eutectic alloy developed using the spray forming (SF) method was discussed, and the results were compared with those of as-cast (AC) alloys. The microstructural features of the alloys were examined using both optical and the scanning electron microscopy, and the chemical composition and phase identification were achieved by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results revealed that the microstructure of binary the SF alloy consisted of fine primary and eutectic Si phases, evenly distributed in the equiaxed α-Al matrix, whereas the Cu-based SF ternary alloy consisted of uniformly distributed fine eutectic Si particulates and spherical-shaped θ-Al₂Cu precipitates, uniformly distributed in α-Al matrix. In contrast, the AC ternary (Al-12.6Si-2Cu) alloy consisted of unevenly dispersed eutectic Si needles and the coarse intermetallic compound θ-Al₂Cu in the α-Al matrix. The addition of Cu enhanced the micro hardness of the SF ternary alloy by 8, 34, and 41% compared to that of the SF binary, AC ternary, and binary alloys, respectively. The wear test was conducted using a pin-on-disc wear testing machine at different loads (10–40 N) and sliding velocities (1–3 ms⁻¹). The wear tests revealed that SF alloys exhibited an improved wear behavior in the entire applied load and sliding velocity range in comparison to that of the AC alloys. At a load of 40 N and a sliding velocity of 1 ms⁻¹, the wear rate of the SF2 alloy is 62, 47, and 23% lower than that of the AC1, AC2, and SF1 alloys, respectively. Similarly, at a sliding velocity of 3 ms⁻¹, the wear rate of the SF2 alloy is 52%, 42%, and 21% lower than that of the AC1, AC2, and SF1 alloys, respectively. The low wear rate in the SF2 alloy was due to the microstructural modification during spray forming, the precipitation of fine Al₂Cu intermetallic compounds, and increased solid solubility. The SF alloys show an increased transition from oxidative to abrasive wear, while the AC alloys demonstrate wear mechanisms that change from oxidative to abrasive, including delamination, with an increase in sliding velocity and load.

Fabric-reinforced hybrid polymer composites are present in almost every sector of modern life, and most essential areas of research in recent years have focused on glass–carbon fabric with filler material composites. Fabric and fillers are employed in strengthening polymer composites with the aim of improving their mechanical and tribological properties. The primary objective of this investigation was to investigate thetribological and mechanical properties of unfilled and cenosphere-filled carbon–glass-reinforced polyester composite systems, utilizing two types of fabric (glass and carbon) with cenosphere filler in varying weight fractions (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 wt.%) for both carbon fabric and the cenosphere. The abrasive wear characteristics were evaluated using a stainlesssteel wheel abrasion tester, utilizing silica sand as the abrasive material. Tests were performed at various distances (360–1800 m) and loads (12 N and 24 N). The results show that the wear rate of carbon–glass fabric-reinforced polyester composites differs significantly, with and without cenosphere fillers. Notably, the unfilled composites exhibit the highest wear volume loss, indicating a substantial improvement in wear resistance with the addition of cenospheres. The results reveal that in carbon–glass fabric-reinforced polyester composites, specific wear rate decreases when more cenospheres are loaded. The wear rate was successfully reduced by cenospheresunder silica sand as an abrasive. Compared to unfilled composites, the mechanical properties of filled composites exhibit superior performance. These variations were explained by examining the worn-out surfaces under an SEM and correlating the features observed with the mechanical properties.

The effect of two-step austempering on the fatigue properties in alloyed ductile iron was studied. The ductile irons were subjected to conventional and two-step austempering processes. The austempering process was performed by making three batches. In the first batch, samples after austenitizing at 900 °C were conventionally austempered separately at two temperatures, namely 400 °C and 320 °C. In the second batch, samples were austempered first at 400 °C followed by austempering at 320 °C. In the third batch, samples were austempered first at 320 °C followed by austempering at 400 °C. Austempered samples were characterized for morphology and distribution of phases by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. It was found that the properties increased with the increase in amount of lower bainitic ferrite and retained austenite of high carbon content. The retained austenite with low carbon content was found to transform into martensite during loading and led to decrease the properties.

The principal main of this research work was the study the influence of Cu addition on the wear behavior (WB) of eutectic Al-12.6Si alloy developed by spray forming (SF) method and compared with as-cast (AC) alloys. The phases of chemical compositions and microstructure were studied by optical microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The microstructure of SFAl-12.6Si (SF1) alloy reside — of fine primary and eutectic Si phases evenly distributed in the equiaxed α-Al matrix and SF Al-12.6Si-2Cu (SF2) alloy lie of uniformly distributed fine eutectic Si particulates and spherical form θ-Al2Cu precipitates in α-Al matrix. On other hand, the AC Al-12.6Si alloy (AC1) alloy involve of eutectic Si needles in the dendrite α-Al matrix, whereas AC Al-12.6Si-2Cu (AC2) alloy consisted of eutectic Si needles and Chinese script form θ phase distributed randomly in the α-Al matrix. The microhardness and wear properties were analyzed using Vickers hardness (VH) and dry sliding WT. The SF alloys exhibit superior hardness compared to the AC alloys. The wear properties of SF alloys exhibited significantly superior compared to the AC alloys. The SF2 alloy showed high wear resistance (WR) than the SF1 alloy in the entire sliding velocities and applied loads. The results indicate that the spray deposited alloys have a lower coefficient of friction (CF(µ)) than the AC alloys under varying load and sliding velocity conditions. The high WR in the SF alloy was due to microstructural modification during SF and precipitation of fine Al2Cu intermetallic and solid solubility effects. The SF2 depicts increased transition from oxidative to abrasive. In other ways, AC alloys demonstrate wear mechanisms that change from oxidative to abrasive and delamination with an increase in sliding velocity and load.