Purpose: This study explores how titanium oxide (TiO₂) filler influences the specific wear rate (SWR) in flax fiber-reinforced epoxy composites (FFRCs) through a Taguchi approach. It aims to boost abrasive wear resistance by incorporating TiO₂ filler, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly materials.Design/methodology/approach: This study fabricates epoxy/flax composites with TiO₂ particles (0–8 wt%) using hand layup. Composites were tested for wear following American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G99-05. Statistical analysis used Taguchi design of experiments (DOE), with ANOVA identifying key factors affecting SWR in abrasive sliding conditions.Findings: The study illuminates how integrating TiO2 filler particles into epoxy/flax composites enhances abrasive wear properties. Statistical analysis of SWR highlights abrasive grit size (grit) as the most influential factor, followed by normal load, wt% of TiO₂ and sliding distance. Grit size has the highest effect at 43.78%, and wt% TiO₂ filler contributes 15.61% to SWR according to ANOVA. Notably, the Taguchi predictive model closely aligns with experimental results, validating its reliability.Originality/value: This paper integrates TiO₂ filler and flax fibers to form a novel hybrid composite with enhanced tribological properties in epoxy composites. The use of Taguchi DOE and ANOVA offers valuable insights for optimizing control variables, particularly in natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs).

This paper involves the modeling and analysis of a composite material. Here, the wear properties of the given composite are analyzed and appropriate conclusions are drawn from the tests conducted. The composite material is made up of filling coconut shell powder as the filler material in a glass fibre epoxy material. Polymer materials composites (PMCs) are widely coming into application as a novel material due to its high strength to weight ratio, high stiffness to weight ratio, its ease of processing, significant reduction in cost and its excellent performance in varied conditions. They are finding increasing use in the aerospace, automobile, marine and civil industries in todays world. This study conducted analyzes the influence of independent parameters such as sliding velocity, normal load, filler content and sliding distance on the wear performance of the manufactured composite material. The experiment was conducted using a standard pin on disc setup of a wear and friction testing apparatus. The addition of the extra filler materials greatly influences and optimizes the wear performance of the material.

This study investigates the effects of magnesium (Mg) content, silicon carbide (SiC) reinforcement, and aging temperature (AT) on the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Brinell hardness number (BHN) of eutectic Al-Si composites using a full factorial experimental approach. The analysis reveals that increasing Mg content from 0 wt% to 1.5 wt% significantly enhances UTS, likely due to solid solution strengthening and improved particle reinforcement. Similarly, a rise in SiC content up to 4 wt% leads to a notable increase in UTS, indicating effective matrix reinforcement. AT is crucial, with the highest UTS achieved at 100 °C; however, overaging at 200 °C results in reduced strength due to precipitate coarsening. Interaction plots demonstrate a synergistic effect between Mg and SiC, where higher levels of both contribute to a more substantial increase in UTS. The results also show that while both Mg and SiC improve UTS, their effects are optimized with appropriate aging conditions, although overaging diminishes these benefits. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) highlights that AT, Mg, and SiC each significantly impact UTS and BHN, with SiC having the greatest effect of 47.92% on hardness and AT having the greatest effect of 36.58% on the UTS. The interaction between SiC particles and AT is particularly influential on BHN. These findings emphasize the importance of carefully optimizing processing conditions to enhance the mechanical properties of eutectic Al-Si composites.

Skill development courses are crucial in engineering education, enabling students to tackle complex engineering tasks while enhancing critical thinking and adaptability to industry shifts. This study focuses on the Prototyping, Fabrication, and Testing course offered to first-year engineering students as part of mandatory skill development curriculum. After completing three cycles of the course, this research presents comprehensive insights on its implementation, including student feedback and challenges encountered. The course followed a project-based learning (PBL) methodology, providing students with practical skills in both basic and advanced manufacturing techniques essential for product development. Hands-on engagement with real-world projects fostered an immersive learning experience. The study covers the course design, implementation, and evaluation, with particular attention to student feedback. Results indicated high levels of student enthusiasm, active participation, and a positive reception to the integration of theory with practical learning. Students gained significant skills in manufacturing and product development, while appreciating the collaborative environment that nurtured teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. This positive feedback underscores the PBL approach as an effective tool for engaging students and fostering essential engineering skills. Insights from this study will guide the future design and enhancement of similar courses.

This study aims to explore the effects of age-hardened traces, magnesium (Mg) dissolution, and silicon carbide (SiC) reinforcement on the wear properties of eutectic aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) matrix composites, focusing on optimizing their performance for industrial applications. A systematic investigation was conducted using a full factorial experimental design, with analysis of variance (ANOVA) performed through Minitab software to quantify the individual and interactive effects of these factors on the wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF). The results demonstrated that age-hardened traces significantly enhance wear resistance by promoting the formation of finely dispersed hardening precipitates at moderate ageing temperatures, while over-ageing negatively impacts performance due to precipitate coarsening. SiC reinforcement emerged as a key factor in improving wear resistance, attributed to its high hardness and superior abrasion resistance. The role of Mg dissolution was found to be multifaceted, contributing to solid solution strengthening and grain refinement but also interacting with other variables in complex ways. The study concludes that the optimal combination of 1.5% Mg, 4% SiC, and a peak ageing temperature of 100 °C achieves the best balance between wear resistance and frictional performance. These findings offer valuable insights into the design of high-performance Al-Si composites, highlighting the importance of microstructural control to meet the demands of advanced engineering applications.