With a strive to develop light-weight material for automotive and aerospace applications, aluminum-based hybrid nanocomposites (AHNCs) were manufactured utilizing the compocasting approach in this study. Chopped carbon fibers (CFs) are reinforced along with different weight fractions of nanoclay (1–5%) in the matrix of AA6026 forming AHNCs. The AHNCs specimens were examined by microstructural analysis, mechanical characterization, fatigue, and corrosion strength as per ASTM guidelines. Electroless plating method is adopted for coating CFs with copper to improve the wettability with matrix. SEM pictures of manufactured composites reveal thin inter-dendritic aluminum grains with precipitate particle of eutectic at intergranular junctions, as well as nanoclay particles that have precipitated in the matrix. Tensile strength (TS) rises with inclusion of nanoclay up to a maximum of 212.46 MPa for 3% nanoclay reinforcement, after which the TS is reduced due to non-homogeneity in distribution, agglomeration and de-bonding of nanoparticles. Similarly, micro-hardness increases with addition of 3% nanoclay after which it decreases. Higher energy absorption was achieved with 3% nanoclay reinforced hybrid and a significant improvement in flexural strength was obtained. With addition of both CFs and nanoclay, the fatigue strength of the hybrid composite tends to increase due to flexible CFs and high surface area nanoclays which strengthen the grain boundaries until 3% addition. Addition of nanoclay lowers the corrosion rate with nanoclays filling the crevices and voids in the matrix.

In this present investigation, machinability studies on novel aluminum composite with hybrid reinforcements of copper-coated 4% carbon fibers (CFs) and 3% nanoclay in AA6026 matrix fabricated by compocasting method is performed. Step drill bit and multifaceted drill bit are used by adopting central composite design (CCD) in response surface methodology (RSM). The outcomes show that, with a rise in rotational speed surface irregularities, resultant force and material removal rate (MRR) intensifies, and with the additional rise in rotational speed, all the outputs decrease considerably. High MRR, resultant cutting force, and surface roughness are obtained with multifaceted carbide drills, compared with a step drill. Desirability function is used to maximize the MRR and minimize the resultant cutting forces considering the constant surface roughness of 3 μm. The optimal values are rotational speed of 1285 rpm, feed rate of 60 mm/min with the step drill bit, producing an MRR of 0.0439 kg/sec and a resultant cutting force of 185.818 N. The second-order empirical models are developed for outputs, which are fed into the non-traditional metaheuristic Evaporation Rate-based Water Cycle Algorithm (ER-WCA) therefore the lower objective value is achieved with step drill of 51.7421. It is found that using a step drill the machinability performance of this hybrid nanocomposite is well improved than the machining with other drill bits. This composite fulfills the norms of 2000/53/CE-ELV European environmental directives.

We have hybridized Angelic gigas Nakai flower extract (AGNF) and two-dimensional layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanomaterials through reversible dehydration-hydration in order to obtain the nanopowder of natural extract. The Angelica gigas Nakai flower was treated with methanol to extract carbohydrate, polyphenol, and flavonoid components. LDH with an uniform size of 250 nm was prepared by hydrothermal method and calcined at 400ºC to obtain layered double oxide (LDO) precursor. For hybridization, AGNF in 40% methanol was reacted with LDO powder at various AGNF/LDO weight ratios: 0.15, 0.30, 0.85, and 1.70. The hybrids were obtained in fine powder which had enhanced hydrophilicity and water dispersity compared with dried AGNF. The X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic results revealed that the house-of-cards structure of nanomaterials could encapsulate AGNF moiety inside their cavity. Quantitative analyses using UV-Vis spectra exhibited that the content of AGNF in hybrid increased upon AGNF/LDO ratio in reactant increased. According to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay, AGNF/LDO showed higher antioxidant activity compared with an equivalent amount of AGNF itself.

Flexible polyurethane/clay porous nanocomposite foams were synthesized using natural and organically modified montmorillonite clays such as bentonite, closite 10A and closite 30B. The content of nanoclays was varied from 1 to 5 wt% of polyol. Dispersion of clay in Polyurethane(PU) matrix was investigated by X-ray diffraction(Cu-Kα rays of wavelength 1.54Å) using an X-ray diffractometer. Also, we determined that the thermal resistance of PU foam increased with added clay, compared to that of pure PU foam. The cell size and the fraction of open cells of the precursor foam were controlled by the addition of clay to the polyurethane foam. Modified clays were found to be more efficient cell openers than the unmodified clay. In addition, the tensile strength and elongation of the polyurethane/clay porous nanocomposites were examined. Increasing clay content increased the mechanical properties of the composites, such as tensile strength, and elongation at break. However, increasing the content over 5 wt% deteriorated the properties of the composites. We found that the nanofillers(bentonite, closite 10A and closite 30B) improved the thermal stability of the nanocomposite foam. The nanocomposite foam containing 3 wt% of closite 30B exhibited the best tensile strength and thermal stability.

As a part of enhancing the performance of wood-plastic composites (WPC), polypropylene (PP)/ nanoclay (NC)/ wood flour (WF) nanocomposites were prepared using melt blending and injection molding process to evaluate their thermal stability. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to investigate thermal degradation kinetics of the nanocomposites both dynamic and isothermal conditions. Dynamic scans of the TGA showed an increased thermal stability of the nanocomposites at moderate wood flour concentrations (up to 20 phr, percentage based on hundred percent resin) while it decreased with the addition of 30 phr wood flour. The activation energy (Ea) of thermal degradation of nanocomposites increased when nanoclay was added and the concentration of wood flour increased. Different equations were used to evaluate isothermal degradation kinetics using the rate of thermal degradation of the composites, expressed as weight loss (%) from their isothermal TGA curves. Degradation occurred at faster rate in the initial stages of about 60 min., and then proceeded in a gradual manner. However, nanocomposites with wood flour of 30 phr heated at 300℃ showed a drastic difference in their degradation behavior, and reached almost a complete decomposition after 40 min. of the isothermal heating. The degree of decomposition was greater at higher temperatures, and the residual weight of isothermal degradation of nanocomposites greatly varied from about 10 to 90%, depending on isothermal temperatures. The isothermal degradation of nanocomposites also increased their thermal stability with the addition of 1 phr nanoclay and of wood flour up to 20 phr. But, the degradation of PP100/NC1/MAPP3/WF30 nanocomposites with 30 phr wood flour occurs at a faster rate compared to those of the others, indicating a decrease in their thermal stability.