Friction and wear properties of functionally graded aluminum matrix composites

Aluminum matrix composites are currently considered as promising materials for tribological applications in the automotive, aircraft and aerospace industries due to their great advantage of a high strength-to-weight ratio. A superior combination of surface and bulk mechanical properties can be attained if these composites are processed as functionally graded materials (FGM's). In this work, homogeneous aluminum based matrix composite, cast by gravity, and aluminum composites with functionally graded properties, obtained by centrifugal cast, are tested against nodular cast iron in a pin-on-disc tribometer. Three different volume fractions of SiC reinforcing particles in each FGM were considered in order to evaluate their friction and wear properties. The sliding experiments were conducted without lubrication, at room temperature, under a normal load of 5 N and constant sliding speed of 0.5 ms-1. The worn surfaces as well as the wear debris were characterized by SEM/EDS and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The friction coefficient revealed a slightly decrease (from 0.60 to 0.50) when FGM's are involved in the contact instead of the homogeneous composite. Relatively low values of the wear coefficient were obtained for functionally graded aluminum matrix composites (≈10-6 mm3N-1 m-1), which exhibited superior wear resistance than the homogeneous composite and the opposing cast iron surface. Characterization of worn surfaces indicated that the combined effect of reinforcing particles as load bearing elements and the formation of protective adherent iron-rich tribolayers has a decisive role on the friction and wear properties of aluminum matrix composites.

A case study of concurrent engineering application on the development of parts for the white goods industry in Brazil

This classical way to manage product development processes for massive production seems to be changing: high pressure for cost reduction, higher quality standards, markets reaching for innovation lead to the necessity of new tools for development control. Into this, and learning from the automotive and aerospace industries factories from other segments are starting to understand and apply manufacturing and assembly oriented projects to ease the task of generate goods and from this obtain at least a part of the expected results. This paper is intended to demonstrate the applicability of the concepts of Concurrent Engineering and DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) in the development of products and parts for the White Goods industry in Brazil (major appliances as refrigerators, cookers and washing machines), showing one case concerning the development and releasing of a component. Finally is demonstrated in a short term how was reached a solution that could provide cost savings and reduction on the time to delivery using those techniques.

Otimização da retificação tangencial plana de compósitos plásticos reforçados com fibras de carbono

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Nitrogen diffusion in the Nb-1.0wt%Zr measured by mechanical spectroscopy

The scientific and technological development in the area of new materials contributed to several applications of niobium and its alloys in nuclear power plants as well as in aerospace, aeronautics, automobile and naval industries. This paper presents the interstitial diffusion coefficients of nitrogen in solid solution in the Nb-1.0wt%Zr alloy using internal friction measurements obtained by mechanical spectroscopy, which uses a torsion pendulum operating at an oscillation frequency between 1.0 Hz and 10.0 Hz. The temperature range varies from 300K to 700K, at a heating rate of 1 K/min and vacuum better than 2 x 10(-6) Torr. The results showed an increase of the interstitial diffusion coefficient of nitrogen that was correlated with configurational considerations for the octahedral interstitials.

A study of reverse logistics flow management in vehicle battery industries in the midwest of the state of São Paulo (Brazil)

Having the objective of minimizing costs and improving their image in the consumer and export market, car battery industries began to seek environmental alternatives geared towards sustainable development. Reverse logistics flow represents an unprecedented tool for the economic and operational development of company activities, as well as a differential in the search for competitive advantages through environmentally correct practices. The aim of this paper is to describe the reverse logistics chain adopted by automotive battery industries in the midwest of the state of São Paulo, proposing a reverse logistics framework for small manufacturers that creates actions aimed at not harming the environment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influência da temperatura no desempenho mecânico de compósitos PEI/fibras de vidro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Improving the Fluorescence Detectability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Evaluation of Workplace Environments of Cement Industries Processing Organic Residues

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Numerical simulation of viscous three-dimensional flow over aerospace vehicles using Euler/boundary-layer zonal approach

This paper presents a viscous three-dimensional simulations coupling Euler and boundary layer codes for calculating flows over arbitrary surfaces. The governing equations are written in a general non orthogonal coordinate system. The Levy-Lees transformation generalized to three-dimensional flows is utilized. The inviscid properties are obtained from the Euler equations using the Beam and Warming implicit approximate factorization scheme. The resulting equations are discretized and approximated by a two-point fmitedifference numerical scheme. The code developed is validated and applied to the simulation of the flowfield over aerospace vehicle configurations. The results present good correlation with the available data.

Production of Ti-35Nb alloy by powder metallurgy for aerospace application

Titanium and its alloys provide high strength-to-weight ratios, good fatigue strength and increased corrosion resistance compared with others materials. Its acceptance in aerospace has been limited by costs considerations such as high cost of raw material, high buy-to-fly ratios and expensive machining operations. Significant cost reductions can be obtained by vacuum sintering and powder metallurgy (P/M) techniques by producing near net shapes and consequently minimizing material waste and machining time. The Ti 35Nb alloy exhibit a low modulus of elasticity. Stemming from the unique combination of high strength, low modulus of elasticity and low density, this alloy is intrinsically more resistant to shock and explosion damages than most other engineering materials. Samples were produced by mixing of initial metallic powders followed by uniaxial and cold isostatic pressing with subsequent densification by sintering between 900 and 1600 °C, in vacuum. Sintering behavior was studied by means of dilatometry. Sintered samples were characterized for phase composition, microstructure and microhardness by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Vickers indentation, respectively. Density was measured by Archimedes method. Copyright © 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

Characterization of cure of carbon/epoxy prepreg used in aerospace field

Carbon/epoxy 8552 prepreg is a thermoplastic toughened high-performance epoxy being used in the manufacture of advanced army material. Understanding the cure behavior of a thermosetting system is essential in the development and optimization of composite fabrication processes. The cure kinetics and rheological behavior were evaluated using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and a rheometer. Values of the kinetic parameters were obtained from dynamic DSC scans using an nth order reaction model. Rheological measurements as a function of temperature and time were made for the prepreg system. The manufacturer's recommended cure cycle was evaluated and considered adequate to consolidated the studied system.

Measuring the efficiency of outsourcing: An illustrative case study from the aerospace industry

Outsourcing is related to the action which an organization deals with its suppliers through a kind of business contract where a specific activity or service has been hired to be made. The outsourcing of some activities has become a common practice in the industry, nowadays. It reduces costs, significantly, in the production process and, at the same time, adds some values to the business organization. However it is necessary to measure the performance of these activities. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a non-parametric method useful to measure comparative performance. It has a wide range of applications measuring comparative efficiency. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a multiple criteria decision-making method that uses hierarchic structures to represent a decision problem and then develops priorities for the alternatives based on the decision-maker's judgments. This paper presents an integrated application based on DEA and AHP to evaluate the efficiency of subcontracted companies in a Brazilian aerospace factory. © 2007 Springer-Verlag London Limited.

Digital radiography for the inspection of weld seams of pipelines - better sensitivity

Conventional radiography, using industrial radiographic films, has its days numbered. Digital radiography, recently, has taken its place in various segments of products and services, such as medicine, aerospace, security, automotive, etc. As well as the technological trend, the digital technique has brought proven benefits in terms of productivity, sensitivity, the environment, tools for image treatment, cost reductions, etc. If the weld to be inspected is on a serried product, such as, for example, a pipe, the best option for the use of digital radiography is the plane detector, since its use can reduce the length of the inspection cycle due to its high degree of automation. This work tested welded joints produced with the submerged arc process, which were specially prepared in such a way that it shows small artificial cracks, which served as the basis forcomparing the sensitivity levels of the techniques involved. After carrying out the various experiments, the digital meth odshowed the highest sensitivity for the image quality indicator (IQI) of the wire and also in terms of detecting small discontinuities, indicating that the use of digital radiography using the plane detector had advantages over the conventional technique (Moreira et al. Digital radiography, the use of plane detectors for the inspection of welds in oil pipes and gas pipes.9th COTEQ and XXV National Testing Congress for Non Destructive Testing and Inspection; Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and Bavendiek et al. New digital radiography procedure exceeds film sensitivity considerably in aerospace applications. ECNDT; 2006; Berlin). The works were carried out on the basis of the specifications for oil and gas pipelines, API 5L 2004 edition (American Petroleum Institute. API 5L: specification for line pipe. 4th ed. p. 155; 2004) and ISO 3183 2007 edition (International Organization for Standardization, ISO 3183. Petroleum and gas industries - steel pipes for pi pelines transportation systems. p. 143; 2007). © 2010 Taylor & Francis.