Publication

Abstract : The nanocomposite consists of an iron matrix with fly ash nanopowder and carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement through the sintering process. Parameter optimization for enhancing hardness and compressive strength. There were six factors considered such as volume percentage of fly ash (2.5% and 5%) and CNT (2.5% and 5%), size of the CNT (50 nm and 100 nm), sintering temperature (800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C), pressure (500 MPa, 600 MPa, and 700 MPa) and time (15 min, 30 min, and 45 min). Taguchi technique with L36 orthogonal array considered for factors optimization with the superior consequence is convincible condition. The optimized factors for maximum hardness as well as the compressive strength were as follows: fly ash 2.5 vol% and 50 nm size CNT of 5 vol%. The composite samples were produced employing the sintering process. The optimal parameters are the temperature of 1000 °C, sintering pressure of 600 MPa and 15 min. The mathematical model was developed for predicting the hardness and compressive strength for any combinations of factors. The R2 value greater than 95% meant that the predicted models have good agreement with the experimented results and were accurate.