Ms.G.J.Karmarkar, Ms.Divya Padmanabhan, Mr.Gajanan Thokal / International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.

com Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.224-227

Comparison Of Mechanical Properties Of Al2O3 And Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

ME scholar (ME-CAD CAM and Robotics -PIIT New Panvel, Navi Mumbai) Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering , PIIT, New Panvel, Navi Mumbai

Abstract
A composite is a is artificially made material system consisting of two or more phases. Excellent strength to weight ratio and stiffness to weight ratio could be achieved using these materials. Composite materials (laminates, ply built up) could be tailored to give mechanical properties in various dimensions. They are manufactured by using variety of manufacturing processes. In this work various composites of Al2O3 and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared using powder injection moulding process. Al2O3 and LDPE composite is a biocompatible material which could be used in low load bearing implant applications. The flexural strength of the various combinations of Al2O3 and LDPE were determined experimentally and the results have been compared with the results obtained using analytical software ANSYS 12. The flexural strength was calculated using three point bend test. Keywords: composite material, flexural strength, simulation, ANSYS 12. The finite element analysis is an essential tool in virtual product development. It helps in predicting the product performance before actual prototype is made, reduces the no of physical prototypes and the cost. To confirm the behaviour of composites under required operating conditions, composites are subjected to different types of tests amely tensile test, compressive test, interlaminar shear test, mode I fracture test etc. M S Abu Bakar et al. carried out test to check the tensile and tension-tension fatigue properties of orthopaedic implants. They found that the ductility of the composite decreases as the percentage of hydroxyapatite (HA) increases. The Youngs modulus and the tensile strength of the samples were found to decrease. However these samples withstood the fatigue test [2]. Compressive property durability of carbon fibre reinforced Polyetheretherketone (CF-PEEK) composites was tested by Guigen Zhang et al. under two environments: dry and saline. They were also tested at three different temperatures namely 37, 65, and 950C to see the effect of elevated temperatures. The strength values were recorded at eight different times for 5000 hours. The test results showed that there was not much effect of salinity, time and temperatures on ultimate tensile strength, Modulli and poission ratio [3].I Ozdemir et al. studied the failure behaviour of composites of extruded aluminium matrix reinforced with 10 and 20 % volume of SiC particles. The samples were subjected to tensile and thermal cyclic tests. The temperature range was 250C to 430 0C. It was found that the elasticity and strain increase at room and lower temperatures, but reduced as temperature increased [4].Kristina Brandt et al. used a novel method for obtaining high ceramic content composite material. The hard particles were coated by a thin polymer layer and were warm pressed to obtain the desired shape. They used customized four point bend test device to determine the flexural strength and flexural elastic modulus of poly (methyl methacrylate) (i.e. PMMA) encapsulated Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle composite. The composites microstructure showed successful polymer encapsulation of TiO2 up to 66% of TiO2 with porosity less than 5% [5]. Inter-laminar shear testing (by using Asymmetric Four Point Bend test) was recommended by V. Dayal et al. for conditions

I.

Introduction

Many modern technologies require materials with unusual combinations of properties. These may be combination of low density and high stiffness; they may be required to have high abrasion and impact resistance. However strong materials available are relatively dense. If we increase strength and stiffness by heat treatments impact strength decreases. But it has been possible to get required properties of materials by using composite materials. Their mechanical performance and properties can be designed for the required purpose. The constituents of these materials include metal alloys, low melting metals, polymers and ceramics. Properties of these materials depend on the properties of constituents, particle size, distribution, orientation and proportion of phases. The distribution of phases should be such as to make the composites homogeneous. This improves quality of the composite. The interphase i.e. the bond between matrix and reinforcement also plays an important role. This may affect failure path, stress-strain behaviour [1].

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Ms.G.J.Karmarkar, Ms.Divya Padmanabhan, Mr.Gajanan Thokal / International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.224-227
where only small samples were available in development stage. To achieve pure shear stress in the middle of inner loading points, the span distances between the top and bottom pins were equal but displaced with respect to each other [6]. J. M. Gomez de Salazar et al. carried out compression and wear test on ceramic foams (SiC, and SiO2.ZrO2) combined with an epoxy vinyl-ester resin. They found that 20 ppi SiC/polymer composite gave the best mechanical properties [7]. Mode I delamination resistance test was accepted for quasi static loading of unidirectional carbon or glass fibre reinforced polymer matrix. A.J. Brunner et al. had studied the possibilities of applying the same for reinforcement of polymer matrix by natural fibres, braided or knitted fabrics and multidirectional fibre laminations. They had found that the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) test could be used for unidirectional fibre laminates with other fibre types as the methodology of test was equivalent to the standard test method. But it cannot be applied to multidirectional layers [8]. Christensen developed a three dimensional stress based failure criterion for isotropic materials whose tensile strength is less than or equal to compressive strength. For brittle materials along with this, none of the principal stress should exceed the tensile strength of the material [9].The results predicted by the Christensen criterion were found to be in good agreement with the results predicted by Von Mises criteria for ductile materials as well as with other criteria for brittle materials [10]. = + [ 2 ] = + [ 3 ] Where, c = Composite material property f = property of reinforced material m =property of matrix material Vf = volume fraction of reinforced material. Vm = volume fraction of matrix material Ec = modulus of elasticity of composite material Ef = modulus of elasticity ofreinforced material Em = modulus of elasticity ofmatrix material c= poissons ratio of composite material f= poissons ratio of reinforced material m= poissons ratio of matrix material =1/6 [1] Christensen failure criterion: For all materials In terms of principle stresses, 1 1 1 + 2 + 3 +

1
1

1 2

+
4

2 3

+ 3 1

For brittle materials following criteria should be checked:

[9] 3. The flexural strength is calculated by 3PL = 2

II.

Experimental work

1. Methodology: The properties of composite materials are calculated by using formula for rule of mixture: = + 1 2. Experiment Injection moulding process was used to prepare ceramic-polymer composites of varying compositions. The injection moulded composites

P = load at rupture in N L = distance between two supports in m B = width in m D = height in m = Flexural strength in N/m2 were tested for flexural strength using test standard ASTM-D790 for three point bend test on UTM with a cross head speed of 2 mm/min.

III.

Results:
Table 1: Test results
M ATERIAL DIM ENSIONS L x B x D (mm) 50 x 10 x 5.9 50 x 9.9 x 6 50 x 10.38 x 6 25 x 10.1 x 6 25 x 9.92 x 6.14 RUPTURE LOAD 66.3 N 98.1 N 50.40 N 82 N 52.5 N FLEXURAL STRENGTH 14.05 M Pa 20.68 M Pa 10.39 M Pa 8.29 M Pa 5.18 M Pa

50%Al 2O3 50% LDPE [NON POROUS] 50% Al 2O3, 50% LDPE [POROUS] 60% Al 2O3, 40% LDPE [Al2O3 as M atrix] 40% Al 2O3, 60% LDPE [NON POROUS] 40% Al2O3, 60% LDPE [POROUS]

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Ms.G.J.Karmarkar, Ms.Divya Padmanabhan, Mr.Gajanan Thokal / International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.224-227
Simulation: obtained experimentally. The stress values The flexural strength of composite was (principle stresses) computed from ANSYS12 were simulated using analysis software ANSYS 12 and it used as an input values in Christensen failure is compared with results obtained experimentally. criteria. Three point bend test is used to determine flexural First analysis was carried out for Al2O3 strength of composite. sample. The results compared well with those For comparison of results, the load value given in the literature. This has been shown in table corresponding to Christensen failure criteria was 2. compared with the load value at rupture which is Table 2: Rupture load and flexural strength values for Al2O3
RUPTURE LOAD ANALYSIS VALUE LITERATURE VALUE 3608 N 980 - 3920 N (CALCULATED USING FLEXURE FORM ULA) FLEXURAL STRENGTH 372.11 M Pa 150 M Pa - 600 M Pa [11]

Then the same analysis was carried out on of Al2O3 and LDPE. The results were compared ANSYS 12 for samples of different compositions with test results. The same are tabulated in table 3. Table 3: The results of analysis M ATERIAL RUPTURE LOAD FLEXURAL STRENGTH
Al 2O3 50% Al 2O3, 50% LDPE [NON POROUS] 50% Al 2O3, 50% LDPE [POROUS] 60% Al 2O3, 40% LDPE [LDPE AS M ATRIX] 60% Al 2O3, 40% LDPE [Al2O3 AS M ATRIX] 40% Al 2O3, 60% LDPE [NON POROUS] 40% Al 2O3, 60% LDPE 738 N 74 M Pa 738 N 76.11 M Pa 5040 N 674.37 M Pa 1000 N 200.71 M Pa 510 N 71.54 M Pa 3608 N 730 N 372.11 M Pa 152.08 M Pa

[POROUS]
IV. Discussion
The adhesion between the reinforced particles and the matrix depends upon the grain size and the grain shape, as the area of adhesion increases when the grains are of odd shape and is comparatively less in case of circular particles. It also depends upon the grain size, the surface tension of the matrix when heated. All these have to be closely controlled. The samples may contain defects such as blow holes, surface cracks etc; that reduces the strength of the material. The samples therefore

It is observed that there is a difference between the analytical values and experimental values of flexural strength of samples of different compositions. The possible reasons could be, faults in materials due to faulty manufacture like the temperature not properly adjusted considering the melting point, plasticity point and viscosity of the material for injection moulding process.This may be due faulty screw rig or electrical heater used.

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Ms.G.J.Karmarkar, Ms.Divya Padmanabhan, Mr.Gajanan Thokal / International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.224-227
must be tested for such faults before actual testing is carried out. Another reasons may be non uniform mixing of materials while sample preparation which makes the sample non homogeneous while for analysis materials were assumed to be perfectly homogeneous. This may also be due to improper bonding between two constituent materials. The properties of the sample material like Youngs modules, Poissons ratio etc.assumed for the analysis may be different from the properties of the actual sample. Difficulty in modelling actual load condition was found during analysis in ANSYS 12. The load was modelled as point load while in actual testing it was a distributed load along the roller surface. Therefore the implant must be tested for any such faults before it is actually used. [7] J.M. Gmez de Salazar, M.I. Barrena , G. Morales, L. Matesanz, N. Merino, Compression strength and wear resistance of ceramic foamspolymer composites, Materials letters, vol.60 , pp.1687-1692 (2006) A.J. Brunner, B.R.K.Blackman, P.Davies, A status report on delamination resistance testing of polymer-matrix composites, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Vol.75,pp. 2779-2794 (2008) Failure criterion for brittle and ductile materials, www. Failurecriteria.com, cited on 24/01/2013. Antonio Perez-gonzalez, Jose L IserteVilar, Carman Gonzalez-Lunch, Interpreting finite element results for brittle materials in endodontic restorations online article 2011, Bio Medical engineering Online. PerttiAuerkary, Mechanical and physical properties of engineering Alumina ceramics, VIT TIEDOTTEITAMEDDELANDEN-RESEARCH NOTES 1792, technical research center of Finland ESPOO -1996. ISBN 951-38-4987-2, ISSN 1235-0605

[8]

[9]

[10]

References
[1] ssac M. Danial, Or Ishai, Engineering mechanics of composite materials, 2003 second edition, Oxford university press. M.S. Abu Bakar, M.H.W. Cheng, S.M. Tang, S.C. Yu, K. Liao, C.T. Tan, K.A. Khor, P. Cheang Tensile properties, tensiontension fatigue and biological response of Polyetheretherketone hydroxyapatite composites for loadbearing orthopedic implants , Biomaterials ,Vol.24, pp. 22452250, (2003). Guigen Zhang, Robert A. Latour Jr, John M. Kennedy, H. Del Schutte Jr , Richard J. Friedman Long-term compressive property durability of carbon fibrereinforced Polyetheretherketone composite in physiological saline biomaterials ,Vol.17, pp. 781-789(1996). I. Ozdemir, M. Toparli, K. ONel, Y. Tsuenkawa, Fracture and failure of ALSiCp composites at different temperatures and conditions, journal of composite materials, Vol.39, pp. 601-615, (2005). Kristina Brandt , Vitalij Salikov , Hseyin zcoban , Peter Staron , Andreas Schreyer, Luis A.S.A. Prado , Karl Schulte, Stefan Heinrich , Gerold A. Schneider Novel ceramicpolymer composites synthesized by compaction of polymer-encapsulated TiO2nanoparticles, Composites Science and Technology , Vol.72, pp. 6571 ,(2011). O.Unal, V.Dayal, Interlaminar shear strength measurement of ceramic composites by asymmetric four point bend shear test., Material science and engineering, Vol. A340, pp. 170174,(2003) [11]

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