Fabrication of polyethylene-based surface composite reinforced by carbon nano-tube and nano-clay through friction stir processing

Abstract

In the present work, friction stir processing has been utilized to fabricate in situ polymer surface hybrid composite. The surface of polyethylene matrix was reinforced by the combination of multi wall carbon nano-tube and nano-clay powders. Here, L₉ Taguchi orthogonal array was used to design the experiment taking into account the effects of tool rotary speed, travel speed, and reinforcement type on tensile strength flexural strength and modulus of electricity. The results showed that both tensile and flexural strengths varied in a similar manner by varying the process factors. Homogeneity in reinforcement, higher value of tool rotary speed (i.e. 1600 r/min), and low value of travel speed (i.e. 40 mm/min) cause appropriate material flow and uniform dispersion of reinforcement in friction stir processed zone. Also, it was shown that the middle value of tool rotary speed (1200 r/min) and travel speed (60 mm/min) along with applying pure nano-clay enhances the elasticity modulus.