Please cite this article in press as: H.C. Madhusudhana, et al., Effect of fuels on conductivity, dielectric and humidity sensing properties of ZrO 2 nanocrystals prepared by low temperature solution combustion method, J. Asian Ceram. Soc. (2016), http://dx.

Nano aluminum oxide was prepared by the combustion method using aluminum nitrate as the oxidizer and urea as a fuel. Characterization of synthesized materials was performed using SEM (scanning electron microscope), powder XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and TEM (transmission electron microscope). Al-Mg/Al2O3 (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt%) metal matrix nanocomposites were prepared by liquid metallurgy route-vertex technique. The homogeneous dispersion of nano Al2O3 particles in Al-Mg/Al2O3 metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) was revealed from the field emission SEM analysis. The reinforcement particles present in the matrix were analyzed through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy method. The properties (corrosion and mechanical) of the fabricated composites were evaluated. The mechanical and corrosion properties of the prepared nanocomposites initially increased and then decreased with the addition of nano Al2O3 particles in Al-Mg Matrix. The studies show that, the presence of 6 wt% of nano Al2O3 particles in the matrix improved the properties of other combinations of nano Al2O3 in the Al-Mg matrix material. Further, the Al-Mg/Al2O3 (6 wt%) MMNCs are joined by friction stir welding and evaluated for microstructural, mechanical, and corrosion properties. Al-Mg/Al2O3 MMNCs may find applications in the marine field. The response surface method (RSM) was used for the optimization of tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and microhardness of the synthesized material which resulted in a 95% of statistical confidence level. Artificial neural network (ANN) analysis was also carried out which perfectly predicted these two properties. The ANN model is optimized to obtain 99.9% accurate predictions by changing the number of neurons in the hidden layer.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Polypyrrole/molybdenum trioxide composites (PPy/MoO3) were synthesized by chemical oxidation method, which involved the polymerization of pyrrole (PPy) with molybdenum trioxide (MoO3). This process involved ammonium persulphate which acted as an oxidizing agent.Diverse compositions of MoO3 such as 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt. % in pyrrole were used to synthesize PPy/MoO3 composites.Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the above composites has revealed the presence of multiple phases comprising of MoO3 particles embedded in PPy chain. The observed increase in current could be due to hopping of a large number of charge carriers between favorable localized sites and is attributed to change in the distribution pattern of MoO3 particles.The present study also involved the measurement of susceptance, impedance and electrical modulus, and has disclosed the major influence of dimensions of MoO3 particles present in the matrix on all the properties. The composites discussed in the present study may throw some light on their applications in various areas namely humidity sensor, micro power generator, dielectrics and as semiconductors.

No abstract