Browsing by Author "Sefiu Adekunle BELLO"

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    Production of Flamboyant Pod Nanoparticles as Emerging Reinforcements for Structural Composite Materials
    (Materials Research Forum LLC, Materials Research Proceedings 63 (2026) 64-71, 2026-01-01) Sefiu Adekunle BELLO; Maruf Yinka KOLAWOLE; Musa Opeyemi ABDULLAHI; Blessing OGBONAYA; Ayodele Gabriel IDOWU; John Olu OMOTOSHO; Sunday Wilson BALOGUN
    Dynamic changes in environmental conditions had necessitated continuous research towards the development of innovative structural composites with enhanced properties. To produce functional concrete-based composites, there is a need for structural modification using reinforcing fillers that could improve the strength and toughness of the composites. Agricultural exercise creates many nonedible components which constitute environmental nuisances owing to their little or no economic value. However, processing such components into useful reinforcing fillers in concrete and other matrices for composite development encourages a wealth creation from waste, environmental hygiene and ecofriendly materials for engineering applications. This study focuses only on the production of nanoparticles which can be used as fillers in composite development. Nanoparticles were produced from the flamboyant pods using a disc and optimised ball milling technique. Pods were pulverised using a disc miller and the powders obtained were ball milled at varied charge ratios and velocities to produce reinforcing nanoparticles. Particles obtained in each of the milling exercises were analysed and 2 functional interaction response surface model was developed to optimise the milling parameters and particle sizes. Result obtained indicated a decrease in size of the flamboyant pod particles as milling durations and charge ratios increase. P value of the model <0.0001 which is much less than 0.05 shows that the model is significant in explaining dependence of the particle sizes on the milling parameters. Hence, the developed model affirms that a minimum size of 3.5209 nm of the flamboyant pod particles can be obtained without agglomeration of particles when milling at 10 charge ratios for 17 hours 29 minutes
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    WEAR RESISTANCE PROPERTIES OF EPOXY ALUMINIUM MICROPARTICLE COMPOSITE
    (Proceedings on Engineering Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 2019) Sefiu Adekunle BELLO; Johnson Olumuyiwa AGUNSOYE; Jeleel Adekunle ADEBISI; Nasirudeen Kolawole RAJI; Suleiman Bolaji HASSAN
    Present priority of light materials for enhancing automobile safety and fuel efficiency creates a premise for developing new materials with optimum combination of lightness and better or comparative properties to replace existing heavy alloys for transportation applications. Previous authors’ study reveals development of epoxy aluminium composite with investigation of mechanical properties and its targeted application as an automobile bumper but the wear resistance of the composite has not been reported. This study investigates wear resistance properties of epoxy containing 10% by weight of aluminium microparticles. The composite was produced from epoxy resin (MAX 1618 A) cured with hardener (MAX 1618 B) at 2:1 volume mix ratio through in-situ polymerisation. Firstly, wear rates (volume loss per unit time) were measured as a function of the applied load. Then, the wear rates (mass loss per sliding distance) were examined as a function of the applied load, velocity and % weight of aluminium particles. Worn-out surfaces of examined samples were tracked morphologically. Result obtained indicated that the applied load, sliding speed and percentage by weight are all significant factors influencing the wear resistance of the epoxy composites with the model, P value of 0.049≤0.05. The sliding velocity of β value = 0.011 contributed to increase in the wear rate than the applied load having lower β value (0.001). Addition of aluminium particles (β value = -0.003) to the epoxy lowered the wear rate. This implies that an increase in the wt% of aluminium particle added to the epoxy enhances the wear resistance of the composites. SEM study affirms the wear mechanism by crack nucleation which is characterised with continual propagation, deflection and pining. A greater damage observed on the surface of epoxy polymer justifies its higher wear rates in comparison with those of the composite.