This research work focuses on the practicality of using organic binders for the briquetting of pellet fines. The developed briquettes were evaluated in terms of mechanical strength and reduction behavior with hydrogen. A hydraulic compression testing machine and thermogravimetric analysis were incorporated into this work to investigate the mechanical strength and reduction behavior of the produced briquettes. Six organic binders, namely Kempel, lignin, starch, lignosulfonate, Alcotac CB6, and Alcotac FE14, in addition to sodium silicate, were tested for the briquetting of pellet fines. The highest mechanical strength was achieved using sodium silicate, Kempel, CB6, and lignosulfonate. The best combination of binder to attain the required mechanical strength even after 100% reduction was found to be a combination of 1.5 wt.% of organic binder (either CB6 or Kempel) with 0.5 wt.% of inorganic binder (sodium silicate). Upscaling using an extruder gave propitious results in the reduction behavior, as the produced briquettes were highly porous and attained pre-requisite mechanical strength.

The existing work deals with the development of Al-Si-Mg-Ni hypoeutectic alloys and to investigate the impact of solutionising time on their morphology and how these alloys behave mechanically. Al, Si, Mg, Ni of required weight percentages were melted into a clay graphite crucible and the mixture was poured into a permanent mould from which cast rods of ø32 mm ×156 mm in length were obtained. The cast rods were solutionised at 538 °C for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h, respectively. Further, the alloys were then quenched into 30 °C water and subsequently aged at 155 °C for 12 h. It is perceived from the investigation that, as the solutionising time increases, a refinement in the grain of the developed alloy occurs and the hardness and tensile properties were seen increasing. Moreover, ductility was found to be low for the alloy solutionised at 10 h as compared to the LM25 alloy. The scanning electron images of the fractured surface revealed that the increase of solutionising time from 2 to 10 h led to a much smaller extent of the observance of dimples on the fractograph. Furthermore, the fractured surface of the alloy solutionised for 10 h depicted the presence of micro-voids, which confirms the ceasing of ductile behaviour because of longer solutionising time.

Abstract: The current paper reviews the research conducted on wrought Cu–Sn, Cu–Sn–Ti and Cu–Sn–Zn alloys intending to reveal the details on morphological and mechanical behaviour during various manufacturing operations. The motivational force of employing copper-based alloys in automotive and marine industries is its mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. One of the important factors that affect mechanical properties is micrograph. The grain size, grain distribution, heat treatment, morphological behaviour and the intermediate phase formation highly influence the properties of the copper-based alloys. Moreover, the change in microstructure through different manufacturing process (wrought process), heat treatment and addition of alloying element also improve the mechanical and thermal properties. This paper aims to review the major conclusions on improving the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of wrought Cu–Sn, Cu–Sn–Zn and Cu–Sn–Ti alloys. Analysis and observations of each investigation were prepared by incorporating the morphological results obtained through Optical Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope, X-ray Diffraction Technique and Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy. This review paper also attempts to give the areas of future researches and developments that can be made for these wrought alloys. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

The current work is focused to ascertain the impact on the mechanical and morphological characteristics of hypoeutectic alloy Al–Ni with a range of solution treatment temperatures. Al, Ni, Si, and Mg of necessary weight percentages were melted in a crucible (make–clay graphite) and were cast. The cast alloys were then solutionised for 8 h from 450 to 550 °C, quenched and was aged for 12 h at 170 °C. The fractography, intermediate phase and the elementary composition of alloy was determined. It was observed from the investigation that a rise in solutionising temperature caused grain refinement in the developed hypoeutectic alloys. A surge in the value of hardness was observed with respect to the rise in solutionising temperature. It was also noticed from the analysis that the value of tensile strength, yield strength, ductility and impact resistance of the hypoeutectic alloys enhanced with temperature rise from 480 to 510 °C and then declined from 510 to 550 °C.

The article reviews the progress made on bronze alloys processed through various casting techniques, and focuses on enhancements in the microstructural characteristics, hardness, tensile properties, and tribological behaviour of Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Ti alloys. Copper and its alloys have found several applications in the fields of automobiles, marine and machine tools specifically for propellers in submarines, bearings, and bushings. It has also been reported that bronze alloys are especially used as an anti-wear and friction-reducing material to make high performance bearings for roller cone cock bits and warships for defence purposes. In these applications, properties like tensile strength, yield strength, fatigue strength, elongation, hardness, impact strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance are very important; however, these bronze alloys possess only moderate hardness, which results in low wear resistance, thereby limiting the application of these alloys in the automobile industry. The major factor that influences the properties of bronze alloys is the microstructure. Morphological changes in these bronze alloys are achieved through different manufacturing techniques, such as casting, heat treatment, and alloy addition, which enhance the mechanical, tribological, and corrosion characteristics. Alloying of Ti to cast Cu-Sn is very effective in changing the microstructure of bronze alloys. Reinforcing the bronze matrix with several ceramic particles and surface modifications also improves the properties of bronze alloys. The present article reviews the techniques involved in changing the microstructure and enhancing the mechanical and tribological behaviours of cast Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Ti alloys. Moreover, this article also reviews the industrial applications and future scope of these cast alloys in the automobile and marine industries.