Micro-EDM: Cost-Effective Method for Generation of in-situ Silver Nanofluids - Formation, Morphology and Thermal Properties
Date16th Jul 2020
Time11:00 AM
Venue Through Google Meet Link: meet.google.com/hiz-qyvc-muy
PAST EVENT
Details
Nanoscience and nanotechnology is the field of study of minuscule particles with the dimensions being less than 100 nm. These nanoparticles are extensively exploited in almost all areas of science and technology, such as optics, catalysis, bacterial inhibition, drug delivery, heat transfer, lubrication, etc. With this much great importance, the generation, tuning of nanoparticle properties, and their application suitability studies are the prime focus of research worldwide. Silver nanoparticles, in particular, receiving more importance due to the ability to showcase antimicrobial/antifungal characteristics, efficient drug carriers, energy storage, and exhibit high electric and thermal conductivity. These properties enabled the use of silver nanoparticles, mainly in textiles, food packaging, cosmetics, wound dressing, theranostics, etc. To meet the requirements, there is a need for efficient, eco-friendly, and simple techniques to produce the silver nanoparticles. For a high yield of nanoparticles, physical synthesis methods such as wire explosion, ball milling, laser spraying, ion beam machining, flame spraying techniques are widely used. But these techniques require high investment cost, power consumption, and costly maintenance. To overcome these shortcomings, Micro-Electro Discharge Machining (micro-EDM) can be used as an alternative method. Micro-EDM is one of the non-conventional machining processes used to machine metallic and semiconductor materials. In this process, the material is removed by melting & evaporation, and the debris will be dispersed in the dielectric fluid. The size, shape, structure of debris can be controlled by tuning machining parameters such as voltage, duty cycle, inter-electrode gap, current, etc to form nanoparticles. There are some difficulties in using commercially available EDM machines as they carry a sizeable dielectric tank, fewer options in changing the machining parameters to utilize in generating nanoparticles. Hence an attempt has been made in developing the indigenous micro-EDM setups used for nanoparticle research. The first setup includes mainly the Piezo-actuated tool feed mechanism and, in the second setup, hybrid tool feed mechanisms for better functionality and yield. Suitable controllers are also developed to improve the yield of nanoparticle generation. The main work focus of the seminar includes investigating the effect of dielectric fluids such as Deionized water (DI), Deionized water with 4 wt% of Poly-Vinyl Alcohol (DI+PVA), Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Kerosene (KR) in changing properties of in-situ prepared silver nanofluids. Various diagnostic techniques are performed to study the particle concentration, morphology, size distributions, and thermal properties. With the spark energy of 1.15 mJ, the in-house developed micro-EDM process yielded the highest nanoparticles concentration of 2.68 g/L in KR fluid followed by DI+PVA fluid of 2.13 g/L, DI fluid of 2.09 g/L and least in EG fluid of 1.04 g/L.
Speakers
Mr. Ishwar Bhiradi (ME17D025)
Department of Mechanical Engineering