Katsina C. Bala

• PhD
• Federal University of Technology Minna

In this study, the friction stir welding (FSW) process was employed to investigate the effect of tool geometry on the corrosion behaviour and microstructure of friction stir welded AA7075-7651 and AA1200-H19 using Central Composite Design. The workpieces were machined and welded, and the interfaces were milled. A 2-level full factorial experimental...

The response surface technique approach was used in this study to determine the best processing parameters for the three responses. For the friction stir welded dissimilar AA7075-T651 and AA1200- H19 aluminium alloys, the rotating and the welding speed, as well as the tool tilt angle, were used as input variables. Mechanical tests were performed on...

This research looked at how material placement and tool's speed of rotation affects the tensile strength and hardness of weldment manufactured in a butt configuration. The 6 mm thick plates were joined while alternating the material positioning between advancing side and retreating sides. By changing the tool rotational speed and material placement...

The convergent pipes are channels in which the cross sectional area decreases with respect to their length. The flow characteristics through these pipes differ from those of parallel pipes. Therefore, there is need to know more about the flow characteristics of these pipes. In the course of this paper, a model of fluid flow through a converging pip...

There are emerging growing needs to develop automobile brake pad materials from agro-biomass sustainable sources which are lung and environmentally friendly towards replacing asbestos which has been reported to cause other cancerous diseases. It has been established that many research works have been done towards replacing asbestos with other envir...

There are emerging growing needs to develop automobile brake pad materials from agro-biomass sustainable sources which are lung and environmentally friendly towards replacing asbestos which has been reported to cause other cancerous diseases. It has been established that many research works have been done towards replacing asbestos with other envir...

Asbestos, Formaldehyde, phenolic and epoxy resins have been used for so long as automobile brake pads materials because of their good physical and chemical properties. However, due to the health hazard associated especially with handling, several alternative materials are being increasingly considered. This paper presents a new asbestos free brake...

Kaolin and ball clay samples from four states in Nigeria were examined with the aim of determining their chemical composition as well as testing for their suitability as refractory materials for furnaces lining applications. Three kaolin samples were taken from Ikpeshi in Edo, Kasadi in Kebbi and Alaasan in Osun state, while the ball clay sample us...

This study examined the effect of AISI H13 steel-tapered tool on the dissimilar friction stir welding of 7075-T651 and 1200-H19 aluminium alloys. Three mechanical tests which include hardness, tensile strength and impact energy were conducted to study the effect of tilt angle, rotational and welding speeds on the weld integrities, 50 and 175 HV wer...

Process control and monitoring of product quality during metal casting operation(s) cannot be over emphasised. In addition, algorithms, models and optimisation techniques can be developed in metal casting processes to minimise casting defects through artificial intelligence. This review paper explores the applications of artificial intelligence (AI...

In metallurgical industries the quality of refractory clay depends largely on the physical properties of clay and proper selection of clay affect these physical properties which include Porosities, Compressive strength, Linear shrinkage, Thermal shock resistance, and refractoriness. This gives need on the improvement on some physical properties of...

This is a review and overview of the trending researches in automobile brake pad production processes, formulations, materials, and properties. Most of the works attempt mainly on replacing asbestos found to be carcinogenic with base materials with other ingredients in various formulations and particle sizes. Though most of the replacements are non...

This thesis presents the development of an automatic mini-conveyor system for product monitoring. It is aimed at solving relative industrial and manufacturing problems such as product pilferage, inefficient supervision, monitoring and workmanship. It is also to improve production management system, using ICT based platform to enhance monitoring con...

The percentage of moisture in grains is a parameter essential in controlling the market value, rate of drying and control of chemical and fungi activities. The importation into Nigeria of the so called sophisticated moisture meters which are calibrated differently for conditions cost lots of foreign exchange. This paper presents a Nigerian made res...

An investigation has been made to determine the deterioration of moulding sand properties as it is used continually for casting. This is because a lot energy and time is put into the reclamation of moulding sands in the foundry due to its deterioration thereby leading to the production of castings with defects. To be able to determine the deteriora...

The paper presents a study aimed at developing an indigenous moisture measuring device from locally available materials for grains based on the principle of resistance change of the material with corresponding change in moisture during drying. The developed device has four copper electrode cups positions in which both gauging and dummy copper elect...

This paper presents research work on new alternative materials for brake pad. A new asbestos free brake pad was developed using an agro waste material of sawdust along with other ingredients. This was with a view to exploiting the characteristics of sawdust which are largely deposited as waste around sawmills in replacing asbestos which has been fo...

The variables that affect the use of boring process in the workshop floor and its application in the building of tunnel were reviewed in this chapter. It was observed that cutting fluids and its method of application in the workshop were never taken as one of the critical variables that can affect the outcome of the process. Hence, there is a gap t...

The effect of different melting practices on the mechanical properties of sand cast aluminum-silicon alloy scraps have been investigated in this study. Samples of aluminum alloy products were cast using automobile pistons scraps as charge materials. The castings were carried out at four different locations in Nigeria of Oyo, Ondo, Kaduna States and...

Longitudinal slitting technique has been employed to determine the residual stresses in centrifugal cast aluminium rods. Residual stresses were found to decrease with increase in casting speed in the centrifugal casting. The residual stresses of the aluminium rods cast at speeds of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500rpm and at zero (0) second delay time hav...

Asbestos has been used for so long as automobile brake lining material because of its good physical and chemical properties. However, due to the health hazard associated with its handling, it has lost favour and several alternative materials are being increasingly used. Asbestos-free brake lining was developed in this work using pulverized cow hoov...

Mechanical properties of aluminium casting using sands from Gidan Mangoro, Tagwai Dam, Tungan Mallam, Wuya and Zungeru in Niger State of Nigeria was evaluated according to the American Foundry Society (AFS) standard. Tensile, Hardness and Metallographic tests were carried out on the aluminium cast specimens produced from the five different sand sam...

Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy is very attractive for many applications due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and high corrosion resistance. Even then, with these attractive properties, it has poor shear strength and surface wear properties. This study is therefore undertaken to investigate the effect of sliding parameters on the surface wear behavi...

The traditional method of pulverizing and sieving cassava lump in garri production is very tedious, time consuming, unhygienic and consequently with low efficiency. The need to eliminate drudgery in the traditional method, will involves the mechanization of pulverizing and sieving process. This paper presents the fabrication and performance evaluat...

This paper presents the experimental investigation on the effect of digester size on biogas production. Experiments were carried out to produce biogas from different sizes of digester. 1.4 kg of cow dung was used to carry out the experiments. The temperature throughout the period of experimentation was within ambient temperature of 250C to 350C. It...

In ceramic industries, lime or calcium oxide (CaO) has been used successfully to improve the permeability of materials made from clay. This paper presents the outcome of research into the possible use of mud mixed with lime to improve the quality of mud bricks for use in lining of furnaces in the foundry. Results of the tests show that mud generall...

The quality of final casting mainly depends on the rate of solidification as rapid solidification produces fine grains structures with better mechanical properties. The analysis of heat transfer during the casting and solidification of aluminium alloy as well as the experimental investigation of the rate of solidification in varying thicknesses of...

A detailed experimental investigation is been reported on the characterization of beach/river sand for foundry use. Bulk properties of the sand samples collected were evaluated. The experimental results were analyzed as per the American Foundry Society (AFS) standard. The analyses show that samples from Ughelli River, Warri River and Ethiope River...

The quality of casting in the foundry can be measured by the rate at which solidification of the molten metal takes place, which is consequent upon the rate the mould, is able to dissipate the heat of solidification to the surroundings. The faster or slower the heat removal process during solidification the structure of the grains formed by the cas...

One of the very important parameters to assess the properties of materials produced by casting process is the solidification time. This paper presents the influence of mould thickness and temperatures on the solidification time of aluminium (Al-3.42%Mn; 2.38%Ni; 0.26%Si) alloy in rectangular metallic moulds. Experiments were conducted to measure th...

Solidification of metals poses many practical problems associated with phase transformation, shrinkage and heat transfer processes. Evaluation of solidification time is one of the important parameters used for assessing the properties of the metal castings. A mathematical model based on the control volume method with fixed mesh was selected in orde...

Solidification of metals during various casting methods poses many practical problems associated with phase transformation, shrinkage and heat transfer processes. Evaluation of solidification time is one of the important parameters used for assessing the properties of the metal castings. A mathematical model based on the control volume method with...

The design and fabrication of a motorized tricycle for physically challenged persons was carried out. The aim was to improve on already existing tricycles, which are simple assembles of bicycle parts with no design specification. Anthropometric data were used to determine the lengths and size of the body parts of human being as well as the body wei...

A five-year expenditure profile of a company, 'Buni Bricks and Blocks Industry Nigeria Ltd.', was studied alongside its incomes for the same period. The objective is to determine the cost / revenue interactions on break-even charts. These charts were obtained for the five years studied. Among the practical realities discovered include: the sales re...

Austempered ductile irons are characterized by a combination of high tensile and fatigue strength, ductility and wear resistance combined with impact toughness. However, the use of these irons has been limited due to lack of metallurgical knowledge available to show how the excellent properties of austempered irons can be obtained consistently in p...

The advancement of any nation technologically has been influenced and elevated by the extent to which it can usefully harness and convert its mineral resources. The productions of metal in foundries and in all human lives have also become a general practice. Different melting techniques are in practice with different energy sources. The cleanliness...

A Sand Muller was designed, fabricated, and its performance tested by producing standard specimens. They were subjected to green compression strength test. The Sand Muller was designed to help foundry industries in Nigeria as well as small-scale foundries acquire basic foundry equipment to test and control raw materials in order to improve castings...

A Standard Sand Rammer was designed, fabricated and its performance compared with an imported one by producing standard specimens from it. The rammer was designed to help foundry industries in Nigeria as well as small-scale foundries acquire basic foundry equipment to test and control raw materials in order to improve castings quality. In designing...

This design work provides an alternative to use of electric heat sealer as well as an improvement on a previously fabricated charcoal powered one. In this present work, coal is use as the energy source as well as addressing the phenomena of heat loss and temperature regulation, which were the major constraints of the previous design. A thermostat h...

The availability of electricity to power necessary machinery to package and seal goods and products is not readily available to most of the Nigerian populace, since most of the people live in the rural areas. They cannot effectively carry out the technology of packaging their products with the electric heat sealer; hence they continue to use the tr...

The advancement of any nation technologically has been influenced and elevated by the extent to which it can usefully harness and convert its mineral resources. The production of metal in foundries and in all human lives have become a general practice. Different melting techniques and equipment are in practice with different energy sources. The cle...