Flax is a commercial crop grown in many parts of the world both for its seeds and for its fibers. The seed-based flax variety (linseed) is considered less for its fiber after the seed is extracted. In this study, linseed straw was utilized and processed to extract fiber and cellulose through optimization of retting time and a multi-step alkaline peroxide extraction process using the Taguchi design of experiment (DOE). Effects of retting duration on fiber properties as well as effects of solvent concentration, reaction temperature, and time on removal of non-cellulosic fiber components were studied using the gravimetric technique, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermal studies. Based on these findings, retting for 216 h at room temperature should offer adequate retting efficiency and fiber characteristics; 70% cellulose yield was extracted successfully from linseed straw fiber using 75% ethanol–toluene at 98 °C for 4 h, 6% NaOH at 75 °C for 30 min, and 6% H2O2 at 90 °C for 120 min.

The challenge encountered in continuous forming process is the variation in mechanical strength of product formed with respect to process variables like extrusion wheel speed and diameter of product. In this research article, the micro-structural investigation of the aluminum (AA1100) feedstock material of 9.5-mm diameter has been carried out at various extrusion wheel speeds and diameter of product before and after deformation on commercial continuous extrusion setup TBJ350. The mechanical properties like yield strength as well as percentage elongation have been estimated and optimized using two variables with 3 levels through central composite rotatable design (CCRD) method. The mathematical modeling has been carried out to predict the optimum combination of process parameters for obtaining maximum value of yield strength and percentage elongation. The statistical significance of mathematical model is verified through analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum value of yield strength is found to be 70.939 MPa at wheel velocity of 8.63 rpm and product diameter of 9 mm respectively, whereas the maximum percentage elongation recorded is 46.457 at wheel velocity of 7.06 rpm and product diameter of 7.18 mm. The outcome may be useful in obtaining the best parametric combination of wheel speed and extrusion ratio for best strength of the product.

Nowadays metal matrix composite materials are preferable in automotive and aerospace industries due to their mechanical properties and essentially attractive strength to weight ratios. However, their availability in use is limited because of their manufacturing method difficulty and process extravagancy. The aim of this research was to fabricate metal matrix hybrid composite through a novel approach thermo-mechanical method called friction stir consolidation (FSC) process. XRD result witnessed the presence of SiC, ZrO2, and AZ61 alloy phases. Different compositions of AZ61, SiC, and ZrO2 powder were taken into consideration and the progression of the FSC process were examined through properties of compressive strength, hardness, density, and porosity. For instance, the compressive yield strength of composition 85%Vol. of AZ61, 10%Vol. of ZrO2, and 5%Vol. of SiC accounts 164.2 MPa with an acceptable 2.2451 g/cm3 and 0.593% density and porosity respectively. However, when the strength to weight ratio was taken into consideration, 95%Vol. of AZ61, 2.5%Vol. of ZrO2, and 2.5%Vol. of SiC composition attained highest strength to weight ratio value. Additionally, the compressive yield strength value increased directly proportional with the ZrO2 volumetric composition. Likewise, the fractured surface of sample acquired highest strength to weight ratio was examined through SEM Fractography analysis.

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