This paper presents an investigation on the influence of the drilling parameters such as feed rate, spindle speed and drill tool diameter onto the delamination factor of the jute reinforced unsaturated polyester composite. Natural fibre based composite are mostly used for commodity application and often subjected to drilling during applications and may generate delamination of drilled holes on the workpiece. The composite was fabricated using woven jute fibre via vacuum bagging method followed a high temperature curing using hot press. The fibre was kept at 40 vol. %. The main effect and the interaction between the specified factors of feed rate (20-100mm/min), spindle speed (500-1500 rpm) and drill tool diameter (4-8 mm) with delamination factor as corresponding respond was structured via the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on three-level Box-Behnken design of experiment and the ANOVA. The levels of importance of the process parameters on flexural properties are determined by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The optimised drilling process parameters obtained as 24.38 mm/min of feed rate, 1146.14 rpm of spindle speed and 5.51 mm drill tool diameter achieved the most minimal delamination factor. The feed rate and spindle speed were perceived as the most influential drilling parameters on the delamination factor of the jute reinforced unsaturated polyester composite.

Commercially available Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) were refluxed with nitric acid in order to improve the density of the acidic surface functional groups. The formation of oxygen containing functional groups may lead to surface enhancement of MWCNTs for further modifications. The crude MWCNTs were refluxed in nitric acid at 100 °C for time ranging between 3 to 24 h. The influence of treatment time on crystalline structure was investigated using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD); the results confirmed that all treated MWCNTs are crystalline. The density of the surface functional groups on treated MWCNTs was examined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The FTIR spectrums revealed a strong vibration band at 1739, 1219, 1369 cm-1that indicates covalently bound acidic surface functional groups existed on the treated MWCNTs. The amount of acidic groups increased with the reflux time up to 15 h treatment as measured by an acid-base Boehm titration. The vibrational spectroscopy of these functional groups also increased with the increasing reflux time.

Studies in urea granulation process using Top Spray Fluidized Bed Granulator (TSFBG) is still limited and requires in-depth research about the effectiveness and influence of droplets to the formation of urea granule (UG). Rate and time interval of spraying technique (Pulse) significantly influence the physical properties of urea granules. Cassava starch dissolves in water was selected as the binder released at various time interval to observe impact of spray droplet on UG size formation. Using Taguchi Method, the study had identified three leading factors contributed to the formation of droplet size namely volume of binder (VOB), time pulse of spraying (TPS) and spraying rate (SR). These factors were then evaluated in terms of the influence on response as signal-to-noise analysis (S/N ratios) from Taguchi to validate UG size in range 2 mm to 4 mm from screening process with respect to the actual experimental data. These results were useful for future experiment reference to determine pressure drop and surface contact during interaction between droplet and urea powder particles using TSFBG to obtain uniform UG size and smooth surface layer with reasonable hardness.

The effect of irradiation on the mechanical properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Carbon Nanotubes (ENR/EVA/CNTs) nanocomposites were investigated. CNTs at various amount (2, 3, 4 and 6 wt%) were incorporated into ENR50 by solvent casting method. The ENR/CNTs were then blended with EVA by mixing in a Brabender Plasticoder at 120°C. Next, the samples were irradiated by using electron beam with 3 MeV electron beam machine in a dose range of 50 to 200 kGy. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (Ts), modulus at 100% elongation (M100), elongation at break (Eb) and hardness of reinforced ENR/EVA/CNTs nanocomposites were studied as a function of radiation dose. It was found that, the Ts and M100 has increased almost 2 times compared to the nanocomposites without irradiation up to 150 kGy dose of radiation, and a downward trend thereafter. Gel fraction further confirmed the powerful energy of electron beam radiation result in irradiation-induced crosslinking and further enhanced mechanical properties of the nanocomposites.

The effect of irradiation on the mechanical properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Carbon Nanotubes (ENR/EVA/CNTs) nanocomposites were investigated. CNTs at various amount (2, 3, 4 and 6 wt%) were incorporated into ENR50 by solvent casting method. The ENR/CNTs were then blended with EVA by mixing in a Brabender Plasticoder at 120°C. Next, the samples were irradiated by using electron beam with 3 MeV electron beam machine in a dose range of 50 to 200 kGy. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength (Ts), modulus at 100% elongation (M100), elongation at break (Eb) and hardness of reinforced ENR/EVA/CNTs nanocomposites were studied as a function of radiation dose. It was found that, the Ts and M100 has increased almost 2 times compared to the nanocomposites without irradiation up to 150 kGy dose of radiation, and a downward trend thereafter. Gel fraction further confirmed the powerful energy of electron beam radiation result in irradiation-induced crosslinking and further enhanced mechanical properties of the nanocomposites.