Developing optimal wear performance for nylon 6 loaded up with Boron Nitride (PA6/BN) composites using Taguchi direct and aspect ratio-based Taguchi-Pareto method

Abstract

Although the wear performance of nylon-6/Boron Nitride (PA6/BN) composites has been studied, their concurrent optimization and prioritization are scarce in the literature. Considering this shortcoming, this paper proposes a Taguchi-Pareto-based framework incorporating a discrimination signal-to-noise ratio analysis, to enhance the wear performance of PA6/BN composites. Besides the direct factors that consider the weight percentage of particulate additives to nylon 6, sliding distance, sliding speed and normal load, the combinations of direct factors and aspect ratios of the factors were considered in eighteen cases where all four factors are considered in rotation. The novel contribution of the developed Taguchi-Pareto-oriented direct and aspect ratio (TPDA) framework based on its stepwise application to wear performance analysis is noted as follows: (1) establishment of the principal factors by contemplating their importance together with their impact levels on wear performance and (2) establishment of optimal and prioritization of the wear factors threatening the operational efficiency of the structures in which they are made up by considering their signal to noise ratios based on the 80-20 rule of Pareto analysis. The results obtained from the proposed TPDA were validated using experimental data obtained from the literature. It is thought that the application of the proposed framework to the experimental data aids the composite engineer in making prudent fabrication decisions, assisting them to successfully maintain how levels for the fabricated composites while in operation.