Wear Performance Optimization of Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)-Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) Composite Using Genetic Algorithm (GA)

Title:Wear Performance Optimization of Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)-Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) Composite Using Genetic Algorithm (GA)

Volume: 10 Issue: 1

Author(s): Ghalme Sachin *, Mankar Ankush and Bhalerao Yogesh

Affiliation:

• Shri. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj College of Engineering, Ahmednagar (MS), India; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manoharbhai Patel Institute of Engineering and Technology, Gondia (MS),India

Keywords: Design of Experiments (DoE)-Taguchi method, genetic algorithm (GA), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), optimization, silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), steel (ASTM 316L), wear volume loss (WVL).

Abstract: Background: Research in the field of orthopedics is trying to evaluate the materials for an artificial joint with minimum wear volume loss, so as to extend the life. Various material combinations are proposed to overcome this issue. Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) is non-oxide ceramic suggested as a new alternative for hip/knee joint.

Objective: In this paper, an attempt has been made to evaluate the optimum proportion of load and % volume of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) in Si₃N₄ to minimize wear volume loss (WVL).

Method: From a thorough review of literature in the field of biomaterials, several patents of application of silicon nitride as the alternative material for hip/knee joint replacement are identified and discussed herewith. To determine the wear performance of Si₃N₄-hBN, the experiments were conducted according to Design of Experiments (DoE) – Taguchi method and a mathematical model is developed. Further, this model is processed with GA to find out the optimum percentage of hBN in Si₃N₄ to minimize wear volume loss against steel (ASTM 316L) counterface.

Results: Taguchi method presents 15N load and 12% volume of hBN to minimize WVL of Si₃N₄. GA optimization offers 18.452N load and 8.46% volume of hBN to minimize WVL in Si₃N₄.

Cite this article as:

Sachin Ghalme *, Ankush Mankar and Yogesh Bhalerao , Wear Performance Optimization of Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)-Hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) Composite Using Genetic Algorithm (GA), Recent Patents on Materials Science 2017; 10 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874464810666170503125052

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874464810666170503125052	Print ISSN 1874-4648
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1874-4656