IIT expert suggests chemical changes for better life-span of machinery parts

The life of machinery parts could be extended three times by introducing some chemical changes in pure iron, a student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Pallav Gupta, who is carrying a study under a project funded by Council of Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh, said.

Gupta, a researcher in ceramic engineering, IIT-BHU and principle investigator of the project, has claimed that the iron, with its changed chemical and physical properties, can have increased compressive strength and undergo less erosion.

"This kind of iron is prepared by using powder metallurgy technique. In this, electrolytic iron (that is pure iron in its powered form) is mixed with alumina (aluminum oxide). The properties of iron change by mixing only 5% of alumina. "The hardness, compressive strength and the strength of standing friction were measured and we saw changes as compared to normal iron," he said. Other properties of iron, specially rusting were still observed.

The research project 'Effect of processing parameter of the properties of nano structured Iron-Alumina metal matrix composites produced using power metallurgy technique' under Young Scientist Research Team of Council of Science and Technology, UP, is being supervised by professor Devendra Kumar, professor Om Prakash of ceramic engineering and professor AK Jha of mechanical engineering, IIT-BHU.

This iron, with its changed properties, is not used anywhere in the world. Once all the physical and chemical properties are studied and verified, it can replace the normal iron used in many industries. This iron can be primarily used in railways for preparing wagon wheels. It can also be used in heavy duty machines, vehicles and automobile parts, thereby increasing the life span by two to three times. The research suggested that the machine parts may have least wear and tear. The powder metallurgy technique could be economical and can be helpful for most of the industries," he hoped.

The project was sanctioned to him approximately one year ago. There are two more years to carry out more researches. "During this period, we will be studying varied composition of alumina in pure iron. Initially, we mixed 5% alumina. We would increase it to 10% and then to 30% in the coming months. As a part of the project, the industrial application of this iron would also be carried out by collaborating with some industries and factories," Gupta added.

Sturdy facts:

# The iron-alumina is prepared with powder metallurgy technique.

# The changed form of pure iron has shown more hardness, compressive strength and undergoes lesser friction.

# The life span of this iron is three times the normal iron.

# The principle use of this iron is being observed in railway wagon wheels.

# It can also be used in making automobile parts, heavy duty machines and vehicles.

# The researchers are studying varied composition of alumina in pure iron.