Effect of the fabrication parameters of MWCNTs/α-MnO2 nanocomposite through the Taguchi technique

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine the effect of powder-processing parameters on the responses: bulk mass density and microhardness of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/manganese dioxide (α-MnO₂) nanocomposite through the Taguchi technique. The impact of powder-preparing parameters on responses was examined utilizing the signal-to-noise ratio, and an analysis of variance. The production of the MWCNTs/α-MnO₂ nanocomposite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray investigation. Four variables viz. wt.% loading of MWCNTs in α-MnO₂, compaction pressure, sintering temperature, and holding time were utilized in this work as powder processing parameters. The results indicated that the experiment was carried out at optimal bulk mass density with a 10 wt.% loading of MWCNTs, an 80 MPa compaction pressure, a 475°C sintering temperature, and a 15 min holding time. Similarly, the experiment was done at a 10 wt.% MWCNTs loading, an 80 MPa compaction pressure, a 500°C sintering temperature, and a 0-min holding time to obtain the optimal microhardness value of the nanocomposite. The analysis of variance shows that the effect of the wt.% loading of MWCNTs was significant in both situations. The percentage contribution of all variables to responses revealed that the wt.% loading of MWCNTs provided the highest contribution to both responses, followed by compaction pressure. Furthermore, the confirmation test revealed that the percentage errors between the estimated and experimental signal-to-noise ratios for bulk mass density and microhardness were 0.6% and 0.66%, respectively.