We are working in Professor Gupta’s Composite Materials lab. After making 6 different composite samples, Charisse started conducting strain sensitivity tests. The test shows the point where the materials go from being in an elastics state to a plastic state to its failure point based on being compressed between two metal plates. Each composite material was tested under 3 different rates of compression to represent how the material would respond under extremely slow, medium, and fast compression.

Once all the tests are completed the data will be analyzed to see the different failure rates. Jason heat treated two samples of a magnesium alloy, AZ91. The first sample used the T4 heating process, which heats the specimen to 410 degrees Celsius for 16 hours. Half of those specimens were heated again using the T6 treatment, which heats the specimens up to 160 degrees Celsius for 16 hours. The specimens were then polished to a smoothness of approximately 6 microns. Optical microscopy was performed as well as a Vickers Hardness Test.

The microscopy and hardness data will be compared to control specimens and other materials in the following weeks.