EBB 317-Materials Processing Laboratory

I have 6 lab-mates this semester, with 3 guys and 4 girls (included me). This semester is quite special as i have 1 student exchange friend from Korea :)

I was in Group 20 where my group will combine with group 10 for all 10 experiments. Our group started with Experiment 10.

Experiment 10: Building of microelectronic circuit to examine characteristics of P-N junction diode. basically, we need to learn OrCAD PSPICE software in order to analysis the effect of temperature on the characteristic of P-N junction.

Experiment 1: Slip Casting and study on flow property fabrication of Plaster of Paris (POP) mould. In this experiment, we got to learn how to produce the POP mould using different 4 different ratio of POP:water. We also study the viscosity of the slip when the amount of sodium silicate is added constantly.

[preparation of the slip mixture...]

[trying hard to remove the POP mould from the model...]

 [Clockwise from top left: setting of the POP mould, the cast, drying of the mould, the produced mould]

Experiment 2: Preparation of PVC Compound. In this experiment, we prepared 4 different blends with different amounts of PVC resin, stabilizer, plasticizer and filler. From these blend, we mixed, put in oven for degassing purpose (remove the air bubbles), put in heating oven, hot compression moulding and cold press. The PVC sample is cut into a dumbell shape and the tensile strength result is analysed using a Universal Tester Machine.

Experiment 3: Clay Based Ceramic using extrusion, jiggering & jolleying and Potter's wheel. This experiment is mostly about usage of different methods in producing the clay based materials.

[my lab mate dealing with the extrusion machine...] 

[the most challenging thing for me.... the Potter's wheel. looks easy but when youo hands on... itz like WTH!!!!]

[producing plate using jiggering method..]

[the products using extrusion... ]

Experiment 4: Powder Compaction Process using ceramic powder compaction and powder metallurgy. In this experiment, we learnt the effect of different composition on the ceramic product, the effect of the mixing, pressure and powder size on the ceramic product and also learnt how to deal with powder metallurgy process.

Experiment 5: Glazing and decoration. In this experiment, we learnt the effect of glazing, types of glaze, method of applying the glaze and the effect of parameters that will affect a good glazing.

 [Looks colourful right~~]

 [Stirring the glaze mixture.... but being bullied...]

 [US~~]

Experiment 6: Metal Casting. In this experiment, we learnt how to make the CO2 mould, melting method and non-ferrous metal casting.

 [Cut the shape we plan to make on the polystyrene. Of course, this is not the one we make...]

 [Preparing the sand mould...]

 [compaction]

 [Blowing the CO2 gas into the hole made earlier..]

 [the furnace: melting the aluminium]

 [safety precaution]

 [hot hot!!! it's burning RED...]

 [sawing the sample produced.... and it's super HARD....]

 [The sample we produced... 'A' and 'T']

 [Of course, we need to do grinding, polishing and etching...]

 [in order to see the microstructure and study the defects]

Experiment 7: Weldability Test. In this experiment, we learnt the defects on the welded sample and did the tensile test using UTM for different section of the welded samples.

Experiment 8: Cathodic Protection for buried steel structure. In this experiment, we learnt ways to protect/ prevent the steel from corrosion using SACP, ICCP and stray current. This experiment is kinda fun and we got to rest as we need to do this experiment under the hot sun. The lecturer and the demonstrator are very kind and taught lotsa things.

[using ICCP method]

Experiment 9: Plastic processing. This was the LAST experiment and was the MOST TIRED experiment among all. Hot, super duper a lot of procedure and freaking uncooperative machine that kill our mood on that day. We learnt how to produce plastic product using blow moulding and basic knowledge about the pultrusion machine.

 [from the circular die]

 [air blowing into the plastic...]

 [the plastic that we used everyday~~]

 [the waste]

 [the uncooperative machine which gave us FAILED data...]

 [playing with the product produced by pultrusion machine..]

All in all, this lab was the most enjoying and TIRED lab that i ever did. Whatever it is, kinda blessed as we got to gain knowledge through this experiment. Hard work paid off. Really happy work with all my lab mates and im gonna miss the lab life SOON.... 

Lab test next week..woot.... *not happy*