The mechanical properties of vinylester resin matrix composites reinforced with alkali-treated jute fibres

Jute fibres were subjected to alkali treatment with 5% NaOH solution for 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h at 30°C. The modulus of the jute fibres improved by 12, 68 and 79% after 4, 6 and 8 h of treatment, respectively. The tenacity of the fibres improved by 46% after 6 and 8 h treatment and the % breaking strain was reduced by 23% after 8 h treatment. For 35% composites with 4 h-treated fibres, the flexural strength improved from 199.1 to 238.9 MPa by 20%, modulus improved from 11.89 to 14.69 GPa by 23% and laminar shear strength increased from 0.238 to 0.283 MPa by 19%. On plotting different values of slopes obtained from the rates of improvement of flexural strength and modulus, against NaOH treatment time, two different failure modes were apparent before and after 4 h of NaOH treatment. In the first region between 0 and 4 h, fibre pull out was predominant whereas in the second region between 6 and 8 h, transverse fracture occurred with minimum fibre pull out. This observation was well supported by the SEM investigations of the fracture surfaces.     

Effect of short nylon-6 fibres on natural rubber-toughened polystyrene

Composites based on polystyrene and natural rubber at a ratio of 85/15 were prepared by melt mixing with nylon-6 fibres using an internal mixer. The loading of short nylon-6 fibre, untreated and resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL)-treated, was varied from 0 to 3 wt.%. Tensile and flexural test samples were punched out from sheets and tested to study the variation of mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. The tensile behaviour of the composite has been determined at three different strain rates (4.1 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, 2 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ and 2 × 10⁻² s⁻¹). Both the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the composite increased with strain rate. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with the increase in fibre content up to 1 wt.%, above which there was a significant deterioration in the properties. The RFL-treated fibre composites showed improved mechanical properties compared to the untreated one. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that the storage modulus of the composite with RFL-treated fibre was better compared to the untreated one. The fibre–matrix morphology of the tensile fractured specimens was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results suggested that the RFL treatment of nylon fibre promoted adhesion to the natural rubber phase of the blend, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the composite.     

The potential of harakeke fibre as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites including modelling of long harakeke fibre composite strength

Mechanical properties of aligned long harakeke fibre reinforced epoxy with different fibre contents were evaluated. Addition of fibre was found to enhance tensile properties of epoxy; tensile strength and Young’s modulus increased with increasing content of harakeke fibre up to 223 MPa at a fibre content of 55 wt% and 17 GPa at a fibre content of 63 wt%, respectively. The flexural strength and flexural modulus increased to a maximum of 223 MPa and 14 GPa, respectively, as the fibre content increased up to 49 wt% with no further increase with increased fibre content. The Rule of Mixtures based model for estimating tensile strength of aligned long fibre composites was also developed assuming composite failure occurred as a consequence of the fracture of the lowest failure strain fibres taking account porosity of composites. The model was shown to have good accuracy for predicting the strength of aligned long natural fibre composites.     

Effect of pectin and hemicellulose removal from hemp fibres on the mechanical properties of unidirectional hemp/epoxy composites

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pectin and hemicellulose removal from hemp fibres on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre/epoxy composites. Pectin removal by EDTA and endo-polygalacturonase (EPG) removed epidermal and parenchyma cells from hemp fibres and improved fibre separation. Hemicellulose removal by NaOH further improved fibre surface cleanliness. Removal of epidermal and parenchyma cells combined with improved fibre separation decreased composite porosity factor. As a result, pectin removal increased composite stiffness and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Hemicellulose removal increased composite stiffness, but decreased composite UTS due to removal of xyloglucans. In comparison of all fibre treatments, composites with 0.5% EDTA + 0.2% EPG treated fibres had the highest tensile strength of 327 MPa at fibre volume content of 50%. Composites with 0.5% EDTA + 0.2% EPG → 10% NaOH treated fibres had the highest stiffness of 43 GPa and the lowest porosity factor of 0.04.     

Influence of alkali treatment on the interfacial and physico-mechanical properties of industrial hemp fibre reinforced polylactic acid composites

The focus of this work was to produce short (random and aligned) and long (aligned) industrial hemp fibre reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites by compression moulding. Fibres were treated with alkali to improve bonding with PLA. The percentage crystallinity of PLA in composites was found to be higher than that for neat PLA and increased with alkali treatment of fibres which is believed to be due to the nucleating ability of the fibres. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) results demonstrated that interfacial bonding was also increased by alkali treatment of fibres which also lead to improved composite mechanical properties. The best overall properties were achieved with 30 wt.% long aligned alkali treated fibre/PLA composites produced by film stacking technique leading to a tensile strength of 82.9 MPa, Young’s modulus of 10.9 GPa, flexural strength of 142.5 MPa, flexural modulus of 6.5 GPa, impact strength of 9 kJ/m², and a fracture toughness of 3 MPa m^1/2.     

Atmospheric plasma fluorination as a means to improve the mechanical properties of short-carbon fibre reinforced poly (vinylidene fluoride)

The impact of fluorination of carbon fibres on the properties of short fibre reinforced polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composites was studied. As received and continuously atmospheric plasma fluorinated (APF) carbon fibres were cut to an average fibre length of 2 mm. Short fibre composites (SFC) containing 5, 10 and 15 wt.% carbon fibres were manufactured using a twin-screw mixer. Test specimens were produced by injection moulding. The mechanical properties of the SFC were studied using tensile and compression testing. As expected, the incorporation of short-carbon fibres into PVDF led to an increase in strength and stiffness. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the SFC containing APF-treated carbon fibres increased by up to 17% and 190%, respectively. Furthermore, the compressive strength and modulus of the SFC containing APF-treated carbon fibres also increased by 19% and 35%, respectively. APF of carbon fibres results only in a marginal increase in the bulk matrix crystallinity of PVDF as determined by DSC. Scanning electron micrographs of fracture surfaces from tensile tested specimens exhibited a typical brittle failure mode with low fibre loading fraction. Despite the presence of up to 5% of voids and visible resin rich regions at fracture surface, SFC containing APF-treated fibres suggest better bonding at the fibre/matrix interface which led to the much enhanced mechanical properties.     

Mechanical behaviour of jute cloth/wool felts hybrid laminates

This experimental work is aimed at the characterization of new fibre reinforced composites based on epoxy resin with both protein (wool) and lignocellulosic (jute) natural fibres. Wool-based and hybrid (wool/jute) composites with two different stacking sequences (intercalated and sandwich) were developed. Their microstructure has been investigated through optical and scanning electron microscopy, whereas their quasi-static mechanical behaviour has been evaluated in tension and bending. In addition, the impact behaviour under low-velocity impact at three different impact energies, namely 6 J, 8 J and 9 J has been addressed. The tensile and flexural tests have been monitored using acoustic emission (AE) in order to elicit further information about failure mechanisms. AE monitoring showed that development of damage was due to nucleation of matrix microcracks and subsequent debonding and pull-out phenomena in wool fibre composites and that only in hybrid composites a sufficient stress transfer across the jute fibre/matrix interface was achieved. The results confirmed the positive role of hybridization with jute fibres in enhancing both the tensile and flexural behaviour of wool-based composites, though highlighting the need for an improved adhesion between wool fibres and epoxy matrix.     

Optimising industrial hemp fibre for composites

The optimisation of New Zealand grown hemp fibre for inclusion in composites has been investigated. The optimum growing period was found to be 114 days, producing fibres with an average tensile strength of 857 MPa and a Young’s modulus of 58 GPa. An alkali treatment with 10 wt% NaOH solution at a maximum processing temperature of 160 °C with a hold time of 45 min was found to produce strong fibres with a low lignin content and good fibre separation. Although a good fit with the Weibull distribution function was obtained for single fibre strength, this did not allow for accurate scaling to strengths at different lengths. Alkali treated fibres, polypropylene and a maleated polypropylene (MAPP) coupling agent were compounded in a twin-screw extruder, and injection moulded into composite tensile test specimens. The strongest composite consisted of polypropylene with 40 wt% fibre and 3 wt% MAPP, and had a tensile strength of 47.2 MPa, and a Young’s modulus of 4.88 GPa.     

Flame-retarded biocomposites of poly(lactic acid), distiller’s dried grains with solubles and resorcinol di(phenyl phosphate)

The distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were treated by smashing and water washing processes. The treatment effects on DDGS were analyzed, and the results showed that the thermal stability and the hydrophobicity of DDGS were improved by the treatment processes. The flame retarded biocomposites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with DDGS and degradable polymeric flame retardant resorcinol di(phenyl phosphate) (RDP) were prepared. The prepared biocomposites had good mechanical properties and the tensile strength of the biocomposite containing 15 wt% RDP and 15 wt% DDGS reached approximately 53 MPa. Meanwhile, using the limited oxygen index (LOI) and the underwriters laboratory (UL-94) tests, for the biocomposite, the LOI value was approximately 27.5% and V-0 rating in UL-94 was attained. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate of this biocomposite was reduced to 275 kW/m² compared with 310 kW/m² for pure PLA. After burning of the biocomposites, compact and coherent charred layer was formed and the char residues were analyzed in detail.     

Mechanical properties of natural fibre reinforced polyester composites: Jowar,sisal and bamboo

In this paper, the experiments of tensile and flexural tests were carried out on composites made by reinforcing jowar as a new natural fibre into polyester resin matrix. The samples were prepared up to a maximum volume fraction of approximately 0.40 from the fibres extracted by retting and manual process, and compared with established composites like sisal and bamboo developed under similar laboratory conditions. Jowar fibre has a tensile strength of 302 MPa, modulus of 6.99 GPa and an effective density of 922 kg/m³. It was observed that the tensile strength of jowar fibre composite is almost equal to that of bamboo composite, 1.89 times to that of sisal composite and the tensile modulus is 11% and 45% greater than those of bamboo and sisal composites, respectively at 0.40 volume fraction of fibre. The flexural strength of jowar composite is 4%, 35% and the flexural modulus is 1.12 times, 2.16 times greater than those of bamboo and sisal composites, respectively. The results of this study indicate that using jowar fibres as reinforcement in polyester matrix could successfully develop a composite material in terms of high strength and rigidity for light weight applications compared to conventional sisal and bamboo composites.     

The flexural stiffness characteristics of viscoelastically prestressed polymeric matrix composites

A novel composite material is described, where tension, applied to polymeric fibres, is released prior to moulding them into a matrix. On matrix solidification, compressive stresses imparted by the viscoelastically strained fibres improve mechanical properties. Previous studies showed that these viscoelastically prestressed composites had improved impact and tensile properties compared with control (unstressed) counterparts. In the current study, three-point bend tests on composites using nylon 6,6 fibre reinforcement in epoxy and polyester resins have demonstrated that the viscoelastic prestressing effect increases flexural stiffness. From deflections at 5 s and 900 s, using a freely suspended load on large span/thickness ratio (L/h) samples, the flexural modulus was increased by ～50% relative to control counterparts. Stiffness-increasing mechanisms relating to pre-tensioned fibre and matrix prestress effects are discussed. For small L/h samples (using controlled rate deflection up to ～5 s), the flexural modulus and resulting increase from viscoelastic prestressing were lower. This is attributed to shear effects and possibly fibre–matrix load transfer mechanisms. By exploiting time–temperature superposition, all samples were aged to the equivalent of 100 years at 20 °C and subsequent bend tests revealed no significant change in the modulus increase resulting from viscoelastic prestressing.     

Influence of processing parameters on the impact strength of biocomposites: A statistical approach

Injection molded biocomposites from a new biodegradable polymer blend based matrix system and miscanthus natural fibers were successfully fabricated and characterized. The blend matrix, a 40:60 wt% blend of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), PBAT and poly(butylene succinate), PBS was chosen based on their required engineering properties for the targeted biocomposite uses. A big scientific challenge of biocomposites is in improving impact strength within the desired tensile and flexural properties. The stiffness–toughness balance is one of the biggest scientific hurdles in natural fiber composites. Thus, the key aspect of the present study was in investigating an in-depth statistical approach on influence of melt processing parameters on the impact strength of the biocomposite. A full factorial experimental design was used to predict the statistically significant variables on the impact strength of the PBS/PBAT/miscanthus biocomposites. Among the selected processing parameters, fiber length has a most significant effect on the impact strength of the biocomposites.     

Post-impact damage characterization of hybrid configurations of jute/glass polyester laminates using acoustic emission and IR thermography

In this work, residual post-impact properties of two configurations of E-glass/jute hybrid laminates are characterized, both manufactured using a total fibre volume of 50 ± 2% (14 glass fibre layers + 4 jute fibre layers). T-laminates included a core obtained by multiple layers of jute between two E-glass fibre reinforced skins, whilst in Q-laminates single layers of jute fibres were intercalated at different levels between E-glass fibre reinforced layers. All laminates were impacted at five levels of energy, from 5 to 15 J, and then subjected to post-impact flexural tests.The results suggest that T hybrids perform better at low impact energies (up to 10 J), which do not damage significantly the laminate core. In contrast, Q hybrids are better suited to withstand extensive damage produced by higher impact energies (12.5 and 15 J), in that they allow a more effective redistribution of impact damage in the structure. This was confirmed by acoustic emission (AE) monitoring during flexural loading, which offered indications on the maximum stress laminates can undergo after impact damage. Pulse IR thermography yielded information on their mode of failure by visualizing impact-damaged areas.     

The mechanical properties of composites manufactured from tendon fibres and pearl glue (animal glue)

The mechanical properties of a composite manufactured from bovine tendon and pearl glue (an animal glue containing gelatine and other proteins) are investigated. This composite was traditionally used in the construction of Asiatic re-curve bows for archery and is reputed to be tough yet elastic. Composites were manufactured by hand laying fibres into a mould and then pouring on hot glue. Tensile tests were performed on the specimens with the load being applied along the long axis of the fibres. The composite was found to absorb 18 MJ/m³ of energy to failure, comparable to carbon fibre composites, spring steel and butyl rubber. This energy absorption was achieved through the ductility and strength of the collagen fibres, which were found to be several times larger than the glue (fibre strength was 180 MPa, glue strength was 32 MPa, fibre failure strain was 26%, glue failure strain was 3%). However, the tensile modulus of the fibres and glue were similar. The composite was also found to be extremely damage tolerant, with many micro-cracks developing between strains of 2–20%, and dominated by elastic behaviour to surprisingly large deformations. The reasons for this are discussed.     

Tensile properties of carbon fibres and carbon fibre–polymer composites in fire

The effect of fire on the tensile properties of carbon fibres is experimentally determined to provide new insights into the tensile performance of carbon fibre–polymer composite materials during fire. Structural tests on carbon–epoxy laminate reveal that thermally-activated weakening of the fibre reinforcement is the dominant softening process which leads to failure in the event of a fire. This process is experimentally investigated by determining the reduction to the tensile properties and identifying the softening mechanism of T700 carbon fibre following exposure to simulated fires of different temperatures (up to 700 °C) and atmospheres (air and inert). The fibre modulus decreases with increasing temperature (above ～500 °C) in air, which is attributed to oxidation of the higher stiffness layer in the near-surface fibre region. The fibre modulus is not affected when heated in an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere due to the absence of surface oxidation, revealing that the stiffness loss of carbon fibre composites in fire is sensitive to the oxygen content. The tensile strength of carbon fibre is reduced by nearly 50% following exposure to temperatures over the range 400–700 °C in an air or inert atmosphere. Unlike the fibre modulus, the reduction in fibre strength is insensitive to the oxygen content of the atmosphere during fire. The reduction in strength is possibly attributable to very small (under ～100 nm) flaws and removal of the sizing caused by high temperature exposure.     

Engineering and evaluation of hemp fibre reinforced polypropylene composites: Micro-mechanics and strength prediction modelling

The strength of a composite consisting of 40 wt% NaOH/Na₂SO₃ treated hemp fibre, polypropylene and 4 wt% MAPP was evaluated by means of mathematical modelling and mechanical testing. Interfacial shear strength, single fibre tensile strength and fibre length distribution within the composite were obtained, and theoretical composite strengths were determined by means of the Modified Rule of Mixtures and Bowyer–Bader models. The experimentally obtained composite tensile strength of 50.5 MPa was found to be one-third of the theoretical strength determined by means of the Bowyer–Bader model, and this difference was thought to be mainly due to the non-axial planar-random orientation of the fibres within the composite.     

Properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF) from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) core as function of refining conditions

The objective of this study was to evaluate physical and mechanical properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF) panels made from kenaf core as function of fibre geometry and refining conditions. Raw material was prepared by using pressure levels of 3, 5 and 7 bar at two heating times, namely 3 and 5 min. The length and width of the fibres were determined employing image analyser. Experimental samples with a target density of 700 kg m⁻³ were produced with 12% of urea formaldehyde as a binder. Physical properties such as swelling in thickness (TS) and water absorption (WA) of the panels in addition to their mechanical properties including modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and internal bonding (IB) were evaluated based on MS 1787:2005. Based on the test results, low digestion pressure produced longer fibre length and panels made from these fibres had higher TS with MOR and MOE than those of the others panels. However, the IB properties of samples were low. Panels made from shorter fibre resulted in contradict properties found above. The ideal properties of the samples were found for the panels made having fibre length of 0.81 mm and aspect ratio of 23.4. Such sample had 14.6%, 63.2%, 30.3 MPa, 3619 MPa and 0.66 MPa for TS, WA, MOR, MOE and IB, respectively.     

Pulped Phormium tenax leaf fibres as reinforcement for epoxy composites

Leaf fibres from Phormium tenax (harakeke, New Zealand flax) were pulped at 170 °C with NaOH and anthraquinone. The pulp was wet laid to form mats, which were used to reinforce epoxy composites. The flexural modulus was almost as high as that measured for epoxy reinforced with glass chopped strand mat at the same weight fraction. The flexural strength was two-thirds that of the glass-reinforced composite. Failure was abrupt. SEM images showed torn fragments of fibre cell walls protruding from the fracture surface, indicating strong interfacial bonding. Good mechanical performance was attributed to the rarity of kink bands in the individual fibre cells, along with wrinkled cell-wall surfaces that enhanced the area of the fibre–matrix interface.     

Influence of alkali treatment and fibre length on mechanical properties of short Agave fibre reinforced epoxy composites

Composites based on short Agave fibres (untreated and alkali treated) reinforced epoxy resin using three different fibre lengths (3 mm, 7 mm and 10 mm length) are prepared by using hand lay up and compression mould technique. The materials were characterized in terms of tensile, compressive, flexural, impact, water absorption properties and machinability behaviour. All mechanical tests showed that alkali treated fibre composites withstand more fracture strain than untreated fibre composites. As evidenced by the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests, the thermo-mechanical properties of the composite with alkali treated Agave fibre were considerably good as alkali treatment had facilitated more sites of fibre resin interface. The machinability and atomic force microscope (AFM) studies were carried out to analyze the fibre–matrix interaction in untreated and alkali treated Agave fibre–epoxy composites.     

The effect of reprocessing on the mechanical properties of polypropylene reinforced with wood pulp,flax or glass fibre

Composites of polypropylene, substitutable for a given application and reinforced with: Medium Density Fibreboard fibre (MDF) (40 wt%); flax (30 wt%); and glass fibre (20 wt%), were evaluated after 6 injection moulding and extrusion reprocessing cycles. Of the range of tensile, flexural and impact properties examined, MDF composites showed the best mean property retention after reprocessing (87%) compared to flax (72%) and glass (59%). After 1 reprocessing cycle the glass composite had higher tensile strength (56.2 MPa) compared to the MDF composite (44.4) but after 6 cycles the MDF was stronger (35.0 compared to 29.6 MPa for the glass composite). Property reductions were attributed to reduced fibre length. MDF fibres showed the lowest reduction in fibre length between 1 and 6 cycles (39%), compared to glass (51%) and flax (62%). Flax fibres showed greater increases in damage (cell wall dislocations) with reprocessing than was shown by MDF fibres.