Bio‐composites for structural applications: Poly‐l‐lactide reinforced with long sisal fiber bundles

Fully bio‐based and biodegradable composites were compression molded from unidirectionally aligned sisal fiber bundles and a polylactide polymer matrix (PLLA). Caustic soda treatment was employed to modify the strength of sisal fibers and to improve fiber to matrix adhesion. Mechanical properties of PLLA/sisal fiber composites improved with caustic soda treatment: the mean flexural strength and modulus increased from 279 MPa and 19.4 GPa respectively to 286 MPa and 22 GPa at a fiber volume fraction of V_f = 0.6. The glass transition temperature decreased with increasing fiber content in composites reinforced with untreated sisal fibers due to interfacial friction. The damping at the caustic soda‐treated fibers‐PLLA interface was reduced due to the presence of transcrystalline morphology at the fiber to matrix interface. It was demonstrated that high strength, high modulus sisal‐PLLA composites can be produced with effective stress transfer at well‐bonded fiber to matrix interfaces. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40999.     

玻璃纤维增强PPBES基复合材料性能

以共聚型二氮杂萘联苯结构聚醚砜(PPBES)树脂为基体,连续玻璃纤维(GF)为增强体,通过溶液预浸,热压成型工艺制备单向复合材料。通过对树脂溶液黏度、复合材料纤维体积含量测试,并对复合材料样条进行三点弯曲、层间剪切试验,研究了纤维体积含量对复合材料力学性能的影响,借助断面形貌分析了复合材料受力破坏模式。结果表明,PPBES/GF复合材料的弯曲强度随纤维体积含量的增加呈现先增大后减小的趋势,极值出现在纤维体积含量为57%时,弯曲弹性模量和层间剪切强度随纤维体积含量的增加呈现逐渐增大的趋势,复合材料的受力破坏模式为界面脱粘破坏和树脂基体内部破坏同时存在。     

A theoretical study of the effect of an interfacial layer on the properties of composites

A theoretical analysis using finite element methods has been applied to oriented short-fiber composites and spherical particle composites in order to predict the influence of a finite layer at the interface on mechanical properties. In this study the interfacial layer has been modeled by assuming that a layer surrounds the interface and that this layer has a modulus of elasticity different than both the fiber and the matrix. The stress distribution near the interface has been determined as a function of the elastic constants of the interface layer and the interface layer volume fraction. This analysis has also been performed for two volume fractions of fibers and two fiber length to diameter ratios. From this stress distribution, the composite modulus and toughness have been determined as a function of interface modulus. It is theoretically shown that the toughness, measured by amount of strain energy absorbed, can be maximized by controlling the interface modulus. Furthermore, recent experimental results appear to verify the theory.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of some epoxy matrix composites

Dynamic mechanical properties of some epoxy matrix composites have been studied, comparing experimental data with theoretical models. The matrix in all composite samples was Shell Epon 828, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, cured with meta-phenylenediamine. Fibrous composite samples were made with glass and graphite fibers. Particulate composite samples were made with glass microspheres, atomized aluminum, powdered silica, alumina, asbestos, mica, carbon black, and graphite. The dynamic elastic modulus and damping of these samples were measured at temperatures between 85° and 345°K by a free-free flexural resonance technique. The dynamic modulus of parallel fiber composites follows the linear rule of mixtures for low fiber volume fractions; deviations from linearity at higher volume fractions appear to be due to defects caused by the sample fabrication technique. Dynamic moduli of the particulate composites conform, within experimental error, to the static modulus theory of Wu up to filler volume fractions of 0.35 to 0.40. Deviations from Wu's theory at higher volume fractions may be due to agglomeration of filler particles. The damping of particulate composites with quasi-spherical filler particles appears to follow the rule of mixtures. In particulate composites with needle- and flake-type fillers, and in fibrous composites, the fillers are more highly stressed; with more of the strain energy in the low-damping fillers, overall damping is reduced. Damping greater than that attributable to the matrix and filler may be due to slippage at the interface between them. In addition to supporting Wu's theory of the elastic modulus of a particulate composite, this study demonstrates the utility of the nondestructive free-free flexural resonance techniques for obtaining a large body of reliable data in a short time from relatively few small samples. This greatly facilitates the experimental testing of theoretical models and the evaluation of fillers, matrix materials, and fabrication techniques.     

碳纤维布/玻纤布增强聚氨酯复合材料的研究

以聚氨酯为基体树脂,分别以碳纤维布、玻璃纤维布和这两种纤维布交替铺叠作为增强材料,采用真空辅助灌注成型工艺制备了4种复合材料.考察了纤维布的铺层结构对复合材料的弯曲、拉伸和冲击性能的影响.结果显示,复合材料的拉伸模量和弯曲模量随碳纤维含量增加而增加,冲击强度则降低.分别采用TGA、DMA和SEM对复合材料的热性能、界面...     

Effect of macromolecular coupling agent on the property of PP/GF composites

Silane‐grafted polypropylene manufactured by a reactive grafting process was used as the coupling agent in polypropylene/glass‐fiber composites to improve the interaction of the interfacial regions. Polypropylene reinforced with 30% by weight of short glass fibers was injection‐molded and the mechanical behaviors were investigated. The results indicate that the mechanical properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Izod impact strength) of the composite increased remarkably as compared with the noncoupled glass fiber/polypropylene. SEM of the fracture surfaces of the coupled composites shows a good adhesion at the fiber/matrix interface: The fibers are coated with matrix polymer, and a matrix transition region exists near the fibers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 1537–1542, 1999     

The influence of addition of carbon nanotube and graphene platelets on characteristics of carbon/basalt fiber reinforced intra-ply hybrid composites

In this study, effects of addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene platelets (GPLs) on characteristics of carbon/basalt fiber reinforced intra-ply hybrid composites were investigated. The composites were fabricated using vacuum assisted resin infusion molding (VARIM) method in two types including bare and 0.1, 0.5 wt.% of GPL and CNT nanoparticles filled hybrid composites. Fabricated normal and multiscale composites were cut by water jet and mechanical properties of specimens were examined by tensile, flexural, SBS experiments. Therefore, the modulus of elasticity, flexural modulus, tensile and flexural strength and ILSS of bare and multiscale composites were compared. Thermomechanical properties of fabricated composites were evaluated by dynamic mechanic analyze (DMA), thermogravimetric analyze ( TGA) and thermal conductivity (TC) tests and storage modulus, loss modulus, damping ratio, glass transition temperature, weight loss and derivative weight loss were compared in fabricated normal and multiscale composites. Similarly, modal properties of fabricated composites such as natural frequency and damping factor were obtained by vibrational tests and compared in fabricated composites. According to the results, the addition of carbon-based nanoparticles improved the characteristics of carbon/basalt fiber intra-ply hybrid composites. The response of composites was directly proportional to the addition ratio of the carbon-based nanoparticles.     

Improvement of interfacial interactions in CF/PEEK composites by an s-PSF/graphene oxide compound sizing agent

The interfacial interactions of carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polymer composites is a key factor affecting the overall performance of the material. In this work, we prepared a sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)–graphene oxide mixed sizing agent to modify the interface of CF/PEEK composites and improve the interfacial properties between the PEEK matrix and CF. Results showed that the mechanical and interfacial properties of CF/PEEK composites are improved by the sizing agent. Specifically, the flexural strength, flexural modulus and interlaminar shear strength of the materials reached 847.29 MPa, 63.77 GPa, and 73.17 MPa, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed markedly improved adhesion between the resin matrix and fibers. This work provides a simple and effective method for the preparation of high-performance CF/PEEK composites, which can improve the performance of composites without degrading the mechanical property of pristine CF.     

Dynamic mechanical analysis of novel composites from commingled polypropylene fiber and banana fiber

Polypropylene (PP)/banana fiber (BF) composites were fabricated from PP fiber and short BF by novel commingling method. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the composites was performed with reference to BF loading and fiber surface treatments. By the incorporation of BF into the PP matrix, the storage modulus and loss modulus have been found to increase, whereas damping factor has been found to decrease. Glass transition temperature was found to increase with increase in BF loading. The viscoelastic properties of the composites were also found to depend on fiber surface treatments. The activation energy of the composites for the glass transition has been found to be increased by the increase in BF loading. Surface treatment of the BF further increased the activation energy of the composites, indicating a stronger interface for treated fiber composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs of the BF showed the physical changes induced by the surface treatments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to ascertain the existence of the type of interfacial bonds. The use of theoretical equations to predict the storage modulus has also been discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Short jute fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites: Dynamic mechanical study

Short jute fiber‐reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared using a high‐speed thermokinetic mixer. A compatibilizer was used to improve the molecular interaction between jute and PP. Both the percent weight fraction of the jute fiber and compatibilizer were varied to study the dynamic mechanical thermal (DMT) properties. Dynamic parameters such as storage flexural modulus (E′), loss flexural modulus (E″), storage shear modulus (G′), loss shear modulus (G″), and loss factor or damping efficiency (tan δ) were determined in a resonant frequency mode. The transition peak nature, amplitude, and temperature of E′, E″, G′, G″, and tan δ of different compositions were shown to indicate possible improvements of molecular interaction in the presence of a compatibilizer. The modulus retention term, a plot of the reduced modulus with the weight fraction of the jute fiber, also indicate its improvement. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 531–539, 1999     

Chemical treatment of wood fiber and its reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

In order to enhance the interfacial adhesion between wood fiber and an unsaturated polyester matrix (UPE), acrylic acid (acrylic acid)/poly(methyl methacrylate), and (acrylic acid)/silanization (AAS) were used to treat the wood fibers. The mechanical properties and the impact fracture surfaces of the prepared composites were measured and characterized, and the fracture mechanism of these kinds of composites was analyzed. The results showed that the AAS composites possessed the optimum comprehensive mechanical properties. When the weight fraction of wood fiber was 16%, the flexural strength and flexural modulus of the AAS composites were increased by 28.9 and 51.8%, respectively, compared to those of untreated composites. The highest tensile strength and lowest water absorption were also noted for AAS composites. These composites possessed the strongest interfacial adhesion between wood fiber and the UPE matrix. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 19:18–24, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Fabrication of Continuous-Fiber-Reinforced Polycrystalline Oxide Composites via Molten Salt Infiltration

A novel molten nitrate salt infiltration technique was developed for the fabrication of continuous-fiber-reinforced polycrystalline-alumina-matrix composites containing a high volume fraction (47%) of small-diameter fibers (Du Pont PRD 166 alumina/zirconia; 20-μm diameter). A single infiltration resulted in sufficient matrix yield to permit densification of the resulting composites to >93% of theoretical density with excellent microstructural uniformity. Hot-pressed composites fabricated in this manner exhibited Young's modulus of 270GPa, flexural strengths of 272 ± 20 MPa, and fracture toughness of 3.35 ± 0.37 MPa·m^l/2. Primary fracture origins were localized regions of interfiber porosity, which were attributed to incomplete fiber tow infiltration. Fractographic analysis revealed lack of fiber pullout, and emphasized the need for interfacial debonding agents (coatings) to achieve further toughening. Results have demonstrated the utility of molten-salt-matrix precursors for the fabrication of polycrystalline-matrix composites containing high volume fractions of continuous, small-diameter ceramic fibers.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of toughened polypropylene composites

The mechanical, thermal, and structural properties of a new flexible composite containing polypropylene fiber (PP) in a random poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene) (PPE) matrix with ethylene–propylene elastomer (EP) was investigated with emphasis on the effect of EP elastomer concentration. The intrinsic composition of the composites, toughening of the matrix with EP and the fiber–matrix interface determined the properties of the composites. Through the incorporation of EP elastomer into the polypropylene–poly (propylene‐co‐ethylene) (all‐PP) composite, tensile and storage modulus (E′) decreased, flexural modulus and loss modulus (E″, damping) increased slightly to 0.15 EP and then decreased. There was an increase in impact resistance for the toughened composites, with about 100% increase in comparison with an untoughened all‐PP composite. The composition corresponding to 0.20 weight fraction EP gave optimum impact and mechanical properties. Creep resistance of the composite decreased with increasing EP content, but recovery showed an increase with increasing EP content up to 0.20. Fracture surfaces of composites after impact tests were studied with scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the use and limitation of theoretical equations to predict the tensile and flexural modulus of the flexible PP composite is discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Effects of fiber contents on the mechanical and microwave absorbent properties of carbon fiber felt reinforced geopolymer composites

In this paper, phosphate-based geopolymer composites are studied and the effects of different carbon fiber felt contents (from 20?vol% to 40?vol%) on the phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties and microwave absorbent properties from 2?GHz to 18?GHz frequency band of the composites were systematically investigated. The results indicate that with the increase in carbon fiber felt contents, flexural strength and Young's modulus of the composites gradually increased. The fracture mode of the composite changed from brittle failure to ductile failure with the presence of carbon fiber felt. It was mainly due to the micropore deformation as well as fibers pulling-out and the crack deflection, which consumed most fracture energy. However, microwave absorbent performance tended to increase at first and then decreased as the carbon fiber felt content ramping up. When the content of carbon fiber felt in the composite was 26.7?vol%, the composite showed the best microwave absorbent performance and the reflection loss reached to ??59.3?dB. It is mainly attributed to the Debye polarization of the carbon fibers and the interface polarization between fibers and the matrix.     

A dynamic mechanical study on unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites show high specific strength and stiffness. The alignment of reinforcing fibers results in anisotropy of the material. This anisotropic behavior has been studied through dynamic mechanical analysis of unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene (CFRPP) composites measured in both parallel and transverse directions to fiber arrangement. Several parameters such as storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), loss factor or damping factor (tan δ), and complex viscosity (MU^*) have been determined over a wide range of frequencies and at a fixed temperature. Relaxation and retardation spectra have been constructed for these composites. Modulus enhancement occurs due to stiffness imparted by the fiber and efficient stress transfer at the interface. Relaxation of the polymer matrix ceases with increase in the volume fraction of the fibers. α′-relaxation is observed for the composite having a 13% volume fraction of fibers and is ascribed to relaxation in the crystalline phase where the additional crystallinity arises out of the transcrystalline growth at the fiber–matrix interface. There exists a good correlation between theroretical curves with the experimental ones. Relaxation and retardation spectra and the dynamic parameters determined for these composites show a good correlation with the volume fraction of fibers as well as the direction of the applied load. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Interfacial,dynamic mechanical,and thermal fiber reinforced behavior of MAPE treated sisal fiber reinforced HDPE composites

The present article summarizes an experimental study on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical behavior of sisal fiber reinforced HDPE composites. Variations in mechanical strength, storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), and damping parameter (tan δ) with the addition of fibers and coupling agents were investigated. It was observed that the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths increased with the increase in fiber loading up to 30%, above which there was a significant deterioration in the mechanical strength. Further, the composites treated with MAPE showed improved properties in comparison with the untreated composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis data also showed an increase in the storage modulus of the treated composites The tan δ spectra presented a strong influence of fiber content and coupling agent on the α and γ relaxation process of HDPE. The thermal behavior of the composites was evaluated from TGA/DTG thermograms. The fiber–matrix morphology in the treated composites was confirmed by SEM analysis of the tensile fractured specimens. FTIR spectra of the treated and untreated composites were also studied, to ascertain the existence of type of interfacial bonds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3306–3315, 2006     

Effect of Oxidation Heat Treatments on the Mechanical Behavior of a Si-C-O-Fiber-Reinforced Magnesium Aluminosilicate

Oxidized magnesium aluminosilicate composites reinforced with Si-C-O (Nicalon) fiber have been found to retain their as-received flexural strength. The elastic moduli of the oxidized composites exhibited an increase for samples oxidized at 1000°C and a decrease at higher temperatures. Densification of the matrix may increase the elastic modulus of composites oxidized at 1000°C, whereas cracks in the matrix and at the fiber-matrix interfaces may be responsible for the low elastic moduli of composites oxidized at higher temperatures. The interfacial friction stresses were high at or near the edges and low in the interior of the oxidized samples. As a result, the oxidized composites failed by fiber fracture on the surface, followed by delamination and fiber pullout in the interior.     

The single fiber pull-out test analysis: influence of a compliant coating on the stresses at bonded interfaces

The mechanical properties at the fiber/matrix interface play a significant role in controlling the fracture resistance of fiber-reinforced composites. By coating the fiber with sizing and coupling agents, these interfacial properties can be modified. The aim of the present analysis was to examine the effects of the coating thickness and modulus on the stresses at the bonded interfaces between the fiber, coating, and matrix. Using the fiber pull-out test as the analytical model, the stresses are first obtained by minimizing the total complementary energy in the coated fiber/matrix composite. The analytical results show that the interfacial shear stress between the fiber and the coating is higher than that between the matrix and the coating. Also, a thin and compliant coating reduces substantially the peak interfacial shear stress but not the interfacial radial stress due to Poisson's effect on the fiber. Furthermore, the shear stress transfer from the fiber to the matrix across the coating layer is found to be more uniform. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Modeling the Ultimate Tensile Strength of Unidirectional Glass-Matrix Composites

The ultimate tensile strengths of a unidirectional glass-matrix composite were measured as a function of fiber volume fraction. The results were compared with predictions, using a refined solution of the stress field generated by an axisymmetric damage model, which incorporated the effect of stress concentration in the fiber caused by the presence of a matrix crack both before and after deflection at the fiber/matrix interface. Two possible locations for the fiber failure were considered: (1) at a transverse matrix crack, near a bonded fiber/coating interface and (2) at the tip of a debond, at the fiber/coating interface. At low fiber volume fractions, the measured ultimate tensile strength matched the prediction calculated, assuming no crack deflection. For higher volume fractions, the predictions calculated for a debonded crack matched the observed values. The model results were relatively insensitive to debond length and interfacial shear stress for the range of values in this study. In comparison, the global load-sharing model, which does not account for the stress singularity at the fiber/matrix interface, was found to overpredict the values of the ultimate tensile strength for all fiber volume fractions. An important contribution of the present work was to introduce the use of fiber volume fraction as a parameter for testing theoretical predictions of the mode of fiber failure.     

Flexural modulus of SiC/SiC composites sintered by microwave and conventional heating

To deeply study the variation mechanisms of mechanical properties, flexural modulus of SiC fibers reinforced SiC matrix (SiC/SiC) composites prepared by conventional and microwave heating at 800?°C–1100?°C was discussed in detail. The elastic modulus of fibers and matrix, interface bonding strength and porosity of SiC/SiC composites were considered together to analyze the changing tendencies and differences in their flexural modulus. The elastic modulus of fiber and matrix was determined by nanoindentation technique and interface characteristics applying fiber push-out test. The porosity and microstructure examinations were characterized by mercury intrusion method, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Moreover, two conflicts between the changing trends of elastic modulus and chemical compositions of composite components were focused and explained. Results indicate that three factors played different roles in the flexural modulus of SiC/SiC composites and residual tensile stress in composite components led to the conflicts between their elastic modulus and chemical compositions.