Exploring the potential of milkweed stalk in wood plastic manufacture

The physical and mechanical properties of milkweed composites based on different loads of milkweed flour and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) using polypropylene as matrix are investigated in this study. There levels of milkweed fibers (30, 40, and 50 wt.%), one level of mixed milkweed flour (20:20 wt.% fiber:bark), and two levels of MAPP (4 and 6 wt.%) were used to prepare natural fiber-reinforced composites. Physical and mechanical properties including flexural, tension, impact, and thickness swelling were evaluated according to ASTM standards. The result demonstrated that addition of milkweed flour fluctuates mechanical properties of reinforced composite. However, the optimum load of milkweed flour was different in each test. Generally, 40 wt.% mixed flour composite in comparison with 40 wt.% milkweed composite showed lower mechanical results and higher thickness swelling. MAPP as a coupling agent improved physical and mechanical properties of milkweed-filled composites in most properties. The results of this study depicted positive effects of lignocellulose fibers and coupling gent and also negative effect of bark flour as a function of lower cellulose and higher extractive contents on physical and mechanical properties of milkweed-reinforced composites.     

Interdependence of moisture,mechanical properties,and hydrophobic treatment of jute fibre-reinforced composite materials

Despite cheap and sustainable in nature, the use of natural fiber composites is limited due to their high moisture absorption, poor fiber–matrix interface, and lack of data on evolution of properties when subjected to environmental factor such as temperature and humidity. The aim of this research is to study the interdependence of moisture regain, hydrophobic treatment, and the mechanical properties of jute fiber-reinforced composite materials. Composite samples made from treated and untreated jute fiber-reinforced composites were exposed to humid environment and their moisture regain, mechanical properties and fiber-matrix interface was tested at given time intervals until four weeks. The composites produced with hydrophobic treated reinforcement showed lesser moisture regain and improvement in the tensile and flexural strengths compared to untreated fabric composite. A clear improvement in fiber-resin interface was observed by scanning electronic microscopy. The dynamic mechanical analysis of treated and untreated composites was conducted in a temperature range 20–140 °C. An increase in the storage modulus of treated composite materials was noted as compared to untreated ones. Furthermore, it was concluded that developed composite loss their mechanical properties linearly with immersion time. However, this aging was slow in treated fabric composites especially hybrid fluorocarbon and fluorocarbon.     

Mechanical,morphological, and thermogravimetric analysis of alkali-treated Cordia-Dichotoma natural fiber composites

ABSTRACT

Usage of composites with natural fiber reinforcement is drastically increasing in recent times because of their low density, biodegradable nature, and low cost. However, natural fibers have certain core problems such as poor adhesion between the fiber and matrix and a relatively high degree of moisture absorption. Alkaline treatment of natural fibers is aimed at improving the adhesive strength so that effective stress transferability takes place in the composite. In the present work, Cordia-Dichotoma fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and composites were prepared with different weight ratios of these fibers reinforced with epoxy. The prepared composites were tested for their tensile and flexural strengths (mechanical properties). Besides, for a comprehensive material characterization, IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope, and thermogravimetric analysis were carried out. This work investigates the influence of aforementioned NaOH treatment on thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of the composite material.     

The Influences of Fibre Parameters on the Tensile and Flexural Response of Lightweight Thermoplastic Kenaf Fibre Reinforced Metal Composites

ABSTRACT

The increasing demand for high performance and lightweight materials has stimulated the development of alternative materials, namely fiber metal laminates (FMLs). FML is a sandwich structure which is formed by bonding the metallic layers with composite as core constituent using an adhesive agent. In this study, the mechanical behavior of FMLs with the core constituents of environmental friendly kenaf bast fiber reinforced polypropylene composites bonded with aluminum skin layers was investigated. The effects of fiber compositions (50, 60, and 70 wt.%), fiber lengths (30, 60, 90 mm), and alkali treatment on the mechanical responses of FML were investigated. The overall results revealed that the increase of fiber composition and fiber length reduces the mechanical strength of FML owing to the agglomeration of natural fibers when the fiber length exceeds the critical limit. However, the chemical treated kenaf bast fiber reinforced FML showed a significant enhancement of the mechanical properties in comparison to the non-treated fiber reinforced FML owing to the improved fiber-matrix adhesion level.     

Mechanical Characterization and Water Ageing Behavior Studies of Grewia Serrulata Bast Fiber Reinforced Thermoset Composites

Natural fiber-reinforced polyester composites were prepared using bast fibers as the reinforcement which were extracted from Grewia serrulata trees. Chemical treatments such as alkali pretreatment followed by permanganate treatment, acetylation and silane treatment were exclusively applied to modify the fiber surface. Hand lay-up technique with compression molding was adapted for the fabrication of axially oriented fiber reinforced composites. Tensile, flexural and impact strength properties of the specimens prepared were evaluated following the standard procedures. The SEM images of the fractured surfaces shows improvement in compatibility between the chemically treated fibers and the matrix. It was found that the tensile and flexural strengths of chemically treated fiber-reinforced polyester composites have significantly improved when compared to untreated fiber-reinforced polyester specimens. The properties of 1200 hrs water aged specimens were found deteriorated considerably due to diffusion of water into the composite material system. The chemical treatment of fibers prior to fabrication of composites improves the resistance to water absorption tendencies.     

Effect of alkali treatment on mechanical properties of woven jute composites

The effect of alkali treatment on the jute fabrics and its influence on jute composites properties has been studied. The plain woven jute fabrics were manufactured using handloom. The alkali treatment was optimized using Box and Benkhen experimental design using time, temperature and concentration as independent variables and water absorbency, weight loss percentage as dependent variables. The fabric treated with optimized condition of 5% NaOH for 4 h at 30 °C was made into a composite of [0°]₄ lay-up sequence by means of compression moulding technique using vinyl ester resin. The composites were characterized for various mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and impact strength. It is observed from the results that the alkali-treated samples show increased mechanical properties of the composites which may be due to the better adhesion between the fabric and the resin because of the removal of lignin and hemicellulose.     

Effect of grafting generations of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer from the sisal fiber surface on the mechanical properties of composites

In order to improve the mechanical properties of sisal fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites, the sisal fibers were grafted with poly(amidoamine) dendrimer and the effects of grafting generations on the mechanical properties of composites were studied. The results reveal that the tensile, flexural, and impact strength of the composites are improved considerably with the poly(amidoamine) dendrimer grafting treatment. For the 2.0 generation treatment with the poly(amidoamine) dendrimer, the tensile, flexural, and impact strength of the composites at 30 wt% fiber loading increase by 29%, 13%, and 54%, respectively. However, the thermal and mechanical properties of the sisal fibers decrease after prolonged grafting treatment.     

Extraction and Characterization of Calotropis gigantea Bast Fibers as Novel Reinforcement for Composites Materials

The aim of this study is to scrutinize the use of Calotropis gigantea bast fibers as potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The bast fibers were extracted from the Calotropis gigantea plant bark and some of them were treated with alkali (5 wt.%) solution. The chemical composition, physico-chemical structural properties of the untreated and the alkali treated Calotropis bast fibers were studied. The results of chemical composition analysis indicated that alkali treatment removed most of the non-cellulose materials as confirmed by the FTIR analysis. The X-ray diffraction results exhibited that the crystallinity index of the alkali treated fibers increased in comparison with the untreated fibers, which agrees with the results obtained in the mechanical tests. The tensile strength and modulus of the alkali treated fibers were found to be higher whereas the elongation at break was lower than the untreated fibers. Thermal stability of alkali treated fibers was lower than that of the untreated fiber. Scanning electron micrographs showed roughening of the surface of the fiber due to the removal of the surface impurities and non-cellulosic components on alkali treatment.It can be concluded that alkali treatment is an effective method to improve the surface and mechanical properties of Calotropis bast fibers to be used in composite materials.     

Hybrid Composites Made from Jute/Coir Fibers: Water Absorption,Thickness Swelling,Density, Morphology,and Mechanical Properties

The action of water in natural fiber-reinforced composite material was studied so as to produce great swelling with resultant changes in the fine structure, dimensional stability, and mechanical properties. Water absorption and thickness swelling test reveal that hybrid composite shows water absorption moderately, which is 15.3% for hybrid coir/jute/coir composite and 11.2% for hybrid jute/coir/jute composite. The thickness swelling, water absorption, and mechanical properties of the hybrid composites slightly increased as the layering pattern of hybrid composites changed. Hybridization of coir fibers composites with jute fibers can improve the dimensional stability, extensibility and density of pure coir composites. Microstructures of the composites were examined to understand the mechanisms for the fiber-matrix interaction in relation to mechanical properties.     

Effect of Chemical Treatment on Thermal,Mechanical and Degradation Behavior of Banana Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

ABSTRACT

The current research endeavor, explores the thermal, mechanical, and degradation behavior of alkaline treated banana fibers reinforced polypropylene composites. Composites incorporating BF (20% w: w) treated with NaOH (5% w: v) aqueous solution were developed using extrusion-injection molding processes. After chemical treatment, the tensile, flexural and impact strength of the composite increases by 3.8%, 5.17%, and 11.50%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of tested specimens confirm the fiber pull out and fiber fracture as the main reasons for failure of developed composites under tensile and impact loading. The specimens were exposed to two different environments, water immersion and soil burial for 5 weeks for the degradation studies. The degradation behavior of composites was measured in terms of variation in weight and mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact). The maximum degradation in mechanical properties was observed for the composites buried under soil. The composite lost 7.69%, 12.06%, and 3.27% of tensile, flexural, and impact strength, respectively.     

柔软处理对涤纶/锦纶6中空桔瓣型超细纤维非织造布性能的影响

为获得综合性能优异的中空桔瓣型超细纤维非织造布,采用 4 种不同的柔软处理方法,即物理水洗、烷基季铵盐柔软剂、有机硅柔软剂和化学碱减量法处理涤纶/锦纶 6 非织造布。研究了不同的柔软处理工艺对中空桔瓣型超细纤维非织造布性能的影响,并对其结构与形貌进行表征与分析。结果表明：物理水洗、烷基季铵盐柔软剂、有机硅柔软剂柔软处理使中空桔瓣型超细纤维非织造布折痕回复性、抗弯曲性、悬垂性、柔软性能均得到提高,断裂强力略有下降,撕裂强力提高;经化学碱减量柔软处理的非织造布柔软性能较好,但是力学性能较差。对比经 4 种不同的柔软工艺处理的非织造布性能可知,经有机硅柔软剂处理的中空桔瓣型超细纤维非织造布综合性能 最优。     

The Hybrid Effect of Jute/Kenaf/E-Glass Woven Fabric Epoxy Composites for Medium Load Applications: Impact,Inter-Laminar Strength,and Failure Surface Characterization

This research has been carried out to find better hybrid natural/glass fiber-reinforced composites for engineering applications. This research work studied the impact and inter-laminar strength of E-glass with jute/kenaf woven fabric epoxy composites with the aim of evaluating the hybridization effects on different laminate stacking sequences made with jute, kenaf, and E-glass fabrics by the vacuum bagging method. All the laminates were prepared in 300 × 300 mm² with a total of five plies maintained at 3 mm thickness, by varying the number and position of jute, kenaf, glass layers so as to obtain nine different stacking sequences. Among them, one group of all pure jute, pure kenaf, and pure E-glass laminates were also fabricated for comparison purpose. The specimen preparation and testing were carried out as per ASTM standards. From the results, it is shown that the properties of jute/kenaf fabrics-reinforced epoxy composites can be enhanced by hybridization with the addition of glass fabrics. The hybridization of jute/kenaf fabrics with E-glass fabrics provides a method to improve the mechanical impact and inter-laminar strength over pure natural fiber-reinforced composites. The hybrid laminate having E-glass and kenaf fiber plies as skin layers and jute fiber plies as core layers showed better properties compared to other laminates.     

Natural Fibers from Plantain Pseudostem (Musa Paradisiaca) for Use in Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Agricultural crops from plantain produce a significant amount of wastes and they are currently considered worthless. Accordingly, in this study, non-wood fibers from pseudostem of plantain plants were extracted through mechanical processing to be used as reinforcing material in polyester composites. Bio-based composites were obtained using a 4% wt. of lignocellulosic reinforcement and were prepared after the fibers underwent alkaline and acetylation treatments in order to enhance the compatibility of organic loads with the polyester matrix. The higher cellulose content of plantain fibers indicates that they can be used to reinforce composites with a polymeric matrix. The plantain fibers have bast fiber bundle of around 120 µm; single fibers of around 5 µm; and mesofibers with a diameter between 0.5 and 1 µm. The results showed that plantain fibers can be used as a filler material to obtain an alternative polymer composite. The flexural strength of composites (polyester with acetylated plantain fibers) was improved 28% when the properties are compared to control composite.     

SiO2气凝胶/聚酯-聚乙烯双组分纤维复合保暖材料的制备及其性能

为开发综合性能优异的复合保暖非织造材料,以聚酯-聚乙烯(PET-PE)双组分皮芯结构复合纤维为主体,通过热风工艺,采用自然沉降法使SiO₂气凝胶粉末粘附于复合纤维表面,制得SiO₂气凝胶/聚酯-聚乙烯纤维复合非织造材料。对复合非织造材料表面SiO₂气凝胶粉末质量分数、微观结构、保暖性能、压缩回弹性能、拉伸性能、透气性能进行测试与分析。结果表明:SiO₂气凝胶粉末与聚酯-聚乙烯复合纤维可有效结合,SiO₂气凝胶粉末的加入对纤维网具有一定的支撑作用,提升了复合非织造材料的压缩回弹性能、拉伸性能,同时因增加了纤维间静止空气的含量,使复合非织造材料的保暖性能得到提升。     

Fabrication and Characterization of MWCNT Filled Hybrid Natural Fiber Composites

Hybrid composites are fabricated by the combination of two or more fibers using a single matrix. It can be fabricated either with all of its constituents as natural fibers or with one or more constituents belonging to artificial fiber. The stacking sequence of the fibers in a hybrid composite can be altered resulting in a varying mechanical properties. In the present study the MWCNT filled banana-jute-flax fiber reinforced composites are investigated for its mechanical behavior by varying the stacking sequence of the fiber layers and weight % of Multi-Walled Carbon Nano Tube (MWCNT). A Modified resin was prepared by adding MWCNT in the epoxy resin using ultrasonic probe sonicator and a hybrid composite is fabricated with it by using compression moulding processes. The mechanical properties are evaluated as per the ASTM standards. The incorporating of MWCNT and the stacking sequence of fiber layers shows the greater impact on the mechanical properties. The composites of jute fibers at the extremities (JBFBFBFJ) exhibiting the enhancement of tensile, compressive and hardness properties than the flax fiber at the extremities (FBJBJBJF) and it could be used in various automobile applications. Microstructure of the samples are investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)with Energy dispersive X-ray (EDS). The results indicate that increasing the weight % of MWCNT and varying the stacking sequence of fibers improves the mechanical properties of hybrid natural fiber composites.     

Evaluation and Impact Factors of the Mechanical Properties of Phloem Bundle Fibers Obtained from Kenaf Germplasm

The mechanical properties of kenaf phloem bundle fibers are valuable for reinforced composites or boards, more so than similar materials also used in textile or papermaking applications. 55 kenaf germplasm studied here showed an average phloem bundle fiber tensile strength of 643.6 MPa and an average elastic modulus of 23.3 GPa after chemical retting treatment. 19 of these kenaf germplasm had fiber tensile strengths >700 MPa, which can be attributed to intensive breeding programs. The fiber tensile strength and elastic modulus of kenaf germplasm had a significant positive correlation, but there was no such correlation between a fiber’s mechanical properties and its diameter or agronomic characteristics. Among 56 hybridized combination F₁ generations, the highest tensile strength was 928.3 MPa from a combination of No.30 of Xinan Wuchi × Guatemala 4. Therefore, breeding and screening are both useful for improving the mechanical properties of kenaf phloem bundle fibers. However, the effects of the used bundle fiber preparation method or cultivation year on the fiber’s mechanical properties were more pronounced than those of the type of kenaf germplasm or breeding operation used. The mechanical properties of kenaf phloem bundle fibers treated by chemical retting were superior to those treated using natural retting.     

碱处理对旧报纸纤维/聚乳酸复合材料力学性能的影响

利用注射成形工艺制备了旧报纸纤维(NRF)/聚乳酸(PLA)复合材料,探讨了碱处理对NRF/PLA复合材料力学性能的影响。结果表明,碱处理可使旧报纸纤维中部分半纤维素和果胶等物质溶出,纤维表面极性降低,旧报纸纤维与聚乳酸相容性得到改善;碱处理后的旧报纸纤维纤维素结晶度增大,纤维表面孔径增大,比表面积增加,纤维表面油墨被去除,旧报纸纤维与聚乳酸界面结合性能得到改善,NRF/PLA复合材料力学性能提高。     

African Teff Straw as a Potential Reinforcement in Polymer Composites for Light-Weight Applications: Mechanical,Thermal, Physical,and Chemical Characterization before and after Alkali Treatment

ABSTRACT

The present study concerns the morphological, mechanical, thermal characterization and activation energy of African teff straw, a natural and almost inexpensive fiber as a potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The fiber is treated with different concentrations of alkali NaOH (5% and 10%) to improve the properties, and the effect has been observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy(AFM), mechanical property tester, and thermogravimetric analysis. Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose method, and Friedman method have been used for calculation of activation energy of untreated and treated teff straw. There is an increase of approximately 31% (280–368 MPa) in tensile strength and 21% (136–164 kJ/mol) in average activation energy in case of 5% alkali-treated fiber compared to untreated one. This treated fiber can be recommended as a reinforcement in polymer composites for light-weight applications.     

Kenaf fibre-reinforced polyester composites: flexural characterization and statistical analysis

This paper deals with the effect of the chemical treatment, fibre ratio and fibre reinforcement structure on the flexural properties of kenaf-polyester composites. Composites were made from an unsaturated polyester matrix reinforced with an alkali-treated and virgin kenaf fibres in a loose fibres and nonwovens. Results reveal that alkali treatment improves the flexural properties of composites expect elongation. The same result was obtained when using a nonwoven structure us reinforcement. The best flexural properties were observed for 11.1% fibre weight ratio with the nonwoven structure reinforce composite. The flexural strength and the flexural modulus were 69.5 MPa and 7.11 GPa, respectively, for this composite while it was 42.24 MPa and 3.61, respectively, for polyester samples (no fibre reinforcement). A statistical study was carried out in order to study the effect of the alkali treatment, reinforcement structure and the reinforcement weight ration on the composite properties. This study proved that the parameter with most impact on the measured properties is the fibre-to-matrix weight ratio. And also this study aims to determine the optimum parameters allowing maximising all measured properties and we found that when using a nonwoven structure made with chemically-treated fibre at 11.10% fibre weight ratio, is the optimum solution.     

Effect of Treatments on the Physical and Morphological Properties of SPF/Phenolic Composites

This study aims at evaluating the physical properties and effects of fiber treatments of natural fiber reinforced polymer composite’s friction applications. Sugar palm fibers (SPFs) were used as fillers (≤ 150 µm) with phenolic resin to fabricate the composites by the hot press technique. The loading of SPFs varied from 0 to 40 vol.% with an interval of 10 vol.% in phenolic composites. The fibers were treated with sea water for 30 days, and with 0.5 M of alkaline solution for 4 hrs. Rockwell hardness, density, voids content, water/oil absorption, and moisture content were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the morphology and interfacial bonding of the fiber-matrix in composites. With an increase in the SPF loading in the composites, the results indicated a decline in Rockwell hardness, an increase in water/oil absorption, and density. It was also observed that higher the density of the composites, lower was the voids content. In terms of physical properties, sea water treatment showed better improvement than alkaline treatment. The outcome of this research indicated that SPFs can be effectively used in reinforcing polymer composites, such as friction composites.