Tensile properties of wood flour/kenaf fiber polypropylene hybrid composites

Hybrid composites of wood flour/kenaf fiber and polypropylene were prepared at a fixed fiber to plastic ratio of 40 : 60 and variable ratios of the two reinforcements namely 40 : 0, 30 : 10, 20 : 20, 10 : 30, and 0 : 40 by weight. Polypropylene was used as the polymer matrix, and 40–80 mesh kenaf fiber and 60–100 mesh wood flour were used as the fiber and the particulate reinforcement, respectively. Maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide were also used as the coupling agent and initiator, respectively. Mixing process was carried out in an internal mixer at 180°C at 60 rpm. ASTM D 638 Type I tensile specimens of the composites were produced by injection molding. Static tensile tests were performed to study the mechanical behavior of the hybrid composites. The hybrid effect on the elastic modulus of the composites was also investigated using the rule of hybrid mixtures and Halpin–Tsai equations. The relationship between experimental and predicted values was evaluated and accuracy estimation of the models was performed. The results indicated that while nonhybrid composites of kenaf fiber and wood flour exhibited the highest and lowest modulus values respectively, the moduli of hybrid composites were closely related to the fiber to particle ratio of the reinforcements. Rule of hybrid mixtures equation was able to predict the elastic modulus of the composites better than Halpin–Tsai equation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Composite-material mechanics: Properties of planar-random fiber composites

This paper is primarily a literature review of over ten dozen papers on the methodology for predicting elastic stiffnesses, tensile strength, thermal expansion, and thermal conductivity of planar-random fiber composites from the reinforcement geometry and appropriate properties of the constituent materials. Particular attention is devoted to the effects of fiber volume fraction, fiber curvature, fiber length, and fiber orientation, since variations in these properties can be introduced during the manufacturing process.     

Composites with planar reinforcements (flakes,ribbons)—A review

Unlike fibers, planar reinforcements, such as flakes and ribbons, provide reinforcement in two directions. If such reinforcements are arranged parallel to their principal plane in a composite material, they thus provide a distinctly higher performance than fiber reinforcements for two-dimensional loading conditions. This higher performance amounts to about a factor three for the Young's modulus and a factor two for the tensile strength. However, in spite of this obvious advantage, composites with planar reinforcements are as yet relatively unknown. This is mainly due to the fact that planar reinforcements are not as readily available as fiber reinforcements and therefore not much work has been done on them. The present article gives first a short outline of the theory of the elastic and tensile properties of composites with planar reinforcements. Then, a non-exhaustive review is presented of the work on composites with planar reinforcements, with particular attention given to recent developments. A final aim of this article is that by showing the merits of planar reinforcements as compared to presently existing fiber reinforcements, it may contribute to their use in the design of composite structures.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of hybrid carbon/oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers‐epoxy composites

Nowadays, hybrid composites are one of the important materials in industry due to their special properties. In this research, hybrid oxidized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and carbon fibers reinforcement were used in epoxy matrix. The hybrid composites were fabricated using the hand lay‐up technique by placing the reinforcements in different layering sequences. Thermal and mechanical properties of these hybrid composites were investigated by thermal analysis, horizontal burning, tensile and bending tests. The tensile test results indicated that increasing oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers (OPFs) to carbon fibers ratio decreased tensile strength and elastic modulus but increased failure strain. Hybrid oxidized PAN and carbon fibers reinforcement in composites led to decreasing flexural stress and modulus, and increasing flame retardancy. Thermal analysis results also showed that the maximum rate of mass loss in all composites was 370.6°C. It was also found that the maximum and minimum amounts of char residue at 900°C were related to the composites with four layers of carbon and OPFs, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1412–1417, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Anisotropy of the elastic modulus for hybrid composites reinforced by short fibers and particles with respect to material porosity

Hybrid composites reinforced by short fibers and particles (HCRSFPs) have been widely used in many fields, and more and more scholars are paying attention to hybrid composites. In this study, the elastic moduli of HCRSFPs in arbitrarily chosen directions were investigated with respect to their porosities. A material model was built with the assumption of a compound of particles and polymer matrix containing voids as an effective matrix, and the HCRSFPs were treated as the compound of short fibers and the effective matrix. With consideration of the three‐dimensional spatial orientation distribution and the length distribution of the short fibers, the laminate analog approach and the Halpin–Tsai model were used to predict the elastic moduli of the HCRSFPs. Numerical examples and analyses showed that the fiber orientation distribution, reinforcement volume fraction, and porosity had great effects on the elastic moduli of the HCRSFPs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43708.     

Thermal expansion of organic and inorganic matrix composites: A Review of theoretical and experimental studies

This paper reviews theoretical and experimental studies conducted in organic, ceramic, and metal matrix composites containing cylindrical, lamellar, and spheroidal inclusions as reinforcements. Mathematical formulations proposed to predict thermal expansion coefficients of fiber, disc, and sphere reinforced organic and inorganic matrix composites have been reviewed. Experimental studies undertaken to confirm theoretical predictions of thermal expansion coefficients of a variety of reinforcement geometry composites have also been discussed.     

Experimental analysis and theoretical modeling of the mechanical behavior of short glass fiber and short carbon fiber reinforced polycarbonate hybrid composites

In this research, polycarbonate (PC) composites with short glass fiber (SGF) and short carbon fiber (SCF) hybrid fiber reinforcements were compounded by single screw extruder and specimens were prepared by injection molding machine. This article aims to investigate the mechanical properties of PC hybrid composites, by means of the experimental and the theoretical methods. The composites were subjected to tensile test. Experimental results showed the improvements in tensile strength and modulus by increasing the SCF content of the hybrid composite. The theoretical tensile strength was predicted based on Kelly–Tyson model and rule of hybrid mixture. Kelly–Tyson model showed to be a good approximation to predict the tensile strength of composite. When the SCF was replaced by milled carbon fiber (MCF) to form a PC/SGF/MCF hybrid system, poorer mechanical properties are reported due to the weaker interfacial adhesion between MCF and PC, as proven by the scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1238–1248, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation and characterization of chemically modified Jute–Coir hybrid fiber reinforced epoxy novolac composites

In this study, the effects of fiber surface modification and hybrid fiber composition on the properties of the composites is presented. Jute fibers are cellulose rich (>65%) modified by alkali treatment, while the lignin rich (>40%) coconut coir fibers consist in creating quinones by oxidation with sodium chlorite in the lignin portions of fiber and react them with furfuryl alcohol (FA) to create a coating around the fiber more compatible with the epoxy resins used to prepare polymer composites. The maximum improvement on the properties was achieved for the hybrid composite containing the jute–coir content of 50 : 50. The tensile and flexural strength are recorded as 25 and 63 MPa at modified coir fiber content of 50 vol %, respectively, which are 78% and 61% higher than those obtained for unmodified fiber reinforced composites, i.e., tensile and flexural strength are 14 and 39 MPa, respectively. The reinforcement of the modified fiber was significantly enhanced the thermal stability of the composites. SEM features correlated satisfactorily with the mechanical properties of modified fiber reinforced hybrid composites. SEM analysis and water absorption measurements have confirmed the FA-grafting and shown a better compatibility at the interface between chemically modified fiber bundles and epoxy novolac resin. Hailwood–Horrobin model was used to predict the moisture sorption behavior of the hybrid composite systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

ZrO2f-coated Cf hybrid fibrous reinforcements and properties of their reinforced ceramicizable phenolic resin matrix composites

Carbon fiber-reinforced ceramicizable phenolic resin matrix composites have been widely used in the field of thermal protection materials. In this paper, the ZrO_2f-coated C_f (ZrO_2f/C_f) hybrid fibrous reinforcements were designed to improve oxidation resistance of carbon fiber and ceramicizable composites reinforced by ZrO_2f/C_f hybrid fibrous reinforcements were prepared to investigated oxidation resistance and mechanical properties of the composites at high temperature. The results show that ZrO_2f/C_f hybrid fibrous reinforcements have good thermal stability and high oxidation resistance, and its ceramicizable composites have good bending strength at high temperature. Weight loss rate of the composites is only 21 %, and bending strength can be as high as 39 MPa when ablation time was 12 min at 1400 °C.     

A model to predict the strength of short fiber composites

The material properties of short fiber composites, such as modulus, strength and thermal expansion, are greatly dependent on the fiber orientation state in the composite. Although the orientation pattern is often quite complex, models that allow its prediction have been successfully applied in combination with micromechanical models to calculate moduli and thermal properties. This paper describes the derivation of a model to predict the strength of short fiber composites with arbitrary fiber orientation and fiber length distribution based on classical (micro-) mechanical theories. The predictions are in good agreement with data measured on short fiber composites with different fiber contents.     

酚醛空心微球对聚合物基复合材料性能的影响

以混合后的石英纤维、酚醛纤维和酚醛空心微球作为增强体,加入酚醛树脂制备出复合材料。研究了酚醛空心微球不同配比对复合材料各项力学性能、隔热性能、微观形貌的影响。结果表明,酚醛空心微球能降低复合材料的密度,提升隔热性能,降低力学性能。当酚醛空心微球含量为6%时,酚醛空心微球分散均匀,复合材料的隔热性能有明显提升,材料的比拉伸强度和比压缩强度值最大,获得的效益最高。     

Tensile properties of short sisal fiber-reinforced polyethylene composites

Sisal fibers (Agave-Veracruz) have been used as reinforcements in low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The influence of the processing method and the effect of fiber content, fiber length, and orientation on tensile properties of the composites have been evaluated. The fiber damage that normally occurs during blending of fiber and polyethylene by the meltmixing method is avoided by adopting a solution-mixing procedure. The tensile properties of the composites thus prepared show a gradual increase with fiber content. The properties also increased with fiber length, to a maximum at a fiber length of about 6 mm. Unidirectional alignment of the short fibers achieved by an extrusion process enhanced the tensile strength and modulus of the composites along the axis of fiber alignment by more than twofold compared to randomly oriented fiber composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A model for determining fiber reinforcement efficiencies and fiber orientation in polymer composites

Fiber length contributions to the reinforcement potential in composites have been decoupled from fiber orientation effects with the use of a fiber orientation model. Fiber length efficiency factors and fiber orientation factors are calculated based upon a procedure that requires measuring the composite properties in specified directions relative to a reference direction. The procedure is straightforward and relatively quick compared to the tedious task of actually measuring the fiber length distribution. An example illustrating the utility of the procedure is given and then followed by a discussion qualifying the significance of the factors and the results.     

Electrophoretic deposition of different carbon nanoscale reinforcements on carbon fiber fabrics and mechanical properties of the resulting hybrid multi‐scale epoxy composites

Three types of carbon nanoscale reinforcements (CNRs) including the shortened electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs, with diameters and lengths of ∼200 nm and ∼15 µm, respectively), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were electrophoretically deposited on carbon fiber (CF) fabrics for the fabrication of hybrid multi‐scale epoxy composites. The results indicated that the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of CNRs onto CF fabrics led to substantial improvements on mechanical properties of hybrid multi‐scale epoxy composites; in particular, the hybrid multi‐scale epoxy composite containing surface‐functionalized ECNFs (with amino groups) exhibited the highest mechanical properties. The study also indicated that some agglomerates of CNRs (particularly GNFs) could form during the EPD process, which would decrease mechanical properties of the resulting composites. Additionally, the reinforcement mechanisms were investigated, and the results suggested that continuous (or long) ECNFs would outperform short ECNFs on the reinforcement of resin‐rich interlaminar regions in the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1229–1237, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Experimental Investigation of Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Flax-Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composite using Finite Element Analysis

The use of cellulosic fibers as reinforcing materials in polymer composites has gained popularity due to an increasing trend for developing sustainable materials. In the present experimental study, flax and glass fiber reinforced partially eco-friendly hybrid composites are fabricated with two different fiber orientations of 0° and 90°. The mechanical properties of these composites such as tensile, flexural and impact strengths have been evaluated. From the experiments, it has been observed that the composites with the 0° fiber orientation can hold the maximum tensile strength of 82.71 MPa, flexural strength of 143.99 MPa, and impact strength of 4 kJ/m². Whereas the composites with 90° fiber orientation can withstand the maximum tensile strength of 75.64 MPa, flexural strength of 134.86 MPa, and impact strength of 3.99 kJ/m². Morphological analysis is carried out to analyze fiber matrix interfaces and the structure of the fractured surfaces by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The finite element analysis (FEA) has been carried out to predict the resulting important mechanical properties by using ANSYS 12.0. From the results it is found that the experimental results are very close to the results predicted from FEA model values. It is suggested that these hybrid composites can be used as alternate materials for pure synthetic fiber reinforced polymer composite materials.     

Effect of fiber orientation on viscoelastic properties of polymer matrix composites subjected to thermal cycles

Fibers in polymer composites can be designed in various orientations for their usage in service life. Various fiber orientated polymer composites, which are used in aeroplane and aerospace applications, are frequently subjected to thermal cycles because of the changes in body temperatures at a range of −60 to 150°C during flights. It is an important subject to investigate the visco‐elastic properties of the thermal cycled polymer composite materials which have various fiber orientations during service life. Continuous fiber reinforced composites with a various fiber orientations are subjected to 1,000 thermal cycles between the temperatures of 0 and 100°C. Dynamic mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA) experiments are carried out by TA Q800 type equipment. The changes in glass transition temperature (T_g), storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E′′) and loss factor (tan δ) are inspected as a function of thermal cycles for different fiber orientations. It was observed that thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the polymer composites were remarkably changed by thermal cycles. It was also determined that the composites with [45°/−45°]_s fiber orientation presented the lowest dynamic mechanical properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Bridging stresses and R-curves in ceramic/metal composites

Incorporation of metal into brittle ceramics results in an increase in fracture toughness, which can lead to an increase in strength, reliability and thermal shock resistance of the composite compared to monolithic ceramics. The basic material specific property, which controls the enhancement of the mechanical properties, is the bridging stress relation of the metal reinforcements. This relation was calculated from measured profiles of loaded cracks (COD) for fiber reinforced model composites and interpenetrating network composites in the system Al₂O₃/Al. Results are compared with directly measured bridging stress relations for the model materials. The bridging relations are further used to model the R-curve behavior of the composites which are compared with experimentally measured ones. Limitations of the applied procedure are discussed as well as the influence of specimen geometry and flaw size.     

Mechanical properties of hybrid structural composites reinforced with nanosilica

Epoxy‐based hybrid structural composites reinforced with 14 nm spherical silica particles were investigated for mechanical properties as a function of nanosilica loading fractions. Composites were fabricated using continuous glass or carbon fiber of unidirectional architecture and nanosilica dispersed epoxy, through resin film infusion process. Uniform dispersion of nanoparticles in resin matrix was ensured by an optimized ultrasound‐assisted process. Although resin viscosity marginally reduces in the presence of nanosilica enabling a better control in composite manufacturing process, glass transition temperature of epoxy remained unaffected at low weight fractions. Compressive strength of hybrid glass or carbon fiber/epoxy composites showed more than 30–35% increase with nanosilica at a concentration as low as 0.2 wt%. Tensile and compressive properties of hybrid composites in transverse direction to the reinforcement remained unaffected. POLYM. COMPOS. 37:1216–1222, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Hierarchical material modeling of carbon/carbon composites

Unidirectional, long fiber carbon/carbon composites fabricated by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) consisting of carbon fibers in a pyrolytic carbon matrix are anisotropic materials. It is practically impossible to identify experimentally the elastic properties (modules) of this anisotropic material. The aim of this investigation is to predict the elastic properties of this composite theoretically. The study of this material with the help of microscopy gives information about the very complicated anisotropic structure of this composite at each length scale. That is the reason that a hierarchical model for this material is developed, which consists of four length levels. A methodology for identification of the elastic properties for such composites is proposed. The problem is solved with the help of a homogenization procedure for each level.     

Formation of a carbon fiber/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane/carbon nanotube hybrid reinforcement and its effect on the interfacial properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites

A carbon fiber/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane/carbon nanotube (CF–POSS–CNT) hybrid reinforcement was prepared by grafting CNTs onto the carbon fiber surface using octaglycidyldimethylsilyl POSS as the linkage in an attempt to improve the interfacial properties between carbon fibers and an epoxy matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic contact angle analysis and single fiber tensile testing were performed to characterize the hybrid reinforcements. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), impact toughness, dynamic mechanical analysis and force modulation atomic force microscopy were carried out to investigate the interfacial properties of the composites. Experimental results show that POSS and CNTs are grafted uniformly on the fiber surface and significantly increase the fiber surface roughness. The polar functional groups and surface energy of carbon fibers are obviously increased after the modification. Single fiber tensile testing results demonstrate that the functionalization does not lead to any discernable decrease in the fiber tensile strength. Mechanical property test results indicate the ILSS and impact toughness are enhanced. The storage modulus and service temperature increase by 11 GPa and 17 °C, respectively. POSS and CNTs effectively enhance the interfacial adhesion of the composites by improving resin wettability, increasing chemical bonding and mechanical interlocking.