Search

Glass fiber (GF)-reinforced biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) composites were prepared by melt blending. The effects of reinforcement on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the PPC/GF composites were investigated. The mechanical properties of the composites were found to be improved obviously by the incorporation of GF. Experimental results of the thermal properties indicated that the GF addition led to the improvement on the thermal stability of the composites, and that the Vicat softening temperature (VST) of the composites was much higher than that of pure PPC resin. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed a uniform dispersion of GF within PPC matrix at low GF loading level. It was observed that the GF appeared to be oriented within the PPC matrix to some extent, and there was good interfacial adhesion between GF and PPC matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experimental work is aimed at studying the performance of recycled newspaper and recycled newspaper/glass fiber hybrid polypropylene composites. The effects of glass fiber loading and maleic anhydride (MA) as a coupling agent on the tensile behavior and impact strength of composites containing 30wt% fiber were examined. The results suggest that the tensile strengths of the recycled newspaper/PP composites increase with increasing glass fiber content. A value of 55MPa for tensile strength and 4.1 GPa for the tensile modulus is achieved from a hybrid composite containing 10wt% of newspaper and 20wt% of glass fiber. The impact strength of the newspaper/PP composites progressively decreased with increasing glass fiber content. Adding (MA) by 2wt% in the composite formulation significantly improved both the dimensional stability and mechanical properties. Microstructure analysis of the fractured surfaces of modified composites confirmed improved interfacial bonding. Dimensional stability and strength properties of the composites can be improved by increasing the glass fiber content and or by addition of coupling agent. This project has shown that the composites treated with glass fiber and coupling agents will be desirable as building materials due to their improved stability and strength properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/short glass fiber (SGF) composites were prepared. The effect of fiber volume fraction on the properties of composites was investigated, and test results were compared with theorical equations. SEM micrographs confirmed the reports in other studies that the adhesion between ABS and neat glass fiber is poor. Silane coupling agents with different organofunctional groups were used to improve the interface. The role of these coupling agents was studied by comparing processability, mechanical and physical properties of the composites containing different silane-treated glass fibers. It seems that using coupling agents, especially those with more effective functional groups, reduces the deviation of properties from theory. The affinity of different functional groups to ABS, as well as the strength of chemical and physical bandings formed during the reaction of silane modification, decides the effectiveness of the relative coupling agent. By properties and morphology analysis we concluded that tricholorovinyl silane seems to be the best coupling agent, for this composite. This conclusion is supported by the theorical possibility of forming stronger bands at the interface for this specific coupling agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different samples of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)/short glass fiber (SGF) composites were prepared. Varying processing conditions such as rotor rate, fiber volume, coupling agent type and amount, and also temperature were applied in order to investigate the effect of different factors on the final properties of the composite produced. All samples were tested physically, mechanically, and morphologically to investigate the effect of varying parameters mentioned above. The best fiber concentration, coupling agent, and temperature were found in a 30 wt% SGF composite coupled with 3 wt% of fiber tricholorovinyle silane and processed at 190°C (rotor rate=80 rpm) which showed the best properties compared with other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glass fiber (GF) reinforced epoxy composite samples used in this study are prepared by four different standardized methods, designated as Methods A, B, C, and D. The GF that is modified with silica particles and prestressed during curing in the composite system (Method D) is proved to be significantly superior as a potential candidate material for use in high impact applications. The impact property of the so-finished composite samples is compared, in turn, with other composite samples prepared by the other methods. There are clean fiber reinforced epoxy composite (Method A), modified GF reinforced epoxy composite (Method B), and prestressed clean GF reinforced epoxy composite (Method C). The results indicate that the impact property of the composites prepared by this novel Method D is greater by up to 100% in comparison with Method A and by lesser but, significant, amounts by the other two methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to develop a new method of manufacturing glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites and to quantitatively show that the properties of such a new material are superior to that of a conventional fiber reinforced polymer composite of the same material base composition. To achieve this objective, the glass fiber (GF) reinforced epoxy composite samples are prepared in four different ways: Method A, using 'clean' GF as the reinforcement (i.e., with no modification or additional treatment to the as-received fiber); Method B, modifying the surface of the GF with silica particles before applying in the composite system; Method C, prestressing the clean GF during the curing procedure of the composite; and Method D, prestressing the silica modified GF during the curing procedure of the composite. Preparation by Method D is the newly developed method. The finished composite samples are tested by the three-point bend test and the short-beam shear test under ASTM standard conditions. The results indicate that the composites prepared by the new method, which include the GF surface modification and the GF prestressing preparation conditions, have an excellent combination of properties when compared to the specimens made by the other three methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]