Search

The addition of fillers to polymer composites induces a positive influence on the mechanical and tribological properties of the hybrid composites. These properties can be validated for possible uses such as automobile, construction, shipping, aerospace, sports equipment, electronics, and biomedical domains. In the present research, epoxy matrix reinforced with nylon-6 fibers and glass fibers were prepared using the solution blend technique. Alumina nanoparticles are added as fillers to enhance the properties of epoxy hybrid composites. The large surface area of interaction of nanofillers exhibits better adhesion between matrix and fibers of composites, and it significantly affects the various properties of composites. The tribological characteristics of fabricated epoxy hybrid composites were evaluated under various parameters and conditions. The results revealed that the addition of nanofiller significantly reduces the wear loss of epoxy hybrid nanocomposites. The wear resistance of epoxy hybrid composites increased with increase in addition of nanofiller up to 1.0%, and it slightly decreased with the further addition of filler. The Taguchi analysis was carried out for the least coefficient of friction and specific wear rate. The analysis found that the specific wear rate and coefficient of friction mainly depend on load, followed by speed and nanofiller. The fractured and worn surface of Al2O3-filled epoxy hybrid composites was analysed using SEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites has increased over a period of time, majorly due to the ecosustainability and biodegradability of the composites. Among several grades of natural fibers, bamboo fibers offer numerous environmental and cost benefits and possess excellent mechanical characteristics. The superior properties of the bamboo fibers have triggered the research interests in the domain of bamboo fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Among the polymers, polyesters are long chain molecules made up of atoms arranged in various ways with other elements to form the basic building blocks of a polymeric chain. Polyester is being increasingly employed in today's industrial products due to its inherent advantages. As a result, based on the potential properties of bamboo fibers as reinforcing materials and polyester resin as matrix material, the biocomposites are synthesized by hand lay-up technique and the specimens cut as per the standard dimensions and subjected to mechanical investigations, vibration, and morphological characterization as per the ASTM test methods. The increase in fiber weight content has enhanced flexural, tensile, and impact characteristics and improved the damping characteristics of the composite specimens. The microstructural evaluations have revealed the uniform distribution of the bamboo fibers in the resin, and the morphological studies of the fractured specimens have revealed that the fracture is majorly due to the matrix cracks rather than the fiber debonding, which is a major attribute ascertaining the strong coherent strengthening mechanism brought about by the inclusion of bamboo fiber in the polyester resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer systems like epoxies are not generally used in the manufacturing of structures on their own since they possess an ordinary level of mechanical properties. Hence, different reinforcing fibres and nanofillers are incorporated into polymer systems, thereby combining some of the properties of the resin with those of the fibres, thus making the resultant composite superior to even some metals. In this research study, the hybrid fibre fillers are added to epoxy composites with alumina nano-filler reinforcement are fabricated and tested to improve the flexural strength of the hybrid composites for use in various applications like automobiles, aerospace, civil engineering, military, motorsports etc. Effects of Alumina nanoparticles on flexural strength of Glass-Nylon hybrid composite have been studied. The factors, levels of factors and number of test model have been considered for the experiments as well as for the analysis is decided based on Design of Experiment method by Taguchi. The experimental results have shown that hybrid composite with an increase in the percentage of nanofiller, increases the flexural strength. The increase in flexural strength is noticed due to the addition of nanoparticles to epoxy, and the nucleating effect of nanofillers that were dispersed thoroughly within the matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]