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Polylactic acid (PLA) composite serve as widely used filaments in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. This study investigates the enhancement of PLA composite's comprehensive mechanical properties and thermal stability through the incorporation of carbon fiber (CF). The influence of FDM process parameters on the mechanical properties of PLA composite is also analyzed. Results show that adding 5 wt.% CF significantly enhances the stiffness and comprehensive mechanical properties of PLA composite. The order of printing factors affecting the tensile strength of the PLA composite product is as follows: printing layer thickness, bottom plate temperature, printing speed, and nozzle temperature. Finally, optimal tensile strength is achieved under specific conditions: 0.1 mm layer thickness, 60 °C bottom plate temperature, 40 mm/s printing speed, and 215 °C nozzle temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the present work is to evaluate and characterize the mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of wastes coming from the textile industry, mainly composed of cotton and polyester. These wastes will be thereafter implemented in commodity plastic such as polyamide, in order to develop new formulations of environmentally friendly materials. The composites were produced by extrusion and injection-molded processes in amounts between 15 wt.% and 60 wt.% of textile waste. With the objective of improving the properties of the materials, silanes were used as a compatibilizer between the textile fibers and the polymeric matrix. The effect of the compatibilizer in the composites was studied together with the effect of the amount of textile fiber added to the composites. Mechanical, thermal, morphological and wettability properties were analyzed for each composite. The results show that the use of silanes improves the interaction especially in those composites with a higher amount of textile waste, offering a balanced mechanical behavior with significantly high quantities. On the other hand, the melting temperature does not vary significantly with the introduction of silanes and textile waste content, although the incorporation of textile waste slightly reduces up to 23% the degradation temperature of the resulting composites. The wettability of the composites is also increased up to 16% with the incorporation of textile waste. Finally, the appearance of the composites with textile waste is strongly influenced by the incorporation of the reinforcement, offering shades close to dark brown in the whole range of compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2.5D oxide/oxide composites become attractive for their excellent integrity and mechanical properties. The thermal shock resistance performance of the material is very important in the actual high temperature application. In this work, the evolution of microstructure and mechanical behavior of the 2.5D oxide/oxide composites from thermal shock at different temperatures and cycles was investigated experimentally mainly by optical microscope, X-ray computed tomography and macro-mechanical tests. The thermal shock resistance mechanism of oxide/oxide composites was qualitatively explored. The results showed that cracks propagation was the main manifestation of thermal shock damage in composites. Compared with 2D composites, 2.5D composites exhibited the finite domain effect on crack propagation due to its reinforcement had certain fibers in Z -direction. This directly caused the critical thermal shock temperature difference of the 2.5D composites (∼900 °C) was more than twice that of the 2D oxide/oxide composites (∼400 °C). In addition, the finite domain effect also significantly reduced the damage growth rate of the 2.5D composites from cyclic thermal shock, highlighting its excellent thermal shock damage resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZrO 2 fiber paper exhibits excellent thermal insulation properties, however, its limited mechanical strength and insufficient thermal stability hinder its widespread applications. The composite fiber papers, using mullite fibers possessing a high aspect ratio and exceptional thermal stability combined with ZrO 2 fibers, were fabricated via a vacuum-assisted filtration method. This method involved the successive stacking of composite fibers with alumina sol, using vacuum-induced directed water flow to create a layered structure reminiscent of nacre. The layered structure of the nacre, which demonstrates remarkable strength and hardness, has also served as a source of inspiration for the architectural design of the fiber paper. The tensile strength of pure ZrO 2 fiber paper was significantly enhanced by the addition of 7 wt% mullite fibers, resulting in a remarkable increase to 0.1805 kN/m. The paper exhibited exceptional resistance to bending, maintaining 96 % of its bending strength even after undergoing 100 cycles. The thermal shrinkage of the composite paper, containing 15 wt% mullite fibers, was reduced from 17.75 % observed in pure ZrO 2 fiber paper to a mere 1.32 % after undergoing heat treatment at a temperature of 1300 °C for 2 h. The composite paper, measuring 5 mm in thickness and consisting of 7 wt% compositions, displayed exceptional thermal insulation properties when exposed to a hot side temperature of 1370 °C. It effectively insulated temperatures up to approximately 1000 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulosic-based polymer composites have gained significant interest due to their ''green" character as a response to environmental concerns. A diverse array of lignocellulosic fibers is utilized, depending on fiber dimensions, chemical composition, moisture content, and the fiber–matrix interface. The aim of this study is to establish an alternative standardized methodology, aimed at comparatively estimating the performance of polymer composites through the examination of individual plant fibers. The fibers studied are ramie, hemp, flax, and kenaf, and HDPE-based corresponding composites were analyzed for their performance across various fiber-content levels (10, 20, and 30 wt.%). It was found that kenaf showcases the largest average fiber diameter, succeeded by hemp, ramie, and flax. Additionally, ramie and kenaf exhibit elevated levels of crystallinity, suggesting increased cellulose content, with kenaf having the lowest crystallinity index among the fibers compared. Based on Thermogravimetric analysis, ramie displays the lowest moisture content among the examined fibers, followed by hemp, flax, and ultimately kenaf, which is recorded to have the highest moisture content, while, similarly, ramie exhibits the lowest mass loss at the processing temperature of the corresponding composites. Composites containing fibers with smaller diameters and higher crystallinity indexes and lower moisture absorptions, such as ramie and hemp, demonstrate superior thermal stability and exhibit increased Young's modulus values in their respective composites. However, poor interfacial adhesion affects mechanical performance across all composites. Understanding fiber morphology, inner structure, and thermal stability is important for developing new composite materials and optimizing their selection for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical and thermal properties of bamboo, as well as interlaminar hybrid composites reinforced with both bamboo and synthetic fibres in an epoxy matrix. Bamboo and glass, aramid, and carbon bidirectional fabrics were used with a bi-component epoxy matrix to fabricate the composite materials using the vacuum bagging process. The synthetic fabrics were placed on the outer layers, while the bamboo fabrics were used as the core of the hybrid composites. The developed composites were characterized and compared in terms of morphological, physical, and mechanical properties. Further, thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis was used to measure and compare the degradation temperature of the composites studied. Finally, a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed in order to examine the fracture surfaces of the specimens tested. It was found that the fibre hybridization technique significantly improved the general mechanical properties. TGA analysis showed an increase in the thermal stability of the composites obtained by incorporating the synthetic fibres, confirming the effect of hybridization and efficient fibre matrix interfacial adhesion. The results from this work showed that the use of synthetic fibre reinforcements can help to significantly improve the mechanical and thermal properties of bamboo fibre-reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the EVOH/Ti3C2 composite fibers were prepared via electrospinning and the effect of added Ti3C2 on the structure and properties of electrospun EVOH fibrous membranes was further investigated. The morphology, crystal structure, thermal properties, wettability, tensile properties, as well as air permeability and water vapor permeability of as-prepared EVOH/Ti3C2 composite fibers were studied. The Ti3C2 is uniformly loaded onto the surface and inside the composite fiber and affects the fiber diameters. Furthermore, The Ti3C2 self-orients along the fiber axis and does not change the crystal structure of the electrospun EVOH fibers, improving the crystallinity and thermal stability of the electrospun EVOH/Ti3C2 fibrous membranes. With the increase in the Ti3C2 concentration in the electrospinning polymer solution, the addition of Ti3C2 not only rapidly improves the wettability of the fibrous membranes, but also enhances their air permeability, compared with the pristine electrospun EVOH fibrous membranes. The experimental results provide theoretical guidance for the preparation of Ti3C2 composite fibers, and also expand the application of electrospun EVOH and EVOH/Ti3C2 fibrous membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of nanoclay (NC) addition on the thermal and mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were investigated experimentally in this study. Nanocomposite plates were produced for this purpose using three different NC ratios (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% by weight). Thermal characteristics of nanocomposites were investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The mechanical and thermal results obtained from composites with three different NC ratios were compared with the results obtained from pure composites. The structures of nanocomposites were investigated with the help of SEM–EDS analyses. Furthermore, the effect of nanoclay on the failure behavior of composites was also investigated. In this study, the highest values in all mechanical properties were obtained from samples with a 1% NC-added. Obtained from 1% NC-added samples: tensile, compressive, shear strengths, elasticity modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio values were 31.06%, 4.25%, 14.30%, 7.35%, 11.94%, and 12.5% higher, respectively, than the values obtained from pure samples. Maximum loss modulus and maximum storage modulus were obtained from samples with 1.5% and 0.5% NC-added, respectively. In samples with 1.5% NC-added, the highest Tan δ value was obtained. Glass transition temperatures increased with the added NC. It was observed that the fiber–matrix interfaces were more clearly separated in the samples with 1.5% NC-added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of plastic waste is another way to protect the ecology and reduce plastic pollution, which researchers and industries have been effectively focusing on for the last decade. Polyethylene terephthalate felt (PETf) is a packaging material abundantly utilized in the automotive sector and is released as waste, and its popularity as an industrial waste necessitates attention to proper disposal. Therefore, the current study utilized waste PETf as a reinforcement (5–15 wt%) for a polypropylene (PP) matrix using various molding approaches, in light of the higher aspect ratio of the fibers. In the first approach, the fibers were extracted from PETf through a mechanical process, and various percentages of PET felt fibers (PETff) were extruded with PP pellets, followed by injection molding. Second, PETf was directly laid on a PP sheet and processed by compression molding. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, and morphological and spectral properties of the fabricated composites were evaluated. Morphological and spectral analyses explain the distribution and interaction of the fibers in the PP matrix. The 10%PETff enhanced the tensile strength and modulus of PP by 37.3% and 52.15%, respectively. Conversely, the 1.5% malic anhydride‐g‐PP (MAPP)‐PP/PETf composites showed similar tensile behavior, with values of approximately 41.53 MPa and 1.6 GPa. In addition, the tensile strength significantly increased by 35.75% with the addition of MAPP. Overall, the current study demonstrates a well‐structured research design that effectively employs waste PETf as reinforcement for PP composites. The mechanical strength of these composites makes them highly versatile and renders them suitable for a wide range of applications, from automotive packaging to the manufacturing of high‐performance automotive components. Highlights: Utilized waste PET as reinforcement for manufacturing of PP composite.PET and PP interacted in a self‐reinforcing manner.Injection and compression molding techniques used for PET/PP composites.Repurposing waste PET by compression molding is eco‐friendly practices.PET fibers significantly improved mechanical properties of PP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of composite polypropylene (PP) drawn fibers with two different organically modified montmorillonites were experimentally investigated and optimized using a response surface methodology. Specifically, the Box-Behnken Design of Experiments method was used in order to investigate the effect of the filler content, the compatibilizer content, and the drawing temperature on the tensile strength and the onset decomposition temperature of the PP composite drawn fibers. The materials were characterized by tensile tests, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Two types of composites were investigated with the only difference being the type of filler, namely, Cloisite® 10A or Cloisite® 15A. In both cases, statistically significant models were obtained regarding the effect of design variables on tensile strength, while poor significance was observed for the onset decomposition temperature. Nanocomposite fibers with tensile strength up to 540 MPa were obtained. Among the design variables, the drawing temperature exhibited the most notable effect on tensile strength, while the effect of both clays was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research centered on investigating the effect of the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the mechanical and thermal properties of curauá-fiber-reinforced composites. The MWCNTs were added either to the fiber surface or into the resin matrix as the second reinforcing phase. The MWCNT-modified curauá fibers as well as raw fibers were characterized using a single-fiber tensile test, TGA, and FTIR analysis. Further, different composite samples, namely, pure curauá, (curauá + MWCNTs) + resin and curauá+ (resin + MWCNTs), were manufactured via compression molding and tested to determine their mechanical and thermal properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was used to examine the surfaces of the tested fibers. It was found that the addition of MWCNTs to the curauá fibers resulted in positive effects (an enhancement in properties was found for the MWCNT-modified fibers and their composites). The addition of MWCNTs also increased the thermal stability of the natural fibers and composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A core-sheath structured coaxial composite fiber with highly aligned and densely stacked boron nitride nanosheets arrangements in the sheath was successfully fabricated. The coaxial fibers have an ultrahigh axial Herman orientation parameter of 0.81, thermal conductivity of 17.2 W m−1 K−1, and tensile strength of 192.5 MPa. The coaxial fibers exhibit intensively potential applications in the wearable thermal management textile. Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) exhibit remarkable thermal and dielectric properties. However, their self-assembly and alignment in macroscopic forms remain challenging due to the chemical inertness of boron nitride, thereby limiting their performance in applications such as thermal management. In this study, we present a coaxial wet spinning approach for the fabrication of BNNSs/polymer composite fibers with high nanosheet orientation. The composite fibers were prepared using a superacid-based solvent system and showed a layered structure comprising an aramid core and an aramid/BNNSs sheath. Notably, the coaxial fibers exhibited significantly higher BNNSs alignment compared to uniaxial aramid/BNNSs fibers, primarily due to the additional compressive forces exerted at the core-sheath interface during the hot drawing process. With a BNNSs loading of 60 wt%, the resulting coaxial fibers showed exceptional properties, including an ultrahigh Herman orientation parameter of 0.81, thermal conductivity of 17.2 W m−1 K−1, and tensile strength of 192.5 MPa. These results surpassed those of uniaxial fibers and previously reported BNNSs composite fibers, making them highly suitable for applications such as wearable thermal management textiles. Our findings present a promising strategy for fabricating high-performance composite fibers based on BNNSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layered fibers of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites exhibit low thermal conductivity (TC) throughout their thickness due to the poor TC of the polymeric resin. Improved heat transmission inside the hydrogen storage tank during the filling process can reduce further compression work, and improved heat insulation can minimize energy loss. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the thermal properties of composites. This paper reports the thermal behavior of plain-woven CFRP composite using simulation at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales. The TC was predicted numerically and compared to experimental findings and analytical models. Good results were found. Using the approach of multi-scale modeling, a parametric study was carried out to analyze in depth the influence of certain variables on thermal properties. The study revealed that both fiber volume fraction and temperature significantly influenced the TC of the composite, with the interphase fiber/matrix thickness following closely in terms of impact. The matrix porosity was found to have a relatively slighter impact, particularly within the porosity range of 5 to 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to study the influence of the polybutylene succinate (PBS) content on the physical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties of the obtained polylactic acid (PLA)/PBS composite fibers. PLA/PBS blend fibers were prepared by a simple melt-blown process capable of yielding nanofibers. Morphological analysis revealed that the fiber size was irregular and discontinuous in length. Including PBS affected the fiber size distribution, and the fibers had a smoother surface with increased amounts of added PBS. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) revealed that the crystallization temperature of the PLA sheet (105.8 °C) was decreased with increasing PBS addition levels down to 91.7 °C at 10 wt.% PBS. This suggests that the addition of PBS may affect PLA crystallization, which is consistent with the X-ray diffraction analysis that revealed that the crystallinity of PLA (19.2%) was increased with increasing PBS addition up to 28.1% at 10 wt% PBS. Moreover, adding PBS increased the tensile properties while the % elongation at break was significantly decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer matrix wave transparent composites are used in a variety of high-speed communication applications. One of the applications of these involves making protective enclosures for antennas of microwave towers, air vehicles, weather radars, and underwater communication devices. Material performance, structural, thermal, and mechanical degradation are matters of concern as advanced wireless communication needs robust materials for radomes that can withstand mechanical and thermal stresses. These polymer composite radomes are installed externally on antennas and are exposed directly to ambient as well as severe conditions. In this research, epoxy resin was reinforced with a small amount of quartz fibers to yield an improved composite radome material compared to a pure epoxy composite with better thermal and mechanical properties. FTIR spectra, SEM morphology, dielectric constant (Ɛr) and dielectric loss (δ), thermal degradation (weight loss), and mechanical properties were determined. Compared to pure epoxy, the lowest values of Ɛr and δ were 3.26 and 0.021 with 30 wt.% quartz fibers in the composite, while 40% less weight loss was observed which shows its better thermal stability. The mechanical characteristics encompassing tensile and bending strength were improved by 42.8% and 48.3%. In high-speed communication applications, compared to a pure epoxy composite, adding only a small quantity of quartz fiber can improve the composite material's dielectric performance, durability, and thermal and mechanical strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durian is Malaysia's most popular seasonal fruit, but less than half of the durian fruit is consumed as food. Durian is a type of fruit with a high percentage of waste, which becomes an environmental problem when discarded into the landfill site. Therefore, it is important to utilise durian waste as a potential natural fibre-based composite reinforcement. Durian skin residue is recognised as one of the potential lignocellulosic materials to replace wood in the insulation board industry. The present study aims to develop a low-cost insulation board using durian skin residues as reinforcing materials. Single-layer mats were manually formed, followed by hot pressing using polymeric methane diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) resin. The effect of different percentages of PMDI resin (0, 6, 8 and 10%) on the board's physical, mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties was investigated. It was found that 6% PMDI resin is the optimised resin amount to produce PMDI/durian skin fibre composite, and the board with 6% PMDI has the maximum static bending due to enhanced cross-linking by the fibre. In terms of thermal stability and conductivity, the incorporation of 6% of PMDI is considered the best formulation based on the value achieved. The overall results indicated that this study addresses a low-cost innovation for commercial insulation boards as it utilises durian waste and a low dosage of PMDI for implementation in the building and construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most commercially used thermoplastics, while a significant amount of PP is used in the form of fibers. In this study, the effects of modification of the filler on the thermal and mechanical properties of composite polypropylene/wollastonite drawn fibers were investigated. In this direction, the surface modification of wollastonite with various organic acids, such as myristic, maleic, malonic glutaric, pimelic, and suberic acid, and the use of two solvents were studied. The surface-modified wollastonite particles were used to produce composite polypropylene drawn fibers. The modification efficiency was found to be slightly better when a non-polar solvent (carbon tetrachloride) was used instead of a polar one (ethanol). FTIR experiments showed that myristic, maleic, malonic, and pimelic acid can strongly interact with wollastonite's surface. However, the mechanical strength of the composite fibers was not increased compared to that of the neat PP fibers, suggesting inadequate interactions between PP and wollastonite particles. Furthermore, it was observed that the drawing process increased around 10% the crystallinity of all samples. Wollastonite modified with malonic acid acted as a nucleating agent for β-crystals. The onset decomposition temperature increased by 5–10 °C for all samples containing 2% wollastonite, either modified or not. The suggested modifications of wollastonite might be more suitable for less hydrophobic polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, we aim to study the effect of the incorporation of vegetable fiber reinforcement on the thermo-mechanical and dynamic properties of a composite formed by a polymeric matrix reinforced with cellulosic fibers with the various Washingtonia fiber (WF) loadings (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by wt%) as reinforced material in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) Biocomposites to evaluate the optimum fiber loading of biocomposites. In addition, several characterization techniques (i.e., thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermal mechanical analysis (TMA)) were used to better understand the characteristics of the new composites prepared. With these techniques, we managed to verify the rigidity and thermal stability of the composites so elaborated, as well as the success of the polymer and the structural homogeneity of the obtained biocomposites. Hence, the biocomposite with the best ratio (HDPE/20WF) showed a loss modulus (E″) of 224 MPa, a storage modulus (E′) of 2079 MPa, and a damping factor (Tanδ) of 0.270 to the glass transition (Tg) of 145 °C. In addition, thermomechanical analysis (TMA) of the biocomposite samples exhibited marginally higher Ts compared to the HDPE matrix. The best results were recorded with biocomposites with 20% WF, which showed better thermal properties. This composite material can be used as insulation in construction materials (buildings, false ceilings, walls, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been growing interest in utilizing bark fibers as reinforcements for polymer composites. This study focused on the characterization of epoxy composites reinforced with Acacia caesia bark (ACB) fibers, considering their mechanical, morphological, and thermal properties. Various amounts of ACB fibers with three different lengths (10, 20, and 30 mm) were incorporated into the composites, ranging from 10 to 35 wt.% in 5% increments. This resulted in 18 sample categories, which were compared to neat epoxy samples. The findings demonstrated that the introduction of ACB fibers, even at the highest fiber content, led to improved mechanical performance. However, a transition in fiber length from 20 to 30 mm exhibited conflicting effects on the composite, likely due to the tendency of bark fibers to bend and split into fibrils during loading. Regarding thermal degradation, the advantages over neat epoxy were evident, particularly for 20 mm fibers, suggesting enhanced interfacial bonding between the matrix and the reinforcement. The epoxy adequately protected the bark fibers, enabling the composite to withstand degradation at temperatures comparable to pure resin, with minimal structural damage below 320 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the mechanical and thermal properties of 3D-printed short carbon fiber reinforced composites (sCFRPs). A numerical analysis was developed to predict the mechanical and thermal properties of the sCFRPs, which were verified via experimental tests. In the experiments, a novel technique was adopted by coating the sCFRPs with carbon fiber fabric and copper mesh to further improve its mechanical and thermal performance. Various copper meshes (60-mesh, 100-mesh and 150-mesh) were integrated with carbon fiber fabric to form a multilayer structure, which was then coated on the surface of Nylon 12-CF composite material (base material) to form a composite plate. The effects of the copper mesh on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite plate were studied theoretically and experimentally. The results show that the addition of different copper meshes had a significant influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite plate, which contained carbon fiber fabric, copper mesh and the base material. Among them, the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite plate with the 60-mesh copper mesh were significantly improved, while the improvement effect slowly declined with the increase in the thickness of the base material. The composite plate with 100-mesh and 150-mesh copper meshes had improved mechanical properties, whereas the influence on its thermal conductivity was limited. For thermal conductivity calculation, both the thickness and length directions of the heat transfer were considered. The comparative analysis indicated that the calculated values and experimental results are in excellent agreement, meaning that this numerical model is a useful tool for guiding the design of surface lamination for 3D-printed sCFRPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bagasse is a waste used as a new material for foam polymer composites as reinforcement. This waste is quite a lot and has not been processed properly to become new material. This waste is adopted as ordinary organic fertilizer, incinerated, or disposed of. For that reason, it needs further research investigation. Due to its advantages, further investigation into the best composition is needed to achieve a tough composite material. It is a lightweight material with high economic value and can be used to overcome environmental problems. Therefore, this research obtains the mechanical properties and thermal analysis of the composite polymer foam reinforced with bagasse fibers. Part of the matrix is a thermoset polymer polyurethane (BQTN 157), and the reinforcement part is bagasse fiber. Bagasse was local waste from traders around Langsa City in Indonesia. The bagasse waste was processed into the fiber. The bagasse composition on a percentage weight ratio. They were mixed with resin and foam ingredients, blowing agent, and catalyst and poured into casting pattern composite material. A mesh of bagasse fiber was the size of 80. Thermogravimetric Analysis has made All specimens that need a tensile test to obtain the material's strength and thermal stability. The result has found that the specimen of polymeric foam composite material with 5% bagasse fiber was obtained based on the results. The tensile strength values are 19.5 MPa. A thermal stability condition changes temperature between 39.95°C - 516.55°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of waste natural fibers from milled hop bines and hemp stalks, without chemical treatment, and compare them to a commercial wood fiber for use in wood–plastic composite (WPC) materials. The fibers were characterized (density, fiber size and chemical composition). WPCs were produced by the extrusion of a blend of fibers (50%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and coupling agent (2%). The WPCs were characterized for their mechanical, rheological, thermal, viscoelastic and water resistance properties. Pine fiber was about half the size of hemp and hop fibers and thus had a higher surface area. The pine WPC melts had a higher viscosity than the other two WPCs. Additionally, the tensile and flexural strengths of the pine WPC were higher than those of hop and hemp WPCs. The pine WPC was also shown to have the least water absorption followed by hop and hemp WPCs. This study highlights that different lignocellulosic fibers influence their WPC properties. The properties of the hop- and hemp-based WPCs were comparable to commercial WPCs and can be improved by further milling/screening the fibers to a smaller particle size (volumetric mean of ~88 μm) to increase their surface area, fiber–matrix interactions and improve stress-transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of alkaline treatment on the mechanical and thermal properties of miswak fiber-reinforced polylactic acid. The treatment was performed with three distinct concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH): 1 wt %, 2 wt %, and 3 wt %. The difficulties of interaction between the surface of the fiber and the matrix, which led to this treatment, is caused by miswak fiber's hydrophilic character, which impedes its ability to bind with hydrophobic polylactic acid. FTIR, tensile, TGA, and DMA measurements were used to characterize the composite samples. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the microstructures of many broken samples. The treatment is not yet especially effective in enhancing interfacial bonding, as seen by the uneven tensile strength data. The effect of the treated fiber surface significantly improves the tensile strength of miswak fiber-reinforced PLA composites. Tensile strength improves by 18.01%, 6.48%, and 14.50%, respectively, for 1 wt %, 2 wt %, and 3 wt %. Only 2 wt %-treated fiber exhibits an increase of 0.7% in tensile modulus. The modulus decreases by 4.15 % at 1 wt % and by 19.7% at 3 wt %, respectively. The TGA curve for alkali-treated fiber composites demonstrates a slight increase in thermal stability when compared to untreated fiber composites at high temperatures. For DMA, the composites with surface treatment have higher storage moduli than the composite with untreated miswak fiber, especially for the PLA reinforced with 2 wt % alkali miswak fiber, proving the effectiveness of the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta‐aramid paper has been widely used in transformers because of its excellent insulation properties and thermal stability. However, with the rapid development of high‐voltage transformers, higher requirements are placed on the breakdown strength of meta‐aramid paper. In this study, meta‐aramid chopped fibers/polyphenylene sulfide (MACFs/PPS) composite paper was prepared by a combination of wet‐copying and hot‐rolling technology. Then the microscopic morphology, mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, insulation properties, and thermal stability of the MACFs/PPS composite paper were studied and evaluated. The experimental results showed that the breakdown strength of the MACFs/PPS composite paper was as high as 46.46 kV/mm, which was 2.7 times higher than the famous Nomex T410 insulating paper. Meanwhile, the MACFs/PPS composite paper presented good mechanical properties and thermal stability. This paper provides a simple and versatile method for the preparation of meta‐aramid composite paper with high breakdown strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Due to its environmental acceptability, technological feasibility, and economic viability, natural fiber-reinforced epoxy composite exhibits many potential engineering applications. Industrialization and population growth have significantly increased the demand for lightweight, high-strength materials for construction and automotive applications, ultimately increasing the demand for eco-friendly materials. Due to its environmental acceptability, technological feasibility, and economic viability, natural fiber-reinforced composite exhibits many potential engineering applications. However, the production and recycling of natural fibers are expensive. Researchers are now comparing natural fiber-reinforced composites with synthetic composites to determine the best materials, especially for construction and automotive engineering applications. This review paper focuses on natural fiber reinforced epoxy composites' physical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics. These properties are critical for the effective design and use of composite materials such as construction and automotive applications. This review begins with a background of epoxy and natural fibers. The physical and chemical treatment for natural fiber composites to improve their properties is also briefly discussed, along with the critical factors affecting the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites. Finally, concluding remarks and suggestions for future works are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various environmental concerns motivate scientists and researchers to look out for unique new materials in science and technology. In order to address the demand for polymeric materials with partial biodegradability, the usage of lignocellulosic fibre in the polymer matrix has risen. Lignocellulosic fibres are a cheap, easily renewable resource that is readily available in all regions. Cellulosic plant fibres also have a plethora of possibilities for use in polymer reinforcement because of their properties. Many researchers put their effort into developing a natural polymer with better mechanical properties and thermal stability using nanotechnology and the use of natural polymers to make its composites with lignocellulosic fibres. This study provides a review of the biodegradable composite market, processing methods, matrix-reinforcement phases, morphology, and characteristic improvements. In addition, it provides a concise summary of the findings of significant research on natural fibre polymer composites (NFRCs) that have been published. Indeed, a noticeably brief discussion is provided on the significant issues faced during composite extraction as well as the challenges encountered during the machining. Recent developments in the study of lignocellulosic fibre composites or NFRCs have demonstrated their enormous potential as structural elements in vehicles, aerospace structures, buildings, ballistics, soundproofing, and other structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the fabricated polylactic acid (PLA) and hybrid natural fiber (NF) biocomposites via a melt extrusion method were investigated. NFs from locally grown plants were utilized as fillers. Polyethene glycol (PEG) was used as the plasticizer to improve the processability of the PLA. The effect of PLA/NF biocomposite processing was assessed by mechanical characterization (tensile, modulus, strain at break, and impact tests), and thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry [DSC] analysis). The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermo‐mechanical analysis (TMA) of the samples were also analyzed. The mechanical properties of PLA/NF biocomposites improved as compared with that of PLA. The DMA findings show that the storage modulus and loss modulus exhibited a slight reduction for PLA/NF biocomposites compared with the PLA sample. In opposite, the glass transition temperature (Tg) from DSC thermogram results showed no obvious changes in values compared with the PLA sample. Furthermore, the findings of TMA showed a significant decrease in coefficient of thermal expansion values of PLA/NF biocomposites compared with those of PLA samples. The overall findings from this work indicated that PLA/NF biocomposites have the potential to make novel biocomposites and suitable for further application especially in biomedical applications due to its good stiffness, tensile strength, and dimensional stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the fastest-growing manufacturing technologies in modern times. One of the major challenges in the application of 3D-printed polymeric objects is expanding the applications to structural components, as they are often limited by their mechanical and thermal properties. To enhance the mechanical properties of 3D-printed thermoset polymer objects, reinforcing the polymer with continuous carbon fiber (CF) tow is an expanding direction of research and development. A 3D printer was constructed capable of printing with a continuous CF-reinforced dual curable thermoset resin system. Mechanical performance of the 3D-printed composites varied with the utilization of different resin chemistries. Three different commercially available violet light curable resins were mixed with a thermal initiator to improve curing by overcoming the shadowing effect of violet light by the CF. The resulting specimens' compositions were analyzed, and then the specimens were mechanically characterized for comparison in tensile and flexural performance. The 3D-printed composites' compositions were correlated to the printing parameters and resin characteristics. Slight enhancements in tensile and flexural properties from some commercially available resins over others appeared to be the result of better wet-out and adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For curing of fiber-reinforced epoxy composites, an alternative to thermal heating is the use of microwave energy, which cures quickly and consumes less energy. Employing thermal curing (TC) and microwave (MC) curing methods, we present a comparative study on the functional characteristics of fiber-reinforced composite for microelectronics. The composite prepregs, prepared from commercial silica fiber fabric/epoxy resin, were separately cured via thermal and microwave energy under curing conditions (temperature/time). The dielectric, structural, morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of composite materials were investigated. Microwave cured composite showed a 1% lower dielectric constant, 21.5% lower dielectric loss factor, and 2.6% lower weight loss, than thermally cured one. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed a 20% increase in the storage and loss modulus along with a 15.5% increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of microwave-cured compared to thermally cured composite. The fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed similar spectra of both the composites; however, the microwave-cured composite exhibited higher tensile (15.4%), and compression strength (4.3%) than the thermally cured composite. These results illustrate that microwave-cured silica-fiber-reinforced composite exhibit superior electrical performance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties compared to thermally cured silica fiber/epoxy composite in a shorter time and the expense of less energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study conducted on prepregs manufactured by a novel method for the impregnation of a thermoplastic matrix. Different composite prepregs based on polypropylene and reinforced with natural fibers (e.g., basalt and jute fibers) were developed. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated. DMA tests were conducted at 1 Hz frequency and properties such as storage modulus and damping (tan δ) were evaluated. The overall mechanical properties of the basalt fiber composites were found to be superior to that of the jute fiber-based samples. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) of the composite samples showed that the thermal degradation temperatures of the basalt-based composites shifted to higher temperature regions compared to the PP or jute fiber composites. The addition of basalt fiber considerably improved the thermal stability of the composite samples. Microscopic images of the tensile fractured composite samples illustrated better fiber–matrix interfacial interaction due to the novel technology of prepregs. Single-ply and 2-ply prepregs showed significantly superior mechanical, thermal, and thermo-dynamical performance compared to the control sample (pure PP). 2-Ply composites demonstrated higher modulus, tensile strength, and storage modulus due to the higher fiber volume fraction. Basalt-based samples showed a minimum weight loss of about 57% up to 700 °C in contrast to 96.05% weight loss in the jute-based samples and 98.4% in the case of pure PP. The heat resistance index (THRI) is more than twice for basalt compared to jute and PP. Furthermore, the superior thermal stability of basalt is reflected in its DSC curves, showing the highest endothermic peak. The technique of using the resin in the form of thermoplastic yarns offers cost effective and efficient alternatives for composite manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy resins, epoxy-functionalized POSS (E-POSS) and glass fiber (GF) were used to reinforce epoxy resin (E51) composites. The tensile, thermo-mechanical, fractured, and thermal tests were carried out to characterize these hybrid materials. The results show that E-POSS and GF could significantly improve the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resins due to high crosslink density of resin matrix and synergistic interaction between the epoxy resin, E-POSS, and GF. Compared with the pure E51 resin, the tensile strength of the E51 + E-POSS (10%) + GF (16%) sample increased by 257.6%, and the thermal decomposition temperature (Td5%) of the E51 + E-POSS (10%) + GF (16%) sample increased by 32 °C to 378 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of carbon fiber-reinforced carbon aerogel composites (C/CAs) were prepared via carbonizing phenolic fibers impregnated organic aerogel at temperatures ranging from 1,000 to 1,600°C. Phenolic fiber as soft reinforcement shrinks synchronously with the aerogel matrix during the preparation process, which effectively avoided microcracks and achieved an excellent reinforcement effect. The effects of carbonization temperatures on the mechanical and thermal insulation properties of the C/CAs were investigated via pore structural and morphological analysis, as well as the characterization of mechanical strength and thermal conductivity. The results show that the compressive strength of C/CA is 1.26–2.14 MPa in xy-direction and 0.55–1.20 MPa in z-direction. The obtained bending strength range from 1.92 to 3.62 MPa with the carbonization temperature increase from 1,000 to 1,600°C. The thermal conductivity of C/CA-1000 at 1,800°C is 0.1637 W·m−1·K−1 while that of reached 0.2713 W·m−1·K−1 of C/CA-1600. Further study found that the change of porosity and pore size caused by the closure of micropores at high temperatures should be responsible for performance evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an attempt is made to check whether a hybrid composite made up of both synthetic and natural fibers (Carbon and Cordia Dichotoma respectively) can be made bio-degradable, at least to some extent, without much compromising on the mechanical properties. Hybrid composites were prepared by reinforcing alkali treated Cordia dichotoma and carbon fibers into epoxy resin using hand lay-up method. By varying the number of layers of fibers in the composite specimen and fixing 20% fiber weight for all composites, nine distinct combinations of specimens were prepared. The maximum tensile strength of 386.68 MPa, flexural strength of 647.08 MPa, and impact energy of 4.82 J were obtained for composites produced with pure carbon fiber, whereas hybrid composite exhibit tensile strength of 367.76 MPa, flexural strength of 646.41MPa and impact energy of 4.74 J. The interfacial bonding between the fibers and matrix of tested specimens was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), as well as the arrangement of fibers within the matrix for the manufactured composite. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate thermal stability, and it was found that it was thermally stable up to 415°C. 9. Crystallinity value increases from 20% carbon fiber to 20% alkali fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers are available in low cost, easily renewable and they are rich in cellulose. As the natural fibers possess impurities over the surface, poor wettability and interfacial bonding are the main drawbacks encountered during fabrication process. In the current research work, hemp (H) and palmyra (P) fibers were treated with different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) for 5 hrat room temperature. The influence of stacking sequence (HHPPHH, HPHPHP and PPHHPP) and surface modification and on physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of hemp and palmyra fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were investigated with a 30 wt.% of fiber loading. The attributes such as water absorption, density, tensile properties, flexural properties, impact energy, hardness, and thermal conductivity were examined. From the experimental results, the 6% NaOH-treated composites compared with untreated fiber composites disclosed an increase of 19.34% for tensile strength, 16.77% for flexural strength, and 12.35% for hardness with stacking sequence of PPHHPP. The experimental thermal conductivity results show that there is a significant decrease in values after NaOH treatment of hybrid composites. The surface morphology of the untreated, treated reinforcements, and fracture surface of the tensile-tested hybrid composite specimens were examined by scanning electronic microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel B–Si–Zr hybridized ceramicizable resin(BSZ-PR) was fabricated by chemical reaction of boric acid, zirconium hydroxyl-containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane(Zr-POSS) and phenolic. The incorporation of boric acid and Zr-POSS improved the thermal stability of the resin effectively, and the residual carbon rate increased to 72.63% at 800 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The flexural strength of carbon fiber/BSZ-PR and high silica fiber/BSZ-PR composites were increased by 25.7% and 175.5%, and linear ablation rates were reduced by 37% and 44.75%, respectively. It was discovered that the ceramic structures such as SiO 2 , ZrO 2 and SiC can be formed at high temperatures as well as under extreme ablative conditions from both BSZ-PR and its fiber-reinforced composites, which may be the key to the improved thermal, ablative properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific interest for the use of bark in materials, instead than for energy recovery, is owed to circular economy considerations, since bark fibers are normally byproducts or even waste from other sectors, and therefore their use would globally reduce the amount of refuse by replacing other materials in the production of composites. For the purpose of promoting their application in polymer composites, mainly under a geometry of short random fibers, bark fibers are extracted and treated, normally chemically by alkali. Following this, investigations are increasingly carried out on their chemical composition. More specifically, this includes measuring cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content and their modification with treatment on their thermal properties and degradation profile, and on the mechanical performance of the fibers and of the tentatively obtained composites. This work aims at reviewing the current state of studies, trying to elicit which bark fibers might be most promising among the potentially enormous number of these, clarifying which of these have received some attention in literature and trying to elicit the reason for this specific interest. These can be more thoroughly characterized for the purpose of further use, also in competition with other fibers not from bark, but from bast, leaves, etc., and pertaining to developed production systems (cotton, hemp, flax, jute, etc.). The latter are already widely employed in the production of composites, a possibility scantly explored so far for bark fibers. However, some initial works on bark fiber composites and both thermoplastic and thermosetting are indicated and the importance of some parameters (aspect ratio, chemical treatment) is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived fibres, called lignocellulosic fibres, are a natural alternative to synthetic fibres in polymer composite reinforcement. Utilizing renewable resources, such as fibre-reinforced polymeric composites made from plant and animal sources, has become a crucial design requirement for developing and producing parts for all industrial goods. Natural-fibre-based composites are used for door panels, trays, glove boxes, etc. This study involves developing and thermal analysing a flax fibre reinforced with phenol–formaldehyde resin hybridization with ramie fibre by way of a vacuum infusion process. As per ASTM Standard, eight different sequences were fabricated and thermally characterized. In the present study, three stages of weight loss (%) are shown by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The sample loses less weight during the first stage, more during the second, and more during the third. The sample's overall maximum temperature was recorded at 630 °C. It was discovered that sample D (80.1 °C) had the highest heat deflection temperature, and sample B had the lowest (86.0 °C). Sample C had a low thermal expansion coefficient, while sample G had a high thermal expansion coefficient. Sample E had the highest thermal conductivity, measured at 0.213 W/mK, whereas sample A had the lowest conductivity, at 0.182 W/mK. From the present study, it was found that sample H had better thermal characteristics. The result of the present investigation would generate thermal data regarding hybrid ramie and flax composites, which would be helpful for researchers and practitioners involved in the field of biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of sustainable composites reinforced with natural fibers has recently drawn the interest of both industrial and academics. Basalt fiber (BF) stands out as the most intriguing among the natural fibers that may be utilized as reinforcement due to their characteristics. Numerous academics have conducted many tests on the strength, durability, temperature, and microstructure characteristics of concrete reinforced with BF and have found promising results. However, because the information is dispersed, readers find it problematic to assess the advantages of BF reinforced concrete, which limits its applications. Therefore, a condensed study that provides the reader with an easy route and summarizes all pertinent information is needed. The purpose of this paper (Part II) is to undertake a compressive assessment of basalt fiber reinforced concrete's durability features. The results show that adding BF significantly increased concrete durability. The review also identifies a research deficiency that must be addressed before BF is used in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focuses on developing a new material by reinforcing chemically treated Eleusine Indica (EI) fiber with epoxy resin as matrix. Composites using varying wt% of treated EI fibers were fabricated taking epoxy as matrix. The effect of chemical treatment and fiber loading on various mechanical properties, thermal, and morphology using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was investigated. From the results obtained, it is obvious that the mechanical and thermal properties of composites reinforced with chemically treated fibers were enhanced due to fiber surface modification which helps in better bonding with matrix. Moreover, the composites with 20 wt% fiber concentration shows good tensile strength, Young’s modulus, impact strength and was found to be 79.31MPa, 3.84 GPa, 32.24 KJ/m² respectively. At this fiber loading the composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric (TGA) and compared with untreated fiber reinforced composites and neat epoxy. Finally, the failure analysis of fracture surface due to delimitation, pull-out of the fibers, percentage of voids, and composite fracture has been verified using scanning electron microscope. The findings provide manufacturers and engineers with a general concept of how to employ the composites to make low-weight automotive parts for improved fuel efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two varieties of jute fiber, tossa (Corchorus olitorius) and white (Corchorus capsularis), were combined with nano-clay (montmorillonite clay) modified polyester to fabricate composites using the hand lay-up method. The goal was to examine the impact of nano-clay on structural, mechanical, and thermal properties. The two types of jute fibers were first treated with NaOH, and the polyester was then modified with montmorillonite nanoclay (1, 2, 3) (wt%). Finally, 30 cm long unidirectional fibers were used to fabricate a composite (fiber volume fraction is 19.3%). Accordingly, the structural (crystallinity), mechanical, and thermal properties of the composite were examined using the XRD, UTM, and TGA apparatus. Regarding crystallinity, treating the tossa jute fiber and its composite with nano-clay demonstrated improved crystallinity indices of 75.24% and 75.52%. The Tossa jute fiber composite treated with 1% nano-clay exhibits an increased tensile strength of 97.8805 MPa, which is 10.92% higher than the treated fiber without NC, and a flexural strength of 159.79 MPa, which is 3.12% higher than the treated fiber without NC). In comparison to white jute composite, the treated tossa jute fiber composite showed improved thermal stability; the addition of 3% nano-clay also demonstrated higher thermal stability. The use of modified polyester in composites along with nano-clay produces better outcomes in every way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local knowledge of a region is an asset that encourages the identification of a region. Hence, the specificity, uniqueness, and character that animates a particular city can distinguish it significantly from other cities. Sago tree fronds are widely applied to buildings as an alternative material for making tiles for roofs and other parts of buildings. The sago palm has long been used for making roofs and walls, especially in traditional houses. Few previous studies have used sago fronds as a manufacturing material for traditional houses. However, based on data in the field, many traditional houses still use sago fronds as a roof and wall framing material. This is also an effort to overcome the urban heat island phenomenon (UHI) in buildings. The UHI phenomenon is a phenomenon of urban development that highly affects environmental quality conditions and causes microclimate changes where air temperature conditions in urban areas are higher than the surrounding air temperatures. Sago midrib fiber is a natural composite material used as a reinforcing material for natural composite materials due to its thermal and mechanical properties. Composite materials using the hand lay-up technique—with characterization methods including the impact test and the DSC test, variations in N a O H levels, and variations in the resin–catalyst matrix—were used in this study. The results obtained were then compared with those in the literature. The results showed that 6% N a O H obtained the most significant impact value of 2.1 J , and the resin–catalyst matrix variation of 97.5%:2.5% obtained the most significant impact value, which was 2.4 J. Meanwhile, the DSC test results showed that the material's best value for retaining heat was at 4% N a O H content variation and a resin–catalyst matrix variation of 97.5%:2.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, a new passion for the growth of biodegradable polymers based on elements derived from natural sources has been getting much attention. Natural fiber-based polymer matrix composites offer weight loss, reduction in cost and carbon dioxide emission, and recyclability. In addition, natural fiber composites have a minimal impact on the environment in regards to global warming, health, and pollution. Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the best natural resource polymers available among biodegradable polymers. Natural fiber–reinforced PLA polymer composites have been extensively researched by polymer researchers to compete with conventional polymers. The type of fiber used plays a massive part in fiber and matrix bonds and, thereby, influences the composite's mechanical properties and thermal properties. Among the various natural fibers, low density, high strength bamboo fibers (BF) have attracted attention. PLA and bamboo fiber composites play a vital character in an extensive range of structural and non-structural applications. This review briefly discussed on currently developed PLA-based natural bamboo fiber–reinforced polymer composites concentrating on the property affiliation of fibers. PLA polymer–reinforced natural bamboo fiber used to establish composite materials, various composite fabrication methods, various pretreatment methods on fibers, their effect on mechanical properties, as well as thermal properties and applications on different fields of such composites are discussed in this study. This review also presents a summary of the issues in the fabrication of natural fiber composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of hybrid, woven, natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites as a substitute reinforcement for fiber polymer composites has recently caught the interest of academics, industry, and researchers. Woven, natural fiber composites have been implemented in many different applications, including parts for automobiles, household items, flooring, aerospace, and ballistic materials. Therefore, this research seeks to establish the thermal and mechanical characteristics of composites made from rattan strips (RS) and glass fiber (GF)-reinforced epoxy resin (ER). Other than that, the impact of layering configurations with respect to the thermal and mechanical characteristics of the RS and GF will be determined. Hand lay-up and a hydraulic press machine produce hybrid, woven RS and GF laminates. The hybrid composite's mechanical properties will be investigated using impact, tensile, and flexural tests. The hybrid woven of the GF/RS/RS/RS/GF composite sequence demonstrated the highest mechanical properties in comparison to other sequences. The increase from one to three layers of RS in the core layer of GF hybrid composites enhanced the flexural, impact, and tensile properties. In addition, the hybridization of rattan and GF is more thermally stable, as recorded by the high decomposition temperature. As a finding of the research, the woven RS and GF hybrid is a potential material for automotive applications such as car bumpers, for example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

7000 years ago, miswak fiber (MF) was used as a toothbrush for oral care. However, since the emergence of plastic materials, it monopolized the oral care industry. The increment of plastic products also promotes accumulation of plastic wastes after its disposal. Thus, many researchers have turn to biodegradable products to reduce this problem. The aim of this study is to investigate the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of MF as reinforcement in composites that are suitable to replace the toothbrush materials. The MF was reinforced in PLA composite with different weight percentage (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) and undergoes several types of testing. The chemical results show that there were high presence of cellulose in the fiber which could act as medium to transfer stress load equally from fiber to matrix. However, the results show low cellulosic contents in MF that affects the poor interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix. Physical properties shows a positive indication to be used as a toothbrush handle. As the fiber content increases, the density also increased. SEM micrographic illustrated the presence of voids as the cause for reduction in mechanical properties of composites. The mechanical results show the proposed material is comparable to the materials used in commercial applications. As for the thermal result, the TGA test melting point of the proposed composite material was comparable to the pure PLA, which means the proposed material can use similar processing temperature as PLA. DSC shows that Tg of PLA/MF composite is found to be similar to Tg in loss modulus of composites. DMA finding found that PLA/MF30 have the highest storage modulus 2062 MPa and the lowest tan δ 0.6 among PLA/MF composites. This concludes that there is a possibility of using these materials as an alternative in composites and increase the fiber strength by using pretreatments and/or compatibilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this work, the use of a recycled mix stemming from the treatment of multilayer aseptic packaging used in the food and beverage industry is proposed as the matrix for short fibre composites reinforced with flax fibres, to generate value-added materials in contrast to the more common end-of-life scenario including energy recovery. This is expected to be a preferred choice in the waste hierarchy at the European level. A commercially available material (EcoAllene) obtained from multilayer packaging recycling was compounded with short flax fibres up to 30 wt.% by twin screw extrusion, with a view to enhancing its poor mechanical profile and broadening its applications. Composites were in depth analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, which highlighted the complex nature of this recycled product, a limited nucleation ability of flax fibres and a lower thermal stability due to the premature degradation of natural hemicellulose and cellulose, though featuring in any case onset degradation temperatures higher than 300 °C. Composites' mechanical properties were assessed in tension, bending and impact conditions, with remarkable improvements over the neat matrix in terms of stiffness and strength. In particular, at 30 wt.% fibre content and with 5 wt.% of maleated coupling agent, an increase in tensile and flexural strength values by 92% and 138% was achieved, respectively, without compromising the impact strength. The effectiveness of flax fibres confirmed by dynamo-mechanical analysis is beneficial to the exploitation of these composites in automotive interiors and outdoor decking applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different glass fibers made of commercial silicate, borosilicate, and laboratory-made iron–phosphate compositions, on the preparation of polylactic acid (PLA) composites and their structural and physical properties. The thermal, structural, and electrical properties of prepared PLA–glass fiber composites were studied using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and impedance spectroscopy. The structural as well as morphological, thermal, and electrical properties of all PLA–glass composites were found to be very similar and independent of the composition and aspect ratio of glass fibers. All types of glass fibers improve mechanical properties, increase thermal stability, and decrease the electrical conductivity of PLA, thereby producing mechanical strong electrically insulating composite material with potential in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A “self-permeation” method was used to fabricate a Ca0.9La0.067TiO3-0.01Al2O3 (CLT)-reinforced polysilylaryl-enyne/fiber multilayer board with different volume fractions of CLT (0–40 vol%). The microstructure, dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties were fully studied. The results showed that the composite with optimal dielectric properties (εr∼8.75, tanδ∼0.0043) could be obtained when the volume fraction of CLT reached 30 vol%. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity reached a high level of 0.644 W/(m⋅K) and 0.762 W/(m⋅K) at Z and X/Y directions, respectively. Due to the high decomposition temperature of PSAE, Td5 (the temperature corresponding to 5% weight loss) of composite loading with 30 vol% CLT was higher than 900°C, which indicates an excellent thermal resistance. And the bending strength could reach 115.3 MPa indicating excellent mechanical property. The novel polysilylaryl-enyne/fiber/Ca0.9La0.067TiO3-0.01Al2O3 multilayer board with excellent performance is expected to be a candidate material for print circuit boards and widely used in the microwave communication field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of fillers has been implemented in fused filament fabrication (FFF), and robust carbon fillers have been found to improve the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of 3D-printed matrices. However, in stretchable matrices, the use of fillers imposes significant challenges related to quality and durability. In this work, we show that long carbon staple fibers in the form of permeable carbon fiber cloth (CFC) can be placed into a stretchable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix to improve the system. Four CFC sample series (nominally 53–159-µm-thick CFC layers) were prepared with a permeable and compliant thin CFC layer and a highly conductive and stiff thick CFC layer. The sample series was tested with single pull-up tests and cyclic tensile tests with 10,000 cycles and was further studied with digital image correlation (DIC) analyses. The results showed that embedded CFC layers in a TPU matrix can be used for stretchable 3D-printed electronics structures. Samples with a thin 53 µm CFC layer retained electrical properties at 50% cyclic tensile deformations, whereas the samples with a thick >150-µm CFC layer exhibited the lowest resistance (5 Ω/10 mm). Between those structures, the 106-µm-thick CFC layer exhibited balanced electromechanical properties, with resistance changes of 0.5% in the cyclic tests after the orientation of the samples. Furthermore, the suitability of the structure as a sensor was estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A “self-permeation” method was used to fabricate a Ca0.9La0.067TiO3-0.01Al2O3 (CLT)-reinforced polysilylaryl-enyne/fiber multilayer board with different volume fractions of CLT (0–40 vol%). The microstructure, dielectric, mechanical, and thermal properties were fully studied. The results showed that the composite with optimal dielectric properties (εr∼8.75, tanδ∼0.0043) could be obtained when the volume fraction of CLT reached 30 vol%. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity reached a high level of 0.644 W/(m⋅K) and 0.762 W/(m⋅K) at Z and X/Y directions, respectively. Due to the high decomposition temperature of PSAE, Td5 (the temperature corresponding to 5% weight loss) of composite loading with 30 vol% CLT was higher than 900°C, which indicates an excellent thermal resistance. And the bending strength could reach 115.3 MPa indicating excellent mechanical property. The novel polysilylaryl-enyne/fiber/Ca0.9La0.067TiO3-0.01Al2O3 multilayer board with excellent performance is expected to be a candidate material for print circuit boards and widely used in the microwave communication field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]