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In this work, a new plastic-intensive medium-pressure plate (MPP), which is part of a fuel-cell system, has been developed together with a steel plate meeting all mechanical and chemical requirements. This newly developed MPP had to achieve the objective of saving weight and package space. The use of compression molding as a manufacturing technique facilitated the use of glass mat thermoplastics (GMT) which has higher E-modules and strength compared to most of the injection molded materials. A steel plate was placed as an insert to help achieve the stiffness requirements. For the development, the existing MPP was benchmarked for its structural capabilities and its underlying functional features. Four different FRP materials were investigated in terms of their chemical and mechanical properties. PP-GMT material, which has both high mechanical performance and resistance against chemicals in the fuel cell fluid, had been chosen. Using the properties of the chosen PP-GMT material, topology optimization was carried out based on the quasi-static load case and manufacturing constraints, which gave a load-conforming rib structure. The obtained rib structure was utilized to develop the final MPP with adherence to the functional requirements of MPP. The developed plastic-intensive MPP exhibits a 3-in-1 component feature with a 55% reduction in package space and an 8% weight reduction. The MPP was virtually analyzed for its mechanical strength and compared with the existing benchmark values. Finally, a press tool was conceptualized and manufactured to fabricate the new plastic-intensive MPP, which was tested in a rig and validated in the FE model.

The need to comply with environmental regulations and provisions set by the government for sustainability and environmental awareness has caused the use of natural fiber‐reinforced composites in the automotive industry to increase. Furthermore, there has been a lack of extensive research on the production of eco‐friendly composites for automotive applications utilizing epoxy resin, rice husk, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 by the compression molding technique. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the influence of compression molding pressure on the properties of eco‐friendly composites for automotive applications. The specimens consisted of epoxy resin, rice husk, Al2O3, and Fe2O3, in that order by weight percentages of 50%, 20%, 15%, and 15%, respectively. Compression molding with pressures of 10, 20, and 30 MPa and a holding time of 20 min at room temperature was utilized in this study. To evaluate the properties of the obtained specimens, density, hardness, flexural, wear, TGA (thermal gravimetric analysis), and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) tests were conducted. The research findings show that composite specimens' physical and mechanical properties decrease while the friction coefficient increases with increasing pressure during compression molding. In contrast, the pressure increase did not significantly alter the thermal characteristics of the composite specimens. The BP_10 specimen, fabricated at a molding pressure of 10 MPa, exhibited superior properties compared to other specimens. Density, hardness, flexural strength, coefficient of friction, total residue, Tmax, Tg, and Tc in specimen BP_10 was 1.881 g/cm3, 80.5 shore D, 35.84 MPa, 0.262, 58.67%, 354.87, 285.53, and 497.7°C, respectively. Highlights: The demand for natural fiber‐reinforced composites is increasing because more vehicles are on the road.The properties of natural fiber‐reinforced composites are strongly influenced by the pressure applied during compression molding.Results show that compression molding pressure strongly influenced the hardness, density, flexural strength, friction coefficient, and thermal stability of natural fiber‐reinforced composites.The natural fiber‐reinforced composites developed in this research can contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited material out‐life of thermoset prepregs is unavoidable attributed to the slow crosslinking reaction between molecules and curing agents. Previous studies have explored the effects of temperature aging on the final mechanical properties of composites, but have been limited by the processing mismatch in compression molding. The research primarily focuses on the effects of forming temperature and ply angle of prepreg on inter‐ply friction behavior at various aging levels. The importance of inter‐ply friction on the forming quality is further discussed through the L‐shaped specimens forming with prepreg compression molding (PCM) process. Firstly, a comprehensive influence of aging on the properties of resin including cure kinetics, gel point, glass transition temperature (Tg) and viscosity of UD prepreg are characterized and discussed. And then, the influence of factors including resin aging, forming temperature and prepreg ply orientation on the inter‐ply friction are discussed. It can be found that the aging of prepreg reduce 26.47% of inter‐ply friction resistance under room temperature, and the increase of temperature can reduce inter‐ply friction resistance by 79.31%. Finally, the effect of aging on the forming quality is researched by PCM formed L‐shaped components. Results indicated that fresh prepreg with 20°C and prepreg with an aging level of 0.4 performed at 95°C exhibited poor formability, while prepreg with aging level of 0.2 at 95°C exhibited the best forming property. In general, this study provides a basic explain and a practical suggestion to the reuse of room temperature aging thermoset prepregs in PCM process. Highlights: A comprehensive of basic properties of aged resin were characterized, as the basic principle for inter‐ply friction behavior analysis.The gel point and final mechanical properties of prepreg were tested, for judging the aged materials whether could be used continuously.The inter‐ply friction behaviors of aged prepregs under various forming temperatures were investigated.The influence of layup orientations on the inter‐ply frictional performance with various aging levels were explored.The effect of aging and forming temperature on the PCM formability were studied and a practical suggestion to the reuse of aged thermoset prepregs in PCM process was given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation highlights the performance of high‐performance polymeric composite for ballistic application. Therefore, reinforcement of para‐aramid fiber in poly‐ether‐ketone‐ketone (PEKK) resin film has been made. The surface of PEKK and para‐aramid fiber was modified by low‐pressure plasma to enhance the surface energy of the polymeric film and reinforcement fiber. The polymeric composite was manufactured by compression molding with a pressure of 2 bar, temperature of 310°C with holding time of 15 min. Due to low‐pressure plasma treatment of PEKK film and para‐aramid fiber, the tensile strength of the composites increases considerably. In the accelerated aging test, the tensile specimens are dipped into concentrated HNO3 and NaOH medium for 15 days. It is observed that there is a decrease in tensile strength. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the virgin specimen was compared to the environmentally aged for 15 days and in this case, also there was a decrease in tensile strength. Two types of composite panels were made (i) 25 layers of PEKK film with 24 layers of para‐aramid fabric and (ii) 45 layers of PEKK film with 44 layers of para‐aramid fabric with 15 mm × 15 mm. The composite panel was tested with four 9 mm handgun bullets fired from a distance of 5 meters with a speed of 430 m/s. In the case of 25 layers of PEKK film with 24 layers of para‐aramid fabric, the composite failed under ballistic test, however, in the case of 45 layers of PEKK film with 44 layers of para‐aramid fabric, the composite was successful under ballistic test. Highlights: Film stacking method of PEKK and Aramid fiber.Ballistic composite panel with layers of PEKK and Aramid fiber.Enhancement of mechanical properties of the composite panel with plasma surface treatment.Ballistic testing of composite panel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials are an effective way to realize the lightweighting of automobiles. The molding process parameters have significant effects on the mechanical properties of the products. In this paper, continuous glass fiber reinforced polypropylene plastics (CGFRPP) laminated boards were prepared through compression molding. The influence of process parameters on the mechanical properties of CGFRPP products was investigated. The material preheating temperature was found to have the greatest influence by the extreme difference analysis method. Typical products were selected for microscopic observation to investigate the microscopic mechanism of the influence of material preheating temperature on CGFRPP products. The results show that the optimal process parameters for compression molding are 95 °C, 570 kN, 90 s, 9 mm/s, 195 °C and 600 s for mold temperature, compression pressure, holding time, mold-closing speed, material preheating temperature, and material preheating time, respectively. Afterward, a confirmation test was performed to validate the optimum parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the cocoa pod husk (CPH) is used and processed, two types of flour were obtained and can be differentiated by particle size, fine flour (FFCH), and coarse flour (CFCH) and can be used as a possible reinforcement for the development of bio-based composite materials. Each flour was obtained from chopping, drying by forced convection, milling by blades, and sieving using the 100 mesh/bottom according to the Tyler series. Their physicochemical, thermal, and structural characterization made it possible to identify the lower presence of lignin and higher proportions of cellulose and pectin in FFCH. Based on the properties identified in FFCH, it was included in the processing of thermoplastic starch (TPS) from the plantain pulp (Musa paradisiaca) and its respective bio-based composite material using plantain peel short fiber (PPSF) as a reinforcing agent using the following sequence of processing techniques: extrusion, internal mixing, and compression molding. The influence of FFCH contributed to the increase in ultimate tensile strength (7.59 MPa) and higher matrix–reinforcement interaction when obtaining the freshly processed composite material (day 0) when compared to the bio-based composite material with higher FCP content (30%) in the absence of FFCH. As for the disadvantages of FFCH, reduced thermal stability (323.57 to 300.47 °C) and losses in ultimate tensile strength (0.73 MPa) and modulus of elasticity (142.53 to 26.17 MPa) during storage progress were identified. In the case of TPS, the strengthening action of FFCH was not evident. Finally, the use of CFCH was not considered for the elaboration of the bio-based composite material because it reached a higher lignin content than FFCH, which was expected to decrease its affinity with the TPS matrix, resulting in lower mechanical properties in the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on manufacturing efficient automobile sound-absorbing materials through alkaline treatment and dimple processing of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) nonwoven fabric. The rPET nonwoven fabric was produced with a sound-absorbing material through compression molding. It was improved through the development of porous sound-absorbing materials through alkaline treatment and resonant sound-absorbing materials through dimple processing. As a result of morphological analysis, alkaline treatment showed that pore size and air permeability increased according to temperature and concentration increase conditions. On the other hand, dimple processing caused a decrease in air permeability and a decrease in pores due to yarn fusion, and as the dimple diameter increased, the sound-absorbing coefficient increased in the 5000 Hz band. Finally, it was judged that effective sound absorption performance would be improved through a simple process through alkaline treatment and dimple processing, and thus there would be applicability in various industrial fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new plastic-intensive medium-pressure plate (MPP), which is part of a fuel-cell system, has been developed together with a steel plate meeting all mechanical and chemical requirements. This newly developed MPP had to achieve the objective of saving weight and package space. The use of compression molding as a manufacturing technique facilitated the use of glass mat thermoplastics (GMT) which has higher E-modules and strength compared to most of the injection molded materials. A steel plate was placed as an insert to help achieve the stiffness requirements. For the development, the existing MPP was benchmarked for its structural capabilities and its underlying functional features. Four different FRP materials were investigated in terms of their chemical and mechanical properties. PP-GMT material, which has both high mechanical performance and resistance against chemicals in the fuel cell fluid, had been chosen. Using the properties of the chosen PP-GMT material, topology optimization was carried out based on the quasi-static load case and manufacturing constraints, which gave a load-conforming rib structure. The obtained rib structure was utilized to develop the final MPP with adherence to the functional requirements of MPP. The developed plastic-intensive MPP exhibits a 3-in-1 component feature with a 55% reduction in package space and an 8% weight reduction. The MPP was virtually analyzed for its mechanical strength and compared with the existing benchmark values. Finally, a press tool was conceptualized and manufactured to fabricate the new plastic-intensive MPP, which was tested in a rig and validated in the FE model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in antibacterial biopolymeric films. Among the different approaches for tuning the release kinetic of antibacterial compounds, the use of natural fillers allows for this purpose while optimizing the processability and the mechanical properties of the products. In this work, the effect of three different concentrations of biochar (BC) was investigated on the morphological, rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties of Polybutylene adipate terephthalate/Carvacrol/BC (PBAT/CV/BC) ternary biocomposites. The films were fabricated by means of melt mixing and compression molding and compared to PBAT/BC samples. The carvacrol kinetic release was evaluated as a function of the BC concentration in the ternary system. Results highlighted that BC allows tuning the properties of PBAT and of PBAT/CV samples and modifying the release kinetic of CV. Finally, the antimicrobial analysis revealed that PBAT/CV films exhibited excellent antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic Sciences Journal of Textile Universities / Fangzhi Gaoxiao Jichu Kexue Xuebao is the property of Basic Sciences Journal of Textile Universities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the manufacturing of high‐performance wood‐crosslinked high‐density polyethylene composites (WxHDPEC). In particular, the effect of maleated polyethylene (MAPE) treatment and concentration (0–50 wt%) of maple wood fibers is investigated. The samples were produced via dry‐blending followed by compression molding and a set of characterization was performed including chemical, morphological, mechanical, thermal, and physical properties. The gel content was found to increase with increasing wood fiber content, while the surface modification significantly improved the tensile strength (11%), tensile modulus (298%), flexural strength (138%), and flexural modulus (81%). Thermal analyses also showed improved thermal stability and higher thermal resistance for the treated composites. Finally, the Shore D hardness increased by 11.0 (from 61.5 to 72.5) and 12.1 (from 61.5 to 73.6) points, while the Shore A hardness increased by 7.5 (from 91.5 to 99.0) and 8.1 (from 91.5 to 99.6) points for the untreated and treated composites, respectively. These improvements are attributed to effective adhesion between MAPE‐treated wood fibers and the xHDPE matrix. The findings not only advance our understanding of these complex materials but also provide alternatives for various applications from construction to automotive engineering. Highlights: High‐performance wood‐reinforced crosslinked high‐density polyethylene was produced.The effect of maleated polyethylene (MAPE) treatment and maple wood fibers was studied.Higher crosslink density in MAPE‐treated wood‐xHDPE was obtained.Wood‐crosslinked high‐density polyethylene composites have better properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation and utilization of natural fibers still face many challenges due to their high crystallinity and extensive hydrogen bond network. Therefore, sustainable and effective modification strategies are currently essential. In this work, we investigate the processing and mechanical performances of natural fibers modified by combining sodium periodate oxidation and subsequent Schiff base reaction. Steam‐exploded hemp fibers (HFs) were firstly oxidized with sodium periodate, and subsequently grafted with 1,10‐diaminodecane. A decrease in the glass transition temperature of oxidized‐aminated HFs (OAHFs) from 225 to 150°C was achieved as the dosage of periodate increased. Admirable mechanical properties were achieved despite a lower dosage of periodate due to melt bonding and chemical cross‐linking between the fibers during heat processing. Particularly, dynamic compression molding was applied to heat processes and effectively improved the melt bonding and the chemical crosslinking, which increased flexural strength from 58.2 to 69.9 MPa. This strategy was moderate and low cost. The resulted material has good processing performance and excellent mechanical properties, which have large industrial application prospects and potential in the field of biodegradable environment‐friendly materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, blends of polylactic acid (PLA) and potato thermoplastic starch (TPS) with and without maleated polyethylene (MAPE) as a compatibilizer were prepared by twin‐screw extrusion followed by compression molding. Different formulations were proposed based on an experimental design to determine the concentration of each component for a specific range of composition: 49%–79% of PLA, 20%–50% of TPS, and 0.5%–2% of MAPE. As a first step, the mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact) were used to determine the best performance of these formulations. Then, the mechanical results were used in an objective function to maximize the blends' properties compared to virgin PLA. The optimal formulation was found to be 67.5% PLA, 32.0% TPS, and 0.5% MAPE. Selected formulations were characterized for their thermal, morphological, and water absorption properties. The results show the possibility of producing sustainable polymers for single‐use applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali treated Alstonia macrophylla fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP/AS) composite was fabricated using a hot compression moulding machine through the film stacking technique. The raw fiber was subjected to alkali treatment to enhance the strong interfacial adhesion with the PP matrix. Alkali treated fiber at five levels of fiber loading (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 vol%) was used for composite fabrication. The fabricated composites were designated as Neat PP, PP10AS, PP20AS, PP30AS, PP40AS, and PP50AS, respectively. Mechanical test results conducted in accordance with the ASTM standards revealed that tensile strength, flexural strength, impact toughness of the PP/AS composites increased with an increase in fiber loading. However, beyond 40 vol% of fiber loading, mechanical properties deteriorate. Of the prepared laminates, PP40AS composite outperformed other laminates, with 20.14%, 274.2% and 314.42% improvement in the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, respectively, when compared to neat PP laminates. The moisture absorption rate increased with the increase in fiber loading, as it leads to an increment in the number of hydroxyl groups in PP/AS composites. TGA results showed that the thermal stability of the PP laminate improved upon impregnation with alkali treated fiber. The final thermal degradation temperature of the PP/AS composite increased from 437.7 °C to 445.2 °C. FESEM analysis revealed the major mechanism endured by the PP/AS specimens during mechanical failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the effect of octylphenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol (IGEPAL CA 630) on the environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of blends of polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at different weight fractions without and with the addition of two compatibilizers, corresponding to styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymer and styrene-ethylene-butylene maleate (SEBS-g-MA). Compression molding was used after mixing the melt in a Brabender internal mixer to create the blends. ESCR of the blends was determined by exposing the blends to a solution of IGEPAL CA 630 the presence of stress. Mechanical (tensile) and thermal properties are extracted to evaluate the effect of adding the compatibilizers SEBS and SEBS-g-MA to the blend. In the environmental stress cracking (ESCR) tests, the time to failure increases with increasing PP content, despite PP's greater resistance to ESCR than LDPE. The addition of SEBS-g-MA to the blend significantly improves the flexibility and ESCR performance of PP/LDPE blends with specific weight fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery stress of shape-memory polymers is often low; therefore their field of application is limited. In this study, we compared the effects of different fiber reinforcements on the shape memory characteristics of cross-linked polyethylene (X-PE) matrix. We used fiber reinforcement to increase the recovery stress of the shape memory polymer and compared the results of different fiber reinforcements to find the ones that confer the best shape memory properties. We investigated glass, carbon, Kevlar®, and Dyneema® fibers to find the fibers that increase the recovery stress of the composites most. The deformed shape was created by three-point bending, and then heat-activated shape recovery was examined. All reinforcements increased the recovery stress and decreased the shape fixity ratio and the shape recovery ratio. The samples had similar characteristics, except for the low recovery stress Kevlar® fibers and the low recovery ratio of the composite reinforced with glass fibers. With the polyethylene Dyneema® fibers, the composite was self-reinforced and did very well by all metrics. They increased the maximum recovery stress from 0.3 to 2.4 MPa, through having excellent adhesion to the matrix and high strength in their own right. Our research proved that self-reinforced composites could measure up to conventional composites in shape memory applications. Aside from the Dyneema® fibers carbon fibers work best in the X-PE matrix, and should be the preferred conventional reinforcement materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, self‐healing natural rubber (SHNR) foam incorporating an intrinsic zinc thiolate ionic network was successfully prepared. The materials exhibited the ability to autonomously repair damage at room temperature without the need for external triggers. The investigation focused on the effect of sodium bicarbonate, employed as a blowing agent, on the self‐healing performance, as well as the physical and mechanical properties of the foam. Various concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (0, 1, 4, 8, and 10 phr) were employed. The conventional two‐roller mill was used for mixing and compounding, while compression molding was utilized for the vulcanization process. With increasing sodium bicarbonate concentration, the density, tensile strength, elongation at break, and compression set of the self‐healing NR foam were found to decreased. Conversely, the porosity, shrinkage, compressive strength, and water uptake of the SHNR foam increased as the concentration of sodium bicarbonate increased. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the optimal concentration of sodium bicarbonate (8 phr) resulted in smaller, finer, and more uniform porous structures. The self‐healing rubber foam incorporating 8 phr sodium bicarbonate exhibited improved properties in terms of tensile modulus, elongation at break, and tear strength, with healing efficiencies of 91.27%, 69.39%, and 83.99%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polymer Materials Science & Engineering is the property of Sichuan University, Polymer Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work investigated material extrusion additive manufacturing (MatEx AM) of specialized fluoroelastomer (FKM) compounds for applications in rubber seals and gaskets. The influence of a commercially available perfluoropolyether (PFPE) plasticizer on the printability of a control FKM rubber compound was studied using a custom-designed ram material extruder, Additive Ram Material Extruder (ARME), for printing fully compounded thermoset elastomers. The plasticizer's effectiveness was assessed based on its ability to address challenges such as high compound viscosity and post-print shrinkage, as well as its impact on interlayer adhesion. The addition of the PFPE plasticizer significantly reduced the FKM compound's viscosity (by 70%) and post-print shrinkage (by 65%). While the addition of the plasticizer decreased the tensile strength of the control compound, specimens printed with the plasticized FKM retained 34% of the tensile strength of compression-molded samples, compared to only 23% for the unplasticized compound. Finally, the feasibility of seals and gaskets manufacturing using both conventional and unconventional additive manufacturing (AM) approaches was explored. A hybrid method combining AM and soft tooling for compression molding emerged as the optimal method for seal and gasket fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the applicability of siliceous waste concrete powder (WCP‐S) as a reinforcing particle in plastic composite materials for effectively utilizing waste concrete. WCP‐S was obtained by milling waste concrete. Two types of resin materials, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), were used as the matrix of the composite material. Composite materials were fabricated via compression molding, and the effect of the WCP‐S content on the mechanical properties of the composite materials was investigated. The flexural strength of the PP‐based material decreased with increasing WCP‐S content, whereas the flexural modulus increased. This result suggests insufficient interfacial adhesion between the matrix resin and WCP‐S in the plastic region with high flexural load. To improve this interfacial adhesion, we investigated the mechanical properties of the PE‐based composite material. The flexural strength remained almost constant on increasing the WCP‐S content in the PE‐based composite material, whereas the flexural strength increased. Therefore, WCP‐S is a promising reinforcement particle with an improved flexural modulus for PP or PE resins. Highlights: Plastic composite material was fabricated using WCP‐S.The flexural strength of PP‐based composite material decreased.The flexural strength of PE‐based composite material remained almost constant.Flexural modulus increased the PP‐ and PE‐based composite material.WCP‐S is a promising reinforcement particle for PP/PE resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High specific impact strength and stiffness are demanded in various applications, leading to the widespread utilization of fiber‐reinforced polymers. Synthetic fiber‐reinforced polymers have been used to meet these engineering requirements. However, the current popularity of biocomposites arises from their environmental friendliness, ease of availability, and affordability, making them a favored alternative to synthetic‐based fiber‐reinforced polymers. An assessment must be conducted to determine whether biocomposites can replace their synthetic fiber counterparts, necessitating a thorough investigation into their impact behavior. This study aims to unveil the impact performance of hybrid biocomposites made from unidirectional prepregs comprising flax/polypropylene fibers and nonwoven mats composed of hemp/polypropylene fibers. The impact performance of hybrid biocomposites has also been studied concerning the number of layers and stacking sequence. Eight different designs of biocomposite plates are manufactured through compression molding and subsequently subjected to high‐velocity impact tests. Additionally, numerical simulation using the FEM is utilized to model and analyze the impact behavior of one specimen. The test results indicate that each design possesses unique characteristics and impact behaviors differ. Highlights: Adding prepreg significantly improved mechanical performance in the biocomposites.Performance enhancement varies depending on the stacking sequence.Adding multiple layers of UD prepregs enhances mat impact performance.Numerical simulations validate the Tsai‐Wu criterion for impact testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron (specifically 10B) is the element of choice to shield thermal neutrons due to its large (n, α) cross‐section; however, very few polymer composites containing high boron concentrations are available. This study aimed to determine the maximum possible amount of boron that could be introduced into a polymer matrix. Diverse manufacturing techniques, ranging from additive manufacturing to compression molding, were employed to fabricate inks and filaments for 3D printing, foams, and flexible pads. Composites using siloxanes, poly(lactic acid), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene containing up to 80 wt% boron were sucessufully fabricated. The addition of known plasticizers (polyethylene glycol) and reinforcing agents (carbon nanofibers and fumed silica) helped to overcome fabrication problems such as clogging of the printing nozzle or crumbling of compression molded parts. In addition, the thermal‐mechanical properties of these novel boron composites were determined and shown to vary according to boron concentration, presence of additives, and fabrication techniques utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incrementing thermal conductivity in polymer composites through the incorporation of inorganic thermally conductive fillers is typically constrained by the requirement of high filler content. This necessity often complicates processing and adversely affects mechanical properties. This study presents the fabrication of a polystyrene (PS)/boron nitride (BN) composite exhibiting elevated thermal conductivity with a modest 10 wt% BN content, achieved through optimized compression molding. Adjustments to molding parameters, including molding-cycle numbers, temperature, and pressure, were explored. The molding process, conducted above the glass transition temperature of PS, facilitated orientational alignment of BN within the PS matrix predominantly in the in-plane direction. This orientation, achieved at low filler loading, resulted in a threefold enhancement of thermal conductivity following a single molding time. Furthermore, the in-plane alignment of BN within the PS matrix was found to intensify with increased molding time and pressure, markedly boosting the in-plane thermal conductivity of the PS/BN molded composites. Within the range of molding parameters examined, the highest thermal conductivity (1.6 W/m·K) was observed in PS/BN composites subjected to five molding cycles at 140 °C and 10 MPa, without compromising mechanical properties. This study suggests that compression molding, which allows low filler content and straightforward operation, offers a viable approach for the mass production of polymer composites with superior thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several composites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and mesoporous SBA-15 silica were prepared by solvent-casting followed by a further stage of compression molding. The thermal stability, phase transitions and crystalline details of these composites were studied, paying special attention to the confinement of the PHB polymeric chains into the mesopores of the silica. For that, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and real-time variable-temperature X-ray scattering at small angles (SAXS) were performed. Confinement was stated first by the existence of a small endotherm at temperatures around 20 °C below the main melting or crystallization peak, being later confirmed by a notable discontinuity in the intensity of the main (100) diffraction from the mesoporous silica observed through SAXS experiments, which is related to the change in the scattering contrast before and after the crystallization or melting of the polymer chains. Furthermore, the usual α modification of PHB was developed in all samples. Finally, a preliminary investigation of mechanical and relaxation parameters was carried out through dynamic–mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The results show, in the temperature interval analyzed, two relaxations, named α and β (the latest related to the glass transition) in order of decreasing temperatures, in all specimens. The role of silica as a filler is mainly observed at temperatures higher than the glass transition. In such cases, stiffness is dependent on SBA-15 content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to analyze the influence of boron carbide particles (B4C) on the mechanical and thermo-mechanical characteristics of glass fabric reinforced epoxy to identify the suitability of fabricated composites in an automotive application. The influence of B4C up to 0.4 wt% is analyzed by mixing with epoxy resin using a magnetic stirring approach, followed by compression molding with the glass fiber reinforcement. The results revealed that the hardness of glass strengthened epoxy was increased by 38%, and the other mechanical characteristics such as tensile and flexural strength were raised by 25% and 19%, respectively, when the weight fractions of B4C were raised to 0.3 wt%. From the fractography, it was observed that the fiber pull-out and fiber fracture were the dominant failure mechanisms in the developed composites during the application. The findings of the dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the storage and loss modulus of the composites was increased by 50% and 43%, respectively, with the 0.3 wt% of B4C showing the increase in the dynamic ability of materials even at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explored the influence of curtain climber fiber and Biochar derived from Kigelia pinnata fruit fiber on a polyepoxide‐based composite material's thermal, mechanical, dielectric, and mechanical properties. Before commencing the composite production process, the surface of the curtain climber fiber underwent treatment with a solution consisting of 5% silane to enhance the bonding between the fiber and the matrix. The hand layup method and compression molding were used to produce the composite panels and tested according to the appropriate standards set by the ASTM. According to these findings, the mechanical properties of the composites were enhanced by adding 30% curtain climber fiber and 5% biochar. The load distribution on the fiber was consistent throughout. The composite's highest strength (EFB3) was 183 MPa, its modulus was 5.9 GPa, and its flexural strength and modulus were 216 MPa and 6.1 GPa, respectively. The impact intensity is 8 J, and the hardness value is 95 on the Shore D scale. In addition, the EFB3 had a maximum interlaminar shear strength of 35 MPa. According to the findings of the SEM surface analysis, the matrix molecules exhibit adhesion to the fiber, which indicates increased bonding. The thermal conductivity and dielectric properties were high for composite with higher biochar particle content. These waste biomass‐converted fruit fiber biochar and curtain climber industrial crop fiber epoxide composite materials may be utilized in a variety of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, household domestic product manufacturing, and defense sectors. Highlights: Extraction and silane treatment of curtain climber fiber.Producing biochar from waste biomass Kigelia pinnata fiber.Fabrication of polyepoxide composite.Siloxane layer improves the strength.Biochar improves the properties of composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the number of implants has increased gradually and consistently over the years to around one million per year globally, there is still far more potential for advancement in the field of dental implantology which is typically growing quickly. This study investigates the effect of nanofiller reinforcement high-performance polymer matrix to enhance mechanical and physical characteristics. Calcium silicate (CS)/Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) biomedical composite (G0 as a control group) is reinforced with different weight percentages (G1-G4) of tellurium dioxide nanoparticles (TeO2 NPs) (n = 5). This research uses ethanol as a binder for mixing various weight percentages (wt%) of TeO2 NPs with CS/PEKK biomedical composite. The combination is then dried at 120°C in a forced convection oven before being put into special molds and compressed for 20 min Holding period at 310°C and 15 MPa. The composites were prepared via the compression molding technique. Morphological, mechanical, and physical characteristics were studied. The findings of this study suggested improvement in the interfacial interaction between TeO2 NPs (G1 and G2) and CS/PEKK bioactive composite resulting in better mechanical and physical properties, especially at 1 w% of TeO2 NPs (G2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to analyze the effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of polyester/glass fiber/jute fiber hybrid composites obtained using the compression molding and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) techniques with different stacking sequences. For this purpose, the mechanical behavior under tensile stress of the samples was evaluated before and after hygrothermal aging at different temperatures: TA, 50 °C, and 70 °C for a period of 696 h. The damage mechanism after the mechanical tests was evaluated using SEM analysis. The results showed a tendency for the mechanical properties of the composites to decrease with exposure to an aqueous ambient, regardless of the molding technique used to conform the composites. It was also observed that the stacking sequence had no significant influence on the dry composites. However, exposure to the aqueous ambient led to a reduction in mechanical properties, both for the molding technique and the stacking sequence. Damage such as delamination, fiber pull-out, fiber/matrix detachment, voids, and matrix removal were observed in the composites in the SEM analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current contribution, bacterial nanocellulose obtained from a by-product of Kombucha tea production and vegetal nanocellulose isolated from milled rice husks were employed as fillers of PLA-based composites prepared by intensive mixing followed by compression molding. Given the challenges associated with the incorporation of nanocelluloses—initially obtained as aqueous suspensions—into melt compounding processes, and also with achieving a proper dispersion of the hydrophilic nanofillers within PLA, three different nanofibrils incorporation strategies were studied: i.e., direct mixing of dried milled nanocelluloses and PLA; masterbatching by solvent casting of native nanocelluloses followed by melt compounding; and masterbatching by solvent casting of acetylated nanocelluloses followed by melt compounding. Composites with varying filler content (from 0.5 wt.% to 7 wt.%) were characterized in terms of morphology, optical properties, and mechanical performance. Results revealed the relative suitability of each strategy employed to promote nanocelluloses dispersion within the PLA matrix. PLA/nanocellulose masterbatches prepared by solvent casting proved to be particularly useful for feeding the nanocelluloses into the processing equipment in a dry state with limited hornification. Acetylation also contributed to a better dispersion of both nanocelluloses within the PLA matrix, although no clear positive impact on the mechanical properties of the films was observed. Finally, filler loading played an important role in the films' properties by increasing their stiffness while reducing their translucency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites based on recycled polypropylene (PP) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals whit lignin corncob were prepared. The effect of the ratio composites prepared via a compression molding process on the mechanical and thermal properties was analyzed. Corncobs is a little-used agroindustrial residue with a high cellulose content. The corncob was milled and then delignified via the organosolve process in order to get the cellulose unbleached. An acid hydrolysis process was then carried out to obtain lignocellulose nanocrystals (LCNCs). Subsequently, LCNC/PP composites were obtained via termocompression molding using different concentrations of LCNC (0, 0.5, 1 and 2% by weight) previously mixed via extrusion. The residual lignin present in the LCNCs improved the compatibility between the reinforcement and the PP matrix. This was evidenced by the increase in mechanical properties and the stabilization of thermal properties. The results of the mechanical tests showed that the LCNC increases the tensile and flexural modules and strength with respect to neat PP. Composites with 2% of LCNC showed an increase of 36% and 43% in modulus and tensile strength, respectively, while the flexural modulus and strength increased by 7.6%. By using reinforcements of natural and residual origin (corncob) and improving the properties of recycled polymers, their reuse will increase, and this can lead to reducing waste in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes the mold flow analysis technique of the injection compression molding (ICM) process, combined with the Taguchi--gray relational analysis (GRA), for process optimization analysis on the roundness of the lens holes and the flatness of the lens mount in a 4 x 4 planar multilens array mount. After manufacturing simulation analysis, the eccentricity and tilt information of the lens mount was further evaluated optically through spot diagram analysis upon inserting the same glass lenses. The results showed a positive correlation trend between roundness and flatness in structural deformation analysis, indicating that improving the overall flatness of the lens mount can enhance the roundness of the lens holes. In optical analysis, better improvements in the lens tilt angle were achieved through GRA. In conclusion, aiming to simultaneously improve the roundness of the lens holes and the overall flatness of the lens mount, the Taguchi--GRA method can achieve the optimization objectives. In terms of optical performance, by optimizing for roundness, it is possible not only to reduce the diameter of the light spot but also to simultaneously reduce the offset displacement of the light spot center on the screen. The method proposed in this paper can serve as an analytical model for the design and fabrication of plastic multilens mount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are some limitations in the application of tuff powder as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). Exploring its feasibility in new fields will consume a large amount of silica-alumina mine solid wastes. This study has investigated the mechanical properties and mechanism in contact-hardening of tuff powder with a method of compression molding. The compressive strength of specimens was tested, and the X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) methods were used to reveal the mechanism of contact-hardening of tuff powder from a micro-perspective. The results indicated that the compressive strength of specimens was higher when activated by sodium hydroxide compared to calcium hydroxide. Compared to calcium hydroxide, the compressive strength of TFS20 and TFF20 activated by sodium hydroxide was improved by 20% and 23%, respectively. The hydration degree of tuff powder was very low, with a water–cement ratio (w/c) of 0.15, while the hydration degree of coal gangue powder was higher. The results of TGA and SEM indicated that the sodium hydroxide had a better activating effect on slag and fly ash. Therefore, more C-S-H gels were generated in those samples activated by sodium hydroxide. Furthermore, the structure of samples was more compacted, and there was a reduction of porosity by 10% and 11% for TFS20 and TFF20, respectively, especially the proportion of harmful pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of molding process on the macroscopic performances of cement stabilized gravel, based on two kinds of gradation of skeleton compaction and suspension compaction, eight kinds of cement stabilized gravel were prepared by four kinds of processes: static compaction molding with forced mixing, vibratory compaction with forced mixing, static compaction molding with vibratory mixing, and vibratory compaction with vibratory mixing. Furthermore, the macro-performances of cement stabilized gravel were investigated by adopting the 7 d unconfined compression test, the 28 d single-axis penetration test, the 7 d warming shrinkage test, and the 7 d drying shrinkage test. The underlying microscopic mechanism of the macroscopic property variation of the cement stabilized gravel was analyzed by combining with the microscopic means of scanning electron microscope. The results show that the mechanical properties of cement stabilized gravel with skeleton dense grading under vibration mixing and vibration compaction process are optimal, and its 7 d unconfined compressive strength and 28 d uniaxial compression modulus are improved by 169. 5% and 97. 2%, respectively, compared with that of forced mixing and static compression molding. The vibration mixing vibration compaction techniques can improve the macro performance of cement stabilized crushed stone in terms of promoted the cement hydration product generation, perfect structure, and elevated overall uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the compression molding of hybrid composite materials using waste concrete powder (WCP) and bagasse fiber (BF) as a novel reuse procedure for waste concrete. The matrix of the composite material was applied to powder-type polyethylene (PE) to facilitate the compression molding of the gas vent. The WCP was obtained by milling siliceous waste concrete using a pot mill procedure. The main constituent of the WCP was quartz. The flexural strength and modulus of the hybrid composite material, in which BF was added to mix the powder with PE and WCP, increased with increasing BF content and exhibited a maximum value at a BF content of 30 wt. %. Next, to improve the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite material, we attempted to improve the adhesiveness between PE and BF by increasing the molding temperature. The mechanical properties of the hybrid composite material with a BF content of 40 wt. % exhibited the highest values at a molding temperature of 413 K. Furthermore, by increasing the WCP content in the hybrid composite material with a BF content of 40 wt. %, the flexural strength exhibited the maximum value at a WCP content of 20 wt. %. Therefore, it was revealed that the composite material using PE powder and WCP could be strengthened by adding BF.

Mesin compression molding merupakan alat pencetakan dengan mengkombinasikan pemanasan untuk melelehkan material plastik, serta penekanan untuk membentuk plastik dalam sebuah cetakan yang tertutup. Mesin compression molding dalam aktualnya, hanya diaplikasikan untuk industri mass production,sehingga membuat harga mesin serta biaya produksi mahal dan belum tentu dapat diaplikasikan pada industri rumahan atau Usaha Kecil Menengah (UKM). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membangun mesin compression molding untuk fabrikasi komposit peredam suara. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini yaitu Quality function deployment (QFD) dengan menggunakan tools House of Quality (HOQ) dalam menentukan kebutuhan konsumen dan spesifikasi teknis. Mekanisme kompresi yang digunakan pada penelitian ini menggunakan power pack dengan kapasitas tekan 15 ton, dengan sisetm pengeluaran produk menggunakan tuas sesuai dengan prinsip pesawat sederhana. Tekanan yang diperoleh dari mesin compression molding digunakan untuk pembuatan komposit peredam suara dengan penggunaan material limbah ban bekas dan kain polyester.

Limbah produk berbahan dasar karet sintetik dan polyester sangat sulit diurai secara alami sehingga dapat mencemari lingkungan. Solusi untuk menekan jumlah limbah tersebut yaitu mendaur ulang untuk dibentuk kembali menjadi produk lain contohnya sebagai bahan baku pembuatan komposit peredam suara dengan metode compression molding. Metode compression molding membutuhkan sebuah mold (cetakan) untuk membentuk produknya sehingga tujuan penelitian ini adalah membuat sebuah mold untuk metode compression molding. Mold cavity yang dibuat dengan material S45C memiliki dimensi diameter dalam 52,3 mm dan diameter luar 71 mm dengan tinggi 75 mm serta menggunakan sambungan baut agar dapat dilepas pasang pada base plate dengan material SS400 berukuran 250x210x35 mm. Upper punch dengan material S45C berdiameter 52,3 mm dengan tinggi 80 mm serta menggunakan sambungan baut agar dapat dilepas pasang pada upper plate dengan material SS400 berukuran 250x150x20 mm. Produk yang dibentuk berupa kepingan bundar berbahan campuran karet ban dengan serat polyester. Dari hasil percobaan produk dengan visual terbaik dicapai pada parameter suhu 160 °C dan tekanan 12 ton.

Natural fiber-reinforced composite materials are highly beneficial due to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and the compression molding process is frequently used to prepare natural fiber composites. The primary objective of the present work is to optimize the process parameters of the compression molding method to prepare luffa fiber-reinforced natural rubber composite and investigate the influence of process parameters on mechanical properties. Pre-processing parameters, specifically oven-dry temperature and time, processing parameters such as soaking temperature, time, and compression pressure, and post-processing parameters, such as oven-dry temperature and time, were considered to optimize. Natural rubber in its latex phase is utilized as a matrix material, and luffa fiber is used as reinforcement. The Plackett-Burman screening design technique was employed to identify the impact of different processing parameters on the mechanical properties of the luffa fiber-reinforced natural rubber (LNR) composite, and based on Taguchi's design of experiments, several process parameters were utilized to create L27 orthogonal array and the mentioned composites prepared accordingly. The ASTM standard is followed while testing the composite samples to determine their density, shore A hardness, and tensile strength. The density of the composite is unaffected by the process parameters; however, the shore A hardness of the composite is significantly affected. All the processing parameters most significantly impacted the tensile strength of LNR composites. The optimized process parameters for preparing LNR composite are the pre-oven temperature of 65 °C and time of 150min, the soaking temperature of 75 °C and time of 5min, compression pressure of 1.5 MPa, and the post-oven dry temperature of 55 °C and time of 45min. LNR composite can absorb energy due to its rubber matrix, making it useful for high-impact applications.

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) offer exceptional properties that make them highly relevant in the aerospace industry, such as high thermal conductivity and an outstanding strength‐to‐weight ratio. Advances in additive manufacturing have expanded the aerospace applications of CFRPs, even allowing for in‐space fabrication of complex structures. Understanding the stability of CFRPs in the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit (LEO) is crucial. LEO exposes materials to extreme environmental factors, such as vacuum, radiation, atomic oxygen, and temperature fluctuations, which can accelerate degradation. To investigate the space‐environment effect on material, changes in properties of 3D‐printed CFRPs are compared with CFRPs made through forging and conventional compression molding. Surface analyses examine morphological, chemical, and matrix composition changes, along with an evaluation of mechanical integrity. Remarkably, the naked 3D printed CFRPs withstood 8 months of LEO exposure similar to the compression molded CFRP samples, with changes in chemical properties limited to the sample's outer surface. Further, despite no protective coatings are used, limited surface erosion and no variation in mechanical strength are observed. These results provide relevant information for the development and deployment of novel 3D printed CFRPs materials for a wide spectrum of terrestrial and space applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Plastics / Zhongguo Suliao is the property of Journal Office of CHINA PLASTICS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, a nanocomposite based on a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer containing 5 wt% of nanoclays and 3 wt% of compatibilizer was formulated via melt compounding to obtain a material suitable for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) processing with enhanced flame-retardant properties. From rheological analyses, the nanocomposite showed an important increase in the non-Newtonian behavior, and, therefore, improved FFF printability compared to the pristine PP COPO. A filament with suitable characteristics for FFF was produced using a single-screw extruder and subsequently 3D printed. Finally, cone calorimeter and UL94 tests were carried out on both 3D-printed and compression-molded specimens. The obtained results showed that the 3D-printed samples exhibited even better flame-retardant properties than the compression-molded ones, thus demonstrating not only the possibility of successfully developing and using functionalized PP-based filaments in 3D printing but also the possibility of obtaining enhanced flame-retardant properties compared to conventional compression molding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional materials with high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness and thermal conductivity (TC) are an essential guarantee for the rapid advancement of next-generation electronic products. Herein, the three-dimensional porous conductive/thermal network of carbon nanotubes (CNT)/cellulose is prefabricated by "solution-gelation-solvent exchange-freeze drying". Using "impregnation and high-pressure compression molding", CNT/cellulose-boron nitride/polyvinyl alcohol (CNT/cellulose-BN/PVA) composite films with three-dimensional dual-continuous network structure are constructed to provide a perfect pathway for both electrons and phonons transportation. Comprehensive performance of the composites before and after hot-pressing including the microstructure, electrical conductivity, EMI shielding and thermal conductivity is investigated. Benefiting from the high-pressure compression molding process, the composite is densified and a close contact between fillers is achieved, which effectively improves the electrical and thermal conductivity. The finally obtained CNT/cellulose-BN/PVA composite film exhibits satisfactory EMI shielding performance, high in-plane and cross-plane TC, as well as excellent Joule heating performance, demonstrating enormous potential as high-performance EMI shielding and thermal management materials in practical applications. The significance of this work is to give an inspiration for improving the comprehensive performance of electromagnetic shielding and thermal conductive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing industrial and academic interest in manufacturing of biocomposite parts comprised of natural fibers in a thermoplastic matrix that begin as a commingled, unconsolidated preform. Unfortunately, little thermal property data exists in the literature for simulation/analysis of processes used to make parts (e.g., pultrusion, Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), and compression molding). In this paper, the authors explain how specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity values of both constituent materials and the biocomposite preform are measured in a direction transverse to the fiber length, and how the effect of entrained air is included. Thermal property values for hemp and flax fibers along with polypropylene and polyethylene filaments, measured both individually and combined into apparent values for the preforms, are compared with experimental values. Finally, determination of thermal properties for use in pultrusion simulation is explained as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicoidal composite has been found naturally existing in many species of crustaceans and it has recently raised a significant amount of interests among researchers due to its great impact performance resulted from unique fiber layup architecture. This work is focused on developing a novel bio-inspired helicoidal thermoplastic composite and studying its mechanical behaviors under different testing conditions. Continuous glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composite preforms were used for compression molding the helicoidal structure with a pitch angle of 16.3° and nonlinear pitch angle. Composites with conventional fiber layups such as 0/90 and quasi-isotropic layup sequences were also prepared and tested for comparison purpose. Various tests at different strain rates, including quasi-static test (flexural test and compression after impact test), low strain rate test (Izod impact test and drop tower impact test), and high strain rate test (Split Hopkinson pressure bar test), were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the helicoidal composites and conventional composites. The helicoidal composites showed twisting fracture pattern for deflecting cracks involving more areas for energy absorption in addition to common failure mechanisms in the Izod impact test. It was also found that the helicoidal composite showed considerably higher damage tolerance than the conventional composites in high strain rate scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the plethora of automobiles introduced in the last 2 decades, brake emissions have been a notorious contributor to overall emissions. In the present work, the low-metallic friction material is developed (for 3 samples accounting for 10 different ingredients) to reduce non-exhaust emission. The friction materials are manufactured by the compression molding method and various samples are required for physical, mechanical and tribological characterization are prepared as per ASTM standards. The tribological performance is tested by a 'pin on disc' apparatus. The tribological parameters such as speed, load and sliding distance is selected by considering for the scooter application. Taguchi Design of Experiment (DoE) is used to find optimal operating parameters. Additionally, ANOVA and regression analysis are also done. Results reveal that the wear rate is minimum at the optimal operating parameters. The average wear rate obtained from sample 3 is less than samples 1 and 2. The higher and lower wear rate and coefficient of friction for sample 3 are 0.002 and 0.00033 mg/m and 0.462 and 0.301, respectively. The morphological behaviors are studied with the help of SEM. Moreover, Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) is carried out to explore the thermal behavior of friction material samples. Results illustrate that sample 3 proves to be a potential substitute as a novel brake friction material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mechanics of Advanced & Smart Materials Journal is the property of Arak University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Researchers are increasingly focusing on natural, biodegradable materials because of environmental concerns. Although natural fibers give less strength than synthetic fibers, but they still contain some specific properties. In this paper, we studied the fire and water resistance, density, and swelling behavior of sugarcane bagasse fiber and chicken feather fiber composites using polylactic acid (E-3051D) as a matrix for different weighing fractions of fiber viz. 03%, 06%, 09%, (03 + 05)%, (06 + 05)%, (09 + 05)% and for 3 mm thickness. The 300 mm × 300 mm panels were made using the compression molding. According to ASTM standards, an investigation was carried out on several physical characteristics, including density, moisture content, water absorption, linear swelling, and a flammability test. It was observed that 3% sugarcane bagasse and 5% chicken feather fiber are better for various applications, as further increments will affect the mechanical properties. It is a combination of natural fibers and biodegradable matrix material, which makes it ecofriendly with various applications such as in automobile interiors, packaging materials, wall panels, window and door frames, and roof sheets, but limited use in bathroom and kitchen areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites based on an immiscible blend of polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyamide 12 (PA12) 50/50 wt.% with different contents of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by extrusion followed by compression molding. These materials have been proved to be electrically conductive in previous investigations for the range of filler content assayed. The morphology of the nanocomposites was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, both on cryo‐fractured and postmortem uniaxial tensile samples. Rheological measurements were performed along with differential scanning calorimetry, to assess the materials microstructure and thermal transitions. Furthermore, uniaxial tensile tests were carried out to determine mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength, and strain at break and to investigate the effect of MWCNTs on these properties. Finally, fracture tests were also conducted to evaluate how incorporating MWCNTs affected nanocomposites toughening capabilities. The obtained results suggest a notable improvement in the mechanical properties in the nanocomposites with low amounts of nanofiller. This expands their potential applications as conductive polymer composites (CPCs) and positions them as promising multifunctional materials. Highlights: CPCs based on a PA blend and MWCNTs were successfully obtained.CNTs strongly affected the blend morphology and rheological properties.CNTs significantly modified the crystallization behavior of PA6.Ductility greatly improved at low CNT contents but decreased at high loadings.Stiffness increased steadily with increasing CNT content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailored Fiber Placement is an innovative manufacturing technique that precisely positions continuous fibers in critical areas of fiber preforms for optimal structural performance. This study focuses on producing glass fiber‐reinforced polyamide composites using TFP technology and compression molding to address the durability concerns of thermoplastic matrix composites in automotive parts. The production process involved a constant temperature of 300°C, 16 bar pressure, and holding times of 270, 300, and 330 s. Short‐term thermal aging cycles were applied to simulate automotive part acclimatization. Tensile and 3‐point bending tests were conducted to evaluate mechanical properties. Statistical analysis using response surface methodology provided insights into the relationship between production parameters and mechanical properties. Differential Scanning Calorimetry characterized the composite material, and macroscopic damage analysis was performed. Results showed a potential 10% decrease in tensile strength due to short‐term thermal aging. Aging had the most significant impact on elastic modulus and tensile strength according to the Pareto chart. Flexural modulus increased, while flexural strength decreased with thermal aging. Holding time had no effect on flexural modulus but reduced flexural strength. Highlights: Glass/polyamide composites were produced by compression molding with TFP technology.Short‐term thermal aging cycles were applied on the GF‐PA6 composite material.Mechanical properties were analyzed statistically according to the RSM.TFP technique can assist OEM companies in lowering desired target cost per vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]