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The usage of new cellulosic fibers in industrial applications is massive because of its excellent performances. These fibers are utilized especially for manufacture of high-performance composites. Coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fibers are extracted for leaf sheath of coconut tree. The aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using a natural fiber CLS as an alternative for polymer composites. In the current study, the consequence of NaOH treatment on structural, thermal and morphological behavior of treated and untreated coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fiber in terms of single fiber tensile strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (×RD), ther)mogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) has been explored. From SEM analysis, it was identified globular lumps spread consistently over the fiber which could help the mechanical interlock with the resin. The outcomes from the experimentation exposed that the NaOH treatment has impacted in the eradication of amorphous hemicellulose and lignin contents from the CLS fiber surface and in turn resulted in excellent structural and thermal stability behaviour of fiber. The present work endorses the great potential of CLS fibers to be utilized for bio-reinforcement in order to fabricate lightweight composite structures, employed in automobile and structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to evaluate the effect of stacking sequence on impact properties of polymer hybrid composites comprising randomly oriented Phoenix pusilla leaf fibers (PPFs), woven E-glass, and carbon fabrics. The PPFs were treated with 6% (w/v) NaOH solution for a period of 45 min. The composite laminates are produced through manual hand lay-up method by arranging treated PPFs, E-glass, and carbon fabrics in different layering sequences and impact and interlaminar shear strength properties were evaluated. The results showed that hybrid composites with carbon as outer layers exhibit an improved impact and an interlaminar strength property as compared to remaining hybrid laminates. Scanning electron microscopy investigation was also carried out on the fractured specimens in this work. This work is a part of exploring the use of hybrid composite prepared for some potential engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have recently gained popularity as useful models for grouping, clustering, and analysis in a wide range of fields. An ANN is a kind of machine learning (ML) model that has become competitive with traditional regression and statistical models in terms of useability. Lightweight composite materials have been acknowledged to be the suitable materials, and they have been widely implemented in various industrial settings due to their adaptability. In this research exploration, hybrid composite materials using Al2618 reinforced with B4C and Gr were prepared and then evaluated for hardness and wear behavior. Reinforced alloys have a higher (approximately 36%) amount of ceramic phases than unreinforced metals. With each B4C and Gr increase, the wear resistance continued to improve. It was found that microscopic structures and an appearance of homogenous particle distribution were observed with an electron microscope, and they revealed a B4C and Gr mixed insulation surface formed as a mechanically mixed layer, and this served as an effective insulation surface that protected the test sample surface from the steel disc. The ANN and Taguchi results confirm that load contributed more to the wear rate of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In past decades researchers found many difficulties while providing environmentally supportive materials for product making. Natural fibers possess many advantages over synthetic fibers such as ease of availability, bio-degradability, low cost, lesser density, minimal health hazards, and eco-friendly in nature. Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are the new innovative class of sustainable materials having good mechanical properties for practical applications. Further to increase the performance of a composites, researchers pointed out that using filler materials essentially increases the mechanical properties and in turn minimizes the organic contents in the composite laminates. This literature outlines the effect of natural fillers on the fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites and also discusses on physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties in terms of XRD, FTIR and SEM characterization. The main motive of this article is to discuss the different combinations of materials along with natural fillers and to assess their suitability for potential engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experimental investigation focuses on the development of Areca/Sisal/Carbon reinforced epoxy hybrid composites under various stacking sequences and involves the assessment of their mechanical and morphological properties to evaluate their use in some railway interior applications. Nine different combinations of laminates were prepared by using the manual hand layup technique. Mechanical experiments such as tensile, flexural, impact, inter‐laminar shear strength and hardness tests were performed and the results envied the positive values which suggest the use of composites prepared in the study to be employed in some railway interior parts. The morphology of the composites was scrutinized using scanning electron microscopy and exposed the proper agglomeration of fibers in the matrix which in turn has influenced better mechanical properties. The experimental results convey that the hybridization of natural and synthetic fibers in polymer matrix would be an exciting prospect to be utilized in some railway interior applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite industry was attracted by natural fiber reinforced polymer materials for various valuable engineering applications due to its ecofriendly nature, less cost, and enhanced mechanical and thermal properties. This present work aimed at incorporating sisal and kevlar woven fabrics with the epoxy matrix and studying the effect of Pongamia pinnata shell powder on the sisal/kevlar hybrid composite. Six different laminates were prepared using hand layup method with filler percentage varying 2, 4, and 6 wt%. The prepared laminates cut according to the ASTM standards for performing different mechanical tests. Results reveal that the reduction of void percentage was observed at higher filler contents, while the incorporation of kevlar fabric enhances the impact strength by 279%, tensile strength by 89.77%, and tensile modulus value by 2% in comparison with pure natural fabric laminate L‐1. The flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength were higher for 2% filler composites, while the highest flexural modulus and hardness values were observed for 6% filler‐filled composites. The water absorption percentage was maximum for sisal laminate L‐1 and minimum for kevlar laminate L‐2. The fractured tensile and flexural specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bio‐fiber‐based hybrid composites in various commercial engineering applications is increasing day by day due to their biodegradability and versatile characteristics. Hence, in the present research investigation, an attempt has been made to scrutinize the mongrelizing possessions under different laminate stacking arrangement concerning Phoenix pusilla fibers (PPFs)/E‐glass woven/carbon woven fabric‐reinforced epoxy composite laminates through the studies of density, void fraction, and different mechanical strength behavior evaluation of five resulting diverse hybrid composite laminates. The hybrid laminates were prepared by manual hand lay‐up technique. The scrutinization of physical and mechanical properties and the study of fractured surfaces specify noteworthy improvement in density, void fraction, tensile properties, flexural properties, and microhardness properties of PPFs/E‐glass/carbon fabrics‐reinforced hybrid epoxy composites. The overall results conferred that the composite laminates fabricated in the present study could be potentially used in medium load structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the fabrication of nZVI by the wet chemical technique in the presence of ethanol using ferric iron and sodium borohydride as the reducing agents under ambient conditions. The obtained nZVI particles are mainly in a zero-valent oxidation state and do not undergo significant oxidation for several weeks. The structural and morphological parameters of nZVI were investigated by using UV, XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, and DLS analysis. The optical nature, bandgap energy, and absorption edge were all revealed by the UV–visible spectrum. The phase development and crystallinity of nZVI particles were shown by the XRD pattern. The morphological investigation revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical with an average size of 34–110 nm by using ImageJ software, and the elemental analysis was analyzed using EDX. Furthermore, the catalytic treatment performance of domestic wastewater was evaluated in terms of pH, COD (chemical oxygen demand) solubilization, total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), phosphorous, and total nitrogen (TN) reduction under aerobic and anaerobic operating conditions. The effluent was subjected to a process evaluation with a different range (100–500 mg/L) of nZVI dosages. The COD solubilization and suspended solids reduction were significantly improved in the anaerobic condition in comparison to the aerobic condition. Furthermore, the effect of nZVI on phosphorous (PO43−) reduction was enhanced by the electrons of iron ions. The high concentration of nZVI dosing has a positive impact on COD solubilization and phosphorous removal regardless of the aeration condition with 400 mg/L of nZVI dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]