Papers by Keyword: Natural Fibre

Abstract: Emerging trends in extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) focus on improving the mechanical performance of pristine polymers with high strength reinforcing materials. Prominent reviews have indicated a heavy dependence on PLA polymer for fused deposition Modeling (FDM) based studies. To promote biodegradability, the effect of natural fibres as reinforcement has been widely researched in the literature. However, it is noted that discontinuous natural fibre reinforcement yields negative or negligible improvement in the strength and modulus of FDM-based biocomposites. Hence, an attempt to hybridise FDM with a conventional composite manufacturing method was made in this study by cladding natural fibre reinforcement over FDM-based polymer. Tensile and flexural test coupons were additively manufactured by FDM and reinforced with a skin of bi-directional woven basalt fibre through compression moulding. A 90% improvement in tensile strength and a similar significant increase in flexural strength was observed. Further, an average increment of 46.38% and 237.24% in tensile and flexural modulus, respectively, was achieved through this manufacturing technique. In conclusion, a drastic improvement in mechanical performance can be obtained through the hybridisation of manufacturing methods and needs further investigation towards the compatibility of adhesive materials with FDM polymers.

Abstract: Eco-friendly materials are being developed as population change into more aware of the coincidental damage subordinated by synthetic materials. Research investigators have spoken a strong appetite to develop materials capable of replacing synthetic materials. As a result, there has been an increase in exigency for natural fibre-based composites in commercial applications in recent years. Natural fibres are long-lasting materials found in nature that have advantages like renewability, biodegradability, lightweight, high specific characteristics and low cost. To meet client needs in a timely manner, Within the framework of the product design process, the selection of materials should be finished, according to the concurrent engineering strategy. Due to competing requirements, Inappropriate material choice frequently causes untimely failures, which causes large losses. To deal with this objective, selection process of natural fibre for long lasting composites becomes significant. Hence, correct decision-making tool ought to be used. This paper focuses on selection of natural fibre by using CODAS technique. This technique plays a significant role in sensible managing. Since the selection of natural fibre among eight alternatives and six criteria, it was observed that Basalt is best natural for long lasting composites followed by flax and Kenaf respectively when compared with multi-objective optimization and ratio analysis (MOORA) technique.

Abstract: The utilization of environmentally sustainable agro-waste as Natural fibers (NF) for reinforcement in polymer bio-composites has opened up a new path for materials development. Investigation has advocated that alterations of fiber surface by either physical or chemical techniques, enhances the efficacy of NF reinforced polymer composite. plantain (Musa paradisiacal) fiber (PF) isolated from plantain pseudo steam was treated with potassium permanganate in acetone in this investigation. Using a manual lay-up and compression moulding approach, modified and unmodified fibers were employed to manufacture a NF/polyester resin bio-composite. Surface morphology shows surface roughness of PF surface after treatments. The plantain fiber bio-composites (PFB) reinforced with modified fiber shows improvement in mechanical strength under optimal conditions, providing possibilities and durability for use in technical and structural

Abstract: For material engineers, greater consumption of fuel by the aviation and automobile sector is a greater challenge. Based on this scenario, exploration towards the generation of new engineering materials which are lighter with superior mechanical properties in the field of aviation and automobile sector is found to be important. Reduce the fuel utilization up to 70% in the above mentioned sectors is the 2025 universe vision. According to substantial reports, eco-friendly products can be refined from natural fiber composites. Tribological characteristics of NaOH treated chopped abaca fiber reinforced epoxy composites were discussed in this paper. Using compression moulding technique, NaOH treated chopped abaca fiber reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated by varying the abaca fiber volume fraction to 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, and 25 wt%. Pin-on-disk wear testing machine is used in this study for the dry sliding wear test at different loads of 10N, 15N and 20N. The wear test sample results were compared with neat epoxy composites. The composites containing abaca fiber shows better tribological characteristics than the neat epoxy composites. The investigation results shows that wear results of the composites can be very much influenced by the speed, sliding distance and applied load. 25wt% of abaca fibre volume fraction composites was found to be the optimum value.

Abstract: Nypa fruticans or locally known as nipah palm is extracted from its fronds to determine its potential as reinforcement in polymer composites. The objective of this paper is to investigate the method to extract nipah palm fiber from its fronds and to determine its diameter and density. Two extraction methods were tested; they are the dry and wet method. The dry method is where the fronds are dried under hot sun and the wet method is where the fronds were soaked in water prior to extraction. The extraction process found that nipah palm has two types of potential fiber suitable for reinforcement, coarse (fiber A) and fine fiber (fiber B). Both extraction methods are able to produce these two fibers. Both methods are discussed extensively in this paper. The diameter of fiber A and B were 0.53±0.06 mm and 0.039±0.08 mm respectively. Distribution of the fibers was measured using optical microscope. The densities of the fibers were measured using pycnometer method and the densities were 1.00 g/cm³ and 0.89 g/cm³ for fiber A and B.

Abstract: This work aims to study the wear resistance of composite materials that mainly differ in the fibre typologies used as reinforcement. In detail hemp, glass and carbon fibres in form of woven fabric were used. For the production of the composite materials, an epoxy resin was used as matrix, and the vacuum infusion process was adopted. In order to compare the tribological behaviour of the manufactured composites, a detailed experimental campaign, including tribological tests and microgeometrical measurements, was carried out. In particular, the tribological behaviour was studied through the pin-on-disk tests conducted at 210 mm/s as peripheral speed under 50 N as applied load testing both the composite and the single un-impregnated fabrics. These tests were followed by microgeometrical measurements in order to critically observe the wear tracks, evaluate their depth, width and volume and then to calculate the final less of volume. The tests results showed a good and interesting behaviour of composite materials reinforced with hemp fibres.

Abstract: The quality of composite materials based on natural fibres is highly influence by humidity content of the fibres. For a high product quality in the resin-transfer-moulding (RTM) process a constant humidity content has to be achieved. As the humidity content of the fibres can change relative quickly depending on the humidity, measuring humidity content in the mould is beneficial. Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy (NIR) is a widely used tool for humidity content measurement allowing determination of the moisture content within seconds. To do so a calibration model with good accuracy is required. To generate the calibration model a dry flax woven fabric is placed in a climate chamber and weight change is recorded as well as NIR-Spectra. By correlating the spectra with the weight increase a model can be developed allowing to assign the spectra with unknown weight. This allows not only monitoring the moisture content of natural fibres with in the mould. Also can the moisture content reduced to an aspired value by applying vacuum to the preheated mould, before starting the resin infusion.

Abstract: In this paper, we present the experimental and numerical modelling for the mechanical behaviour of woven composites reinforced with fique (furcraea selloa) fibre, for different fique fibre woven configurations embed in an R744 epoxy matrix. The woven configurations are taken from commercial models and their mechanical properties validated by experimental data. We perform experimental tests using ASTM D3039 for the tensile response. We obtain values for Young’s modulus, ultimate strength, and deformation of unidirectional and woven reinforced composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used for the fractographic analysis of the reinforced specimens. For the numerical model of the woven composite, we use the Texgen software to define the finite element voxel model and to estimate orthotropic mechanical parameters. Then, we determine the equivalent elastic properties of the composite, according to the materials and the fibre-matrix relations. We compare and validate the numerical results with the experimental data. We obtain stress and strain fields for the yarns and the matrix. The objective of this work is to establish a baseline of the mechanical behaviour of these natural reinforced composites to propose applications for structural engineering.

Abstract: Material selection is one of the crucial stages in design and development process which depend on various physical, mechanical and manufacturing properties. To increase the success probability of the product, the designer needs to decide the suitable material. Therefore, to increase the reliability of the product, entropy method could be applied to determine the importance of criteria for the material used. Entropy method is a highly reliable and can be adjusted to information measurement to determine weighting criteria in decision making environment. Weighting criteria of material play a very significant role in the ranking results of the material selection. Therefore, the aim of this study is to utilise entropy method to rank the main criteria of the natural fibre used in fibre metal laminate panel for car front hood design. It is important to define the main criteria of materials during the material selection process to prevent any mechanical failure and to control the raw material cost. Most of the fibre metal laminate in the market utilise synthetic fibre, while natural fibre is rarely explored. Entropy method was applied to determine the main criteria weighting of natural fibre using five criteria. The result showed the highest rank to the lowest rank for the main criteria is density, stiffness, water absorption, cost and finally availability.

Abstract: This research work investigates the effect of using alkaline-treated continuous long pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) as reinforcement in bio-based poly lactic acid (PLA) polymer biocomposite. Alkaline treatment using NaOH solution was employed to improve the fiber-matrix adhesion, with the aim to enhance the mechanical properties of the biocomposites, in terms of its tensile and impact properties. In this study, both the plain PLA polymer and the PALF reinforced PLA biocomposites were prepared using compression moulding process. Thin films with nominal thickness of approximately 1 mm each were stacked in between continuous long PALF fibers prior to compression moulding via hot press machine to form biocomposites plate. Two types of mechanical testing were performed, i.e., tensile test (ASTM D3039) and impact test (ASTM D6110). Significant enhancements are observed when the plain PLA were reinforced with the PALF long fiber, with the biocomposites showing two times better the tensile strength and modulus, with the values of approximately 73.26 MPa in comparison to only about 34.85 MPa for the plain PLA and tensile modulus of approximately 2735.36 MPa in comparison to 1641.12 MPa for the plain PLA. The energy absorption of the biocomposites also showed promising results with a value of approximately 0.92 J/cm² in comparison to only about 0.35 J/cm² for the plain PLA. In addition, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to scrutinize morphology of the PALF reinforced PLA biocomposites.