Papers by Keyword: Polyester

Abstract: Environmental advantages and remarkable performance can be achieved by using ramie fibers, which demonstrates the enormous potential in fiber reinforced composites. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of chemical treatment on water absorption, thickness swelling, and hardness behavior of polyester/ramie composites. Natural fibers that were not treated or treated were prepared in unidirectional orientation, and the vacuum infusion technique was used to manufacture the composites. Comparing composites treated with both oxalic acid and alkali to untreated ramie fibers, the composites resistance to water absorption was increased by 94.68%. The evaluation of thickness swelling also revealed that the combination treatment exhibited the lowest percentage of dimension expansion. The thickness swelling of the polyester/ramie composite was reduced by 32.58% as a result of the ramie fibers being immersed in subsequent alkali and oxalic acid solutions. The findings of the Shore D Hardness test showed that after the samples were soaked for 312 hours, there was a decrease in hardness, where the smallest found in the treated samples.

Abstract: A hybrid composite is a combination of two or more reinforced in a matrix. Hybrid composite will give better properties as compared to individual fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This research aims to study the effect of different fiber layer orientations on the properties of hybrid kenaf/fiberglass polyester matrix composite. Two types of the composite were produced which are Sample 1, the fiber layer orientation is fiberglass, kenaf fiber, kenaf fiber and fiberglass (FG-K-K-FG), and Sample 2, the fiber layer orientation is fiberglass, kenaf fiber, fiberglass, and kenaf fiber (FG-K-FG-K). The composite is manufactured using the hand lay-up technique and hot pressed. 50 g of unsaturated polyester resin and 12 g of hardener, Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) were mixed and applied on top of every layer of fiber before being compressed at 100°C for 10 minutes. The properties of the hybrid composite were determined by completing five types of tests which are tensile test, impact test, water absorption test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that Sample 2 (FG-K-FG-K) has higher tensile strength compared to Sample 1 (FG-K-K-FG) with the value of 30.97 MPa and 0.23 MPa respectively. For the water absorption test, Sample 1 (FG-K-K-FG) with a value of 239.21% has the highest water absorption properties compared to Sample 2 (FG-K-FG-K) with a value of 180.22%. Samples 1 and 2 have no obvious differences in terms of their thermal stability characteristics for the TGA test. For SEM, it is observed that both samples showed an attachment of adhesive between fiber layers and matrix. The overall conclusion is Sample 2 (FG-K-FG-K) has high mechanical properties but needs improvement for low water absorption.

Abstract: The current technological need is the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable composites. It seeks to increase the use of natural resources to engineer composite materials to be better than before. This study aims to analyze the effect of ramie fiber orientation for ramie composites (in this study 45⁰ and 0⁰) on tensile strength and impact strength and find the best orientation angle with higher power and impact value than the other fiber angles on ramie composite. The fiber used in this study was ramie fiber, and the matrix used was Yukalac 157 BQTN-EX polyester resin. This research method uses the experimental process of conducting experiments and testing. The results showed that the 0⁰ angle direction composite achieved the highest average tensile strength value of 54.3 N/mm², and the impact strength showed the highest average impact strength value of 0.0168 J/mm², performed by the 0⁰ composites.

Abstract: Due to the growing demand of the textile market, the production of synthetic fibers like polyester (PET), has been increasing compared to any other existing fiber group. However, this type of fiber has its own disadvantages, the main one being its hydrophobic nature. To improve its properties, it was sought to develop a chemical functionalization. This process consisted of three steps, the first one being the cleaning of the polyester with hydrochloric acid, followed by a subsequent hydrolysis of the textile substrate in an alkaline medium in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The last phase, that concerns the textile substrate functionalization with poly (vinyl alcohol), more commonly known as PVA, was made by a process of exhaustion at different pH values (3, 6, and 10), followed by a curing, which allowed the formation of bonds between the PVA and the polyester fibers and consequently improve polyester properties, namely the hydrophilicity, presenting a contact angle of 0º. This process of functionalization of the polyester with PVA at acidic pH, led to very promising results since a significant improvement of its properties was obtained. The functionalized and original polyester samples were further characterized through the application of several techniques, such as SEM, FTIR-ATR and differential scanning calorimetry DSC. These characterization techniques allowed to prove that the textile substrates were effectively modified. It can be concluded that, properties such as, contact angle, tensile strength, air permeability, coefficient of friction and water vapor permeability, were substantially improved by the functionalization of the polyester fabric with PVA.

Abstract: Addition of Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) as filler in to Unsaturated Polyester (UPR) polymer can enhanced the properties of the composite. UPR and MCC was prepared using sonication mixing technique at various loading of (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt %) of MCC at a constant of 60 minutes of sonication. UPR and MCC was mixed in a vial bottle and then immersed in sonication bath for the sonication process. Once the sonication completed, the mixture was added with Methyl Ethylene Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) as curing agent, coated on steel plate and was left for curing process of 7 days. The coating was studied for adhesion, mechanical and corrosive properties using pencil hardness, adhesion tape and immersion tests. 4 wt% of loading showed improvement in mechanical properties where form H grade to 4H grade. It is also recorded there are improvement of adhesion test from 1B grade 35-65% pulled out to 4B grade which is less than 5 % pulled. From the immersion test, it shown that 4 wt % of loading has a good corrosion resistant as compared to the control sample. Thus, it was concluded that 4 wt % of loading filler is suitable to be used because it promotes a better mechanical and adhesion properties and also good corrosion resistant compared to other loading percentage.

Abstract: The antimicrobial functionalization of polyester fabrics (PES) is useful to provide protection from pathogens and reducing odors. Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been widely applied due to their antimicrobial properties and higher biocompatibility compared with other metal nanoparticles. However, the inherent instability of CuNPs under atmospheric conditions and the use of harmful chemicals during their synthesis limit their use. Thus, the development of efficient and safe methods for the CuNPs synthesis and their stabilization onto surfaces present high interest. In this work, PES was functionalized with CuNPs via in situ synthesis using cost-effective and safe chemicals in the presence and absence of chitosan. In sample without chitosan, the CuNPs showed a suitable stabilization onto PES due to the doubled stabilization of ascorbic acid (AA) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). In sample with chitosan, less CuNPs were retained by the PES but also less CuNPs agglomeration was observed. Both samples presented excellent antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as well as laundering durability.

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to study the mechanical and morphology of sugarcane bagasse (SGB) reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) composites by utilizing a different percentage of fibre contents and different chemical treatments on fibres. Sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester resin composites have been prepared using the compression molding technique. To enhance better adhesion between fibre and matrix, the SGB was chemically treated with alkaline (NaOH) solution and silane solution for 2 hours. The characterization of mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength, and tensile and flexural modulus of SGB-UPR composites were studied and compared. The incorporation of the alkaline + silane treatment of SGB resulted in better tensile and flexural properties of composites than untreated or alkaline-only treated SGB composites. Overall, it can be seen that the 5 % of fibre treated with NaOH + silane treatment showed the best results for tensile and flexural properties. Surfaces of cracked composites were observed using SEM and treated SGB showed better interfacial adhesion with matrix rather than the untreated SGB. Chemical treatment plays an important in enhancing the interfacial adhesion of fibre and matrix in composites.

Abstract: The urgency of improving the performance properties of concrete, as the most common building materials, is noted. The reasons for the increased demand for products made of high-strength gas-filled concrete are stated. It is shown that the current volume of polymer fibers production makes it possible to predict the possibility of their widespread use in construction. The information on the physical and mechanical properties of synthetic fiber, which is important for its successful use as dispersed reinforcement of foam concrete mixtures, is presented. The technology of manufacturing experimental samples and methods of their testing are described. It has been established that the introduction of any synthetic fiber into the foam mixture formulation improves the structural properties of foam concrete, however, the measure of efficiency depends on the ratio between the concrete moduli of elasticity and fiber. The greater the value of the elastic modulus of the fiber used, the higher the technical effect of its use in fiber-reinforced concrete for structural purposes can be.

Abstract: Composite is a material that combines two or more materials that basically dissimilar chemical or physical properties from one another. In this research, we used Acropora coral reef waste particulate and Resin Polyester BQTN type 157 with Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) 1% as the hardener. The Hand Lay-Up molding technique is used in the process of making the material. The tensile and flexure test is done according to the ASTM D3090 and ASTM D790 – 03 standards. The purpose of this research is to discover the means to produce a composite enhanced by Acropora coral reef waste with polyester matrix and to learn the tensile and flexure strength from the Acropora coral reef waste particulate-enhanced polyester composites with mass fraction varieties of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. The tensile test result of Acroporal coral reef waste particulate with polyester matrix yields average tensile strength at mass fraction variety of 40% with a score of 19,66 MPa, with an Modulus score of 636,75 MPa. The flexure test result of Acropora coral reef waste particulate with polyester matrix yields average flexure stress at mass fraction variety of 40% with a score of 112,56 MPa, with an average Elastic Modulus score of 3098,96 MPa.

Abstract: The key focus of this work was to examine the effect of hybrid fiber reinforcement on thethermal properties of particulate based natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites. Banana and sisal fiberswere selected as natural fiber reinforcements for the polyester matrix based composites, which wereproduced by mechanical stir mix technique. Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier-TransformInfrared Spectroscopy (FTIS) were conducted in accordance with American Society for Testing andMaterials (ASTM) standards for the characterization of the hybrid composites. The FTIS result shows thedisappearance of 1735 cm-1 peak, a notable evidence of NaOH treatment. The thermal analysis showedthat the hybridization significantly affected the high temperature stability of the composite, with 70%Sisal/30%Banana found to have the lowest high temperature mass loss at a temperature of 300–520oC, thushighest high temperature stability. Derivative Thermogravimetry (DTG) results shows a minor mass lossrate at a temperature range of 50–150oC as well as a major mass loss rate due to pyrolysis of key fiberconstituents such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin between 260 and 350oC. Also it was observed thatas the percentage of banana in the hybrid fiber increases the speed of high temperature mass loss reduces.