Advanced Composites Research Articles

Development of Wood-Based functional composites for advanced sensing and energy conversion applications

With the low carbon-driven development of modern intelligent, research towards novel materials is concentrating on the sustainable biomass-based advanced functional composites. The advanced functionalized wood toward sensing, optoelectronic devices, and energy conversion has been contributed to fast electron transport upon temperature or photo stimulus. Fast electron transport has been highly depended on the interfacial adhesion between the functional layer and wood matrix as well as graphitization degree during carbonization, which promote the electronic excitation and jumps. Here, we develop wood-based functional composites for advanced fire warning and energy conversion by loading metal–insulator transition (MIT) function factor (Ti3O5) onto different woods via liquid crosslinkers, and systematically establish the interfacial adhesion-carbonization-electron transport processes and their relationships on the sensing and photothermal conversion properties. Firstly, balsa with high porosity (pore diameter ≈50 μm), low density (0.16 g/cm3) and extractives content (total extractives content 16.27 %) facilitates crosslinker penetration due to the more holding space and lower nonpolar components. A favorable permeation can promote better interfacial adhesion, and the formation of a continuous conductive network of char-layers during carbonization. Secondly, the crosslinker (chitosan) with excellent adhesion (1 level) and char-forming ability (char residues is 21.7 %), facilitates the formation of a compact network of highly graphitized char-layers (ID/IG=0.81), which increases the electrical conductivity (highest conductivity 5.52 × 10-4 S/m). We found that the most sensitive flame trigger time (0.86 s) for fire warning and the highest evaporation flux (1.63 kg m-2h−1) for desalination can be obtained by using balsa which coupled the chitosan as well as the Ti3O5.

Development and mechanical properties evaluation of environmentally sustainable composite material using various reinforcements with epoxy

In this study, the mechanical properties of advanced composites fabricated by the hand lay-up process were investigated. The mechanical properties evaluated in this study included tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. Tensile tests were performed to measure the resistance of the composites to pulling forces, while flexural tests assessed their resistance to bending. Impact tests, on the other hand, determine the material's ability to absorb sudden forces or shocks. Results showed that all the composite materials exhibited high tensile strength, with the Carbon fiber epoxy composite displaying the highest value due to the exceptional strength of carbon fibers. In terms of flexural strength, the Glass-Fiber Polymer Matrix composite demonstrated the highest resistance to bending, while the Kevlar-Epoxy composite exhibited the highest impact strength, owing to the unique properties of Kevlar fibers, which offer excellent energy absorption capabilities. In the hardness test, the Kevlar composite to epoxy matrix showed hardness from HRB 105 to HRB 125 an increase of 19.04 %, while fiberglass increased hardness by 14.2 % and carbon fiber by 16.3 %. The Impact test shows that the Kevlar composite to epoxy matrix showed hardness from HRB 105 to HRB 125 an increase of 19.04 %, while fiberglass increased hardness by 14.2 % and carbon fiber by 16.3 %. Kevlar reinforcing composite produced the highest flexural strength, compared to neat epoxy by 91.7 %. Carbon fibre composites were 52.5 % higher, whereas glass fibre composites were 15.6 % higher. SEM imaging results from the cross-sections show that the best bonding between the base material and the fibers was observed for Kevlar reinforced with epoxy. All mechanical test showed that Kevlar (Aramid fiber) provides excellent mechanical properties when compared to carbon fibre and glass fibre. Hence, Kevlar (aramid fiber) can be an option for preparing light weight helmets, automobiles, aeronautics, safety equipments etc.

Bioinspired microstructure design simultaneously enhances strain-rate stiffening and toughening of composites

Keratinous biological materials, such as baleen, pangolin scales, and human hair, have similar constituent materials. However, their strain-rate dependent mechanical properties vary due to differences in their microstructures. Inspired by the microstructures observed in baleen, here we present novel microstructural designs of three types of lamellar-tubular fibers, namely the lamellar-tubular fiber (LTF), mineralized lamellar-tubular fiber (MLTF) and hollow mineralized-lamellar-tubular fiber (HMLTF). We systematically investigated their strain-rate dependent mechanical behaviors with comparison to the conventional cylinder-fiber (CF) reinforced composites. Through the finite element analysis (FEA), we found that the baleen-inspired composites have superior strain-rate stiffening and toughening effects than the conventional fiber reinforced composite. Rate-dependent constitutive models decoupling elastic and inelastic regimes were constructed for these bioinspired composites. Based on the FEA results, three constitutive parameters were obtained to quantitatively characterize the rate-dependent mechanical behaviors of these composites, especially the microstructure-induced difference. Furthermore, our study found that the baleen-inspired tubular microstructure improves stiffness and strain-rate stiffening through raising the stress levels of all phases and improves toughness and strain-rate toughening through enlarging the deformation in the inelastic region. This novel bioinspired design is hopeful to pave ways for the development of advanced composites with simultaneously enhanced strain-rate stiffening and toughening.

A critical assessment of the mechanical strength and radiation shielding efficiency of advanced Concrete composites and Vanadium Oxide-Glass container for enhanced nuclear waste management

The nuclear industry produces large quantities of low, intermediate, and high levels of radioactive waste, all of which require safe management during both transport and storage. This study evaluates the radiation shielding effectiveness and mechanical properties of four distinct container materials: Pb Composite Glass, 0.5 Cement-0.5 Bitumen, Concrete (Steel-Magnetite), and C9 (BCBV0.5) Vanadium Oxide-Glass. Using Monte Carlo simulations and theoretical methods, we determined the Transmission Factors (TF) and Half-Value Layers (HVL) for each material. The TF indicates the effectiveness of a material in attenuating radiation, calculated by the ratio of gamma rays exiting the material to those entering it. Lower TF values signify better radiation shielding. The HVL is the thickness of material required to reduce the intensity of gamma rays by half, with lower HVL values indicating more effective shielding. Concrete (Steel-Magnetite) demonstrated superior performance with the lowest TF values (e.g., 1.0 × 10-1 at 0.662 MeV and 1 cm thickness) and HVL values (e.g., 2.5 cm at 1.3325 MeV), alongside a high elastic modulus of 163.15 GPa, indicating its robustness for high-energy gamma-ray applications. Pb Composite Glass also showed strong performance with a TF of 9.5 × 10-2 at 0.662 MeV and 1 cm thickness, an HVL of 2.0 cm at 0.662 MeV, and an elastic modulus of 41.54 GPa. The C9 (BCBV0.5) Vanadium Oxide-Glass, with an elastic modulus of 73.79 GPa, outperformed the 0.5 Cement-0.5 Bitumen mixture in both TF (e.g., 1.15 × 10-1 at 0.662 MeV and 1 cm thickness) and HVL (e.g., 4.2 cm at 1.1732 MeV) measurements, highlighting its potential as a more effective alternative. It can be concluded that C9 (BCBV0.5) Vanadium Oxide-Glass presents promising properties for future advancements in radiation protection, warranting further research and optimization.

Effect of hole dimension on microstructure and properties of nano SiC reinforced Al7075 matrix using friction stir processing

This study examines the influence of hole diameter in friction stir processing (FSP) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al7075/nSiC nanocomposites. Experiments conducted with hole diameters of 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm show that a 3 mm hole diameter results in the finest grain size (24.6 µm), highest tensile strength (290.34 MPa), and greatest microhardness (139.42HV). Microstructural characterization confirms optimal nanoparticle distribution and grain refinement at this diameter. These findings validate the hypothesis, indicating that a 3 mm hole diameter in FSP is critical for improving the mechanical performance of Al7075/nSiC composites. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing FSP parameters to develop advanced metal matrix composites.

Bridging length scales in hard materials with ultra-small angle X-ray scattering - a critical review.

Owing to their exceptional properties, hard materials such as advanced ceramics, metals and composites have enormous economic and societal value, with applications across numerous industries. Understanding their microstructural characteristics is crucial for enhancing their performance, materials development and unleashing their potential for future innovative applications. However, their microstructures are unambiguously hierarchical and typically span several length scales, from sub-ångstrom to micrometres, posing demanding challenges for their characterization, especially for in situ characterization which is critical to understanding the kinetic processes controlling microstructure formation. This review provides a comprehensive description of the rapidly developing technique of ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS), a nondestructive method for probing the nano-to-micrometre scale features of hard materials. USAXS and its complementary techniques, when developed for and applied to hard materials, offer valuable insights into their porosity, grain size, phase composition and inhomogeneities. We discuss the fundamental principles, instrumentation, advantages, challenges and global status of USAXS for hard materials. Using selected examples, we demonstrate the potential of this technique for unveiling the microstructural characteristics of hard materials and its relevance to advanced materials development and manufacturing process optimization. We also provide our perspective on the opportunities and challenges for the continued development of USAXS, including multimodal characterization, coherent scattering, time-resolved studies, machine learning and autonomous experiments. Our goal is to stimulate further implementation and exploration of USAXS techniques and inspire their broader adoption across various domains of hard materials science, thereby driving the field toward discoveries and further developments.

An experimental-analytical investigation of particle size effect on the mode I fracture behavior of polymer/graphene nanocomposites

Due to their outstanding specific mechanical and functional properties, the engineering use of polymer nanocomposites and their carbon composites is becoming increasingly pervasive. Current and potential applications include micro- and flexible electronics, energy storage devices, and the use as reinforcement for advanced carbon fiber composites for light-weighting of aerospace and mechanical structures, thereby reducing their fuel consumption and carbon footprint. While a large amount of data and models regarding the effect of the weight fraction of nanoplatelets on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites is currently available in the literature, an aspect often overlooked is the scaling of the fracture behavior and the related particle size effects. Not only is the lack of understanding of size effects in nanomaterials hindering the full exploitation of their properties, it is also a serious issue since the design of large nanocomposite structures or small-scale electronic components requires capturing the scaling of their mechanical properties and developing predictive capabilities. This paper aims at filling this knowledge gap by proposing a novel analytical and experimental approach to investigate particle size effects in nanocomposites at and leveraging the acquired knowledge to improve their fracture properties, from the nanoscale all the way to the macroscale. To this end, crack initiation fracture toughness data for graphene/epoxy nanocomposite are presented as a function of nanoparticle size and weight fraction and compared with model predictions using a novel analytical model based on enhanced crack-tip shielding effect due to the reduced nanoparticle size. Extensive fracture test data are presented for model calibration and model verification.

Metal-Organic Framework on Fullerene (MOFOF) as a Hierarchical Composite by the Integration of Coordination Chemistry and Supramolecular Chemistry.

There is a synergy between coordination chemistry and supramolecular chemistry that has led to the development of innovative hierarchical composites with diverse functionalities. Here, we present a novel approach for the synthesis and characterization of a metal-organic framework on fullerene (MOFOF) composites, achieved through the integration of coordination chemistry and supramolecular chemistry principles. The hierarchical nature of the MOFOF harnesses the inherent properties of metal-organic frameworks and fullerenes. The two-step synthesis procedure involves controlled assembly of fullerenes as tube-like nanostructures (fullerene nanotube: FNT), their surface functionalization, and the on-surface growth of the MOF (in this case, ZIF-67). The method permits the precise tuning of morphology, effective distribution of MOF-on-FNT, and tight compositional control. The materials were comprehensively structurally characterized using electron microscopy, spectroscopic techniques, and other methods to elucidate the unique features and interactions within the MOFOF composites. The main findings reveal that the novel synthesis and characterization of MOFOF composites demonstrate the successful integration of coordination chemistry and supramolecular chemistry for the designing and fabricating of advanced hierarchical composites with tailored properties, including micro- and mesopore channels, interfacial facets, and defect sites. These properties are expected to lead to numerous potential applications such as gas storage and separation, catalysis, sensing, energy storage, and environmental remediation. However, only the capability of acid vapor sensing was tested and is described here.

Stereolithography 3D Printing of Stimuli-Responsive Spin Crossover@Polymer Nanocomposites with Optimized Actuating Properties.

We used stereolithography to print polymer nanocomposite samples of stimuli-responsive spin crossover materials in the commercial photo-curable printing resins DS3000 and PEGDA-250. The thermomechanical analysis of the SLA-printed objects revealed not only the expected reinforcement of the polymer resins by the introduction of the stiffer SCO particles, but also a significant mechanical damping, as well as a sizeable linear strain around the spin transition temperatures. For the highest accessible loads (ca. 13-15 vol.%) we measured transformation strains in the range of 1.2-1.5%, giving rise to peaks in the coefficient of thermal expansion as high as 10-3 °C-1, which was exploited in 3D printed bilayer actuators to produce bending movement. The results pave the way for integrating these advanced stimuli-responsive composites into mechanical actuators and 4D printing applications.

What About Water? Implications for Body Composition Assessment in Military Personnel.

Sergi, TE, Roberts, BM, and Heileson, JL. What About Water? Implications for Body Composition Assessment in Military Personnel. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): e534-e540, 2024-Body composition standards ensure service members maintain physical fitness, wellness, and support mission readiness. Anthropometric techniques (i.e., height/mass, circumference-based "tape test") have been the primary screening and percent body fat (%BF) assessment method in military personnel for about 4 decades. Recently, the Army and Marine Corps have implemented more advanced body composition assessment methods, such as air displacement plethysmography (ADP), multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MF-BIA), and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), to serve as supplemental %BF assessment after failing the tape test. Although supplemental assessments are intended to improve on the accuracy and precision of the tape test, preassessment standardization, specifically regarding acute water ingestion (AWI), is lacking. Thus, the purpose of this narrative review was to (a) summarize the available literature regarding the influence of AWI on body composition estimates derived from ADP, MF-BIA, and DXA and (b) provide evidence-based recommendations for researchers and practitioners. Studies indicate that AWI increases %BF estimates with ADP (4 of 6 [4/6] observations) and MF-BIA (6/7), whereas AWI increases muscle mass (6/6) and likely decreases %BF (2/3) when obtained by DXA. In conclusion, ADP, MF-BIA, and DXA are susceptible to confounding from AWI, leading to inaccurate body composition estimates that may negatively affect the careers of military personnel. Based on the findings from this narrative review, military practitioners and researchers should (a) follow manufacturer guidelines for calorie intake [food and fluid] and exercise avoidance, (b) conduct urine-specific gravity testing [if possible], and (c) limit AWI to <250 ml before assessment.

Design optimization of advanced tow-steered composites with manufacturing constraints

Tow steering technologies, such as automated fiber placement, enable the fabrication of composite laminates with curvilinear fiber, tow, or tape paths. Designers may therefore tailor tow orientations locally according to the expected local stress state within a structure, such that strong and stiff orientations of the tow are (for example) optimized to provide maximal mechanical benefit. Tow path optimization can be an effective tool in automating this design process, yet has a tendency to create complex designs that may be challenging to manufacture. In the context of tow steering, these complexities can manifest in defects such as tow wrinkling, gaps, overlaps. In this work, we implement manufacturing constraints within the tow path optimization formulation to restrict the minimum tow turning radius and the maximum density of gaps between and overlaps of tows. This is achieved by bounding the local value of the curl and divergence of the vector field associated with the tow orientations. The resulting local constraints are effectively enforced in the optimization framework through the Augmented Lagrangian method. The resulting optimization methodology is demonstrated by designing 2D and 3D structures with optimized tow orientation paths that maximize stiffness (minimize compliance) considering various levels of manufacturing restrictions. The optimized tow paths are shown to be structurally efficient and to respect imposed manufacturing constraints. As expected, the more geometrical complexity that can be achieved by the feedstock tow and placement technology, the higher the stiffness of the resulting optimized design.

Impact of stacking sequence on the thermal and electrical properties of Poly (aryl ether ketone)/glassfiber/buckypaper composites

AbstractThe current market's imperative demand necessitates the research and development of advanced polymer composites, especially those incorporating nanofillers. Carbon nanotubes, in particular, have attracted significant attention within research and development for their potential in creating multifunctional composites. This study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating carbon nanotube buckypapers (BP) on the thermal and electrical properties of poly (aryl ether ketone) (PAEK)/glass fiber (GF) composites. The BP was prepared through vacuum filtration and integrated into PAEK/GF composites with varying stacking sequences, followed by hot compression processing. The degradation behavior of the laminates was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The viscoelastic properties, evaluated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), suggested an increase in stiffness with the inclusion of BP in two of the analyzed stacking sequences. Thermal conductivity, measured via the pulse laser method, showed results comparable to the base laminate (0.153 W/m·K). Meanwhile, electrical conductivity, assessed using the four‐point probe method in the in‐plane direction, revealed semiconductor properties, achieving a mean value of 3.162 S/cm for one of the samples, indicating electrical anisotropy within the multifunctional composite material.

Simulation on fabricating graphene-coated nickel powders through micromechanical exfoliation

Fabricating graphene-coated metal powders have become a crucial method for preparing advanced composites, yet the encapsulation mechanism and mechanical behavior remain unclear. In this work, the mechanical behavior of exfoliation, encapsulation as well as the uniform dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was elucidated for the first time through molecular dynamics simulation based on a two-step three-dimensional (3D) vibration milling for fabricating graphene-coated nickel powders. The critical collision velocity for separating GNPs layer by layer was obtained and the geometric effects of bulk graphite on graphene exfoliation were analyzed. Compared to cuboid graphite, collisions between nickel powders and spherical graphite were prone to the exfoliation of few-layer graphene. A comprehensive experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of geometry on the exfoliation of graphene. These results suggest that the cuboid graphite is prone to obtaining graphite sheets rather than few-layer graphene, leading to the formation of GSs/Ni composite powders. While the GNPs coated nickel powders are obtained after the two-step 3D vibration milling via spherical graphite. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the preparation of graphene-coated nickel powders via micromechanical exfoliation.

Magnetically circular layered triboelectric nanogenerators by advanced self-sensing composites

Magnetically circular layered triboelectric nanogenerators by advanced self-sensing composites

Biomimetic Mechanical Robust Cement-Resin Composites with Machine Learning-Assisted Gradient Hierarchical Structures.

Biological materials relying on hierarchically ordered architectures inspire the emergence of advanced composites with mutually exclusive mechanical properties, but the efficient topology optimization and large-scale manufacturing remain challenging. Herein, this work proposes a scalable bottom-up approach to fabricate a novel nacre-like cement-resin composite with gradient brick-and-mortar (BM) structure, and demonstrates a machine learning-assisted method to optimize the gradient structure. The fabricated gradient composite exhibits an extraordinary combination of high flexural strength, toughness, and impact resistance. Particularly, the toughness and impact resistance of such composite attractively surpass the cement counterparts by factors of approximately 700 and 600 times, and even outperform natural rocks, fiber-reinforced cement-based materials and even some alloys. The strengthening and toughening mechanisms are clarified as the regional-matrix densifying and crack-tip shielding effects caused by the gradient BM structure. The developed gradient composite not only endows a promising structural material for protective applications in harsh scenarios, but also paves a new way for biomimetic metamaterials designing.

Three‐dimensional (3D) woven flax fiber/polylactic acid (PLA) composites for high flexural strength

AbstractThree dimensional (3D) textiles are preferable reinforcing materials for composites with lightweight and higher mechanical properties. In this study, a 3D woven flax fiber reinforced PLA composite with better flexural and tensile properties was developed. Four hybrid yarns with varied PLA contents were prepared as warp, weft and z‐yarns to weave the 3D preform and then changed to composites through compression molding technology without additional fillers and matrixes. The composite's flexural and tensile properties were studied and an optimum value of 78.0 and 140.0 MPa respectively were found. Stress strain properties were also discussed which implies the flexural elongation is higher than those of tensile values. The microstructure was analyzed using optical microscope and SEM equipment's showed composites with higher PLA content were more brittle due to the PLA inimitable behavior. The thermal properties of the 3D composites made with different Flax/PLA combinations have closer and comparable values. One way ANOVA statistical analysis was done to show the significancy of PLA /Flax mass ratio, which has a significant effect on composite's properties. This study could bring a novel procedural approach for an advanced 3D woven composites for load bearing applications.Highlights 3D woven flax /PLA composite was developed using Flax/PLA hybrid yarns Tensile and flexural properties were studied Flexural strength increases with PLA, but, slightly lower in its strain PLA/Flax mass ratio has a significant effect on composite's properties The mechanical strengths were improved compared to the related findings

Enhanced EMI shielding effectiveness of green Eucommia ulmoides gum composites through heterogeneous and crystalline structures

In order to mitigate the increasing severity of electromagnetic interference (EMI), it is imperative to develop advanced rubber composites. Despite recent advancements in structural design and filler hybridization for enhancing their EMI shielding performance, challenges persist in terms of suboptimal mechanical properties and intricate processing techniques. To overcome these limitations, bio-based Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) composites with segregated network structures were fabricated by simple mechanical blending, capitalizing on the characteristics of highly cross-linked rubbers with restricted molecular chains. Highly cross-linked EUG (HCE) effectively segregated the conductive fillers into the EUG phase, while the crystallization of EUG promoted the dispersion of fillers within the amorphous region of the EUG. Therefore, a highly efficient 3D conductive network was formed due to the segregated structure and crystallization, enabling the EUG/HCE/CNT composite to achieve an exceptional shielding effectiveness (SE) value of 83.0 dB with a high absorption loss ranging from 8.2 GHz to 12.4 GHz.

Optimization of the VARTM Process for Prototyping a Bumper Using Hybrid Composite Materials

To provide an alternative for manufacturing auto parts using composite materials, the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process was utilized to prototype the bumper for the Chevrolet Aveo vehicle. This technique emerges as an alternative for composite material manufacturing, allowing for rapid and high-quality production of advanced composites. In this study, a hybrid composite material reinforced with fiberglass, cabuya fiber, IN2 epoxy resin, an infusion mesh, peel ply, and a vacuum bag was employed. To optimize the VARTM process in bumper prototyping, several simulations of resin flow were conducted with different locations of resin injection and vacuum entry points. Autodesk Moldflow Insight software facilitated the modification and addition of resin injection points to observe the flow evolution, thus determining the filling time for each proposed design. Six different designs were applied for the bumper mold filling. The proposed linear flow design reduced the total filling time of the bumper mold by 81.56% compared to the other five designs analyzed. The result of the numerical simulation was validated through the experimental process, where a high degree of concordance in the mold filling time was achieved between both methods.

Novel Reactive Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane-Reinforced and Toughened Epoxy Resins for Advanced Composites.

Most toughening methods for epoxy resins are usually used at the expense of other properties. Some polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) with both a rigid Si-O-Si structure and flexible organic chain segments could be expected to be effective toughening agents. In this study, three reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes with a thiol group (OMPPS), a carboxyl group (OCOPS), and an epoxy group (OGCPS) were synthesized and characterized. They were utilized as modifiers to toughen 3-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)-N,N-bis(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)aniline (AFG-90MH)/4,4'-methylenebis(2-ethylaniline) (MOEA) (epoxy resin) with different molar ratios to obtain hybrid resins named OMPPS-EP-i, OCOPS-EP-j, and OGCPS-EP-k. The effects of the amount of modifier added and the length of the organic chain on the cage structure on various properties of the hybrid resins were investigated. The results show that all three modifiers show good compatibility with the epoxy resin. The hybrid resins have a low viscosity at 45~85 °C and can be cured at a low temperature (110 °C). The cured hybrid resins display improved toughness. Typically, the critical stress intensity factor (KIC) and impact strength of OGCPS-EP-0.6-C are 2.54 MPa∙m-1/2 and 19.33 kJ∙m-2, respectively, which increased by 58.75% and 22.48% compared with the pristine epoxy resin, respectively. In addition, the glass transition temperature and flexural strength of the hybrid resins are basically unchanged.

Development and Characterization of Pineapple Leaf Fibre Reinforced with Graphene and Fibre Glass Composites for Aerospace Application

Natural fibre-based compositessuch as Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)are valued for their environmental friendliness and unique properties, can be combined with graphene and glass fibres to create advanced aerospace composites. This study investigates the effects of graphene content and PALF composition on the mechanical properties of the composite. PALF is made using environmentally friendly methods, with graphene treated for better integration and fibre glass added through layering. This study compares the strength and flexibility of two samples with different PALF-to-fibreglass ratios: 50:50 and 70:30, and one sample with a 70:30 PALF-to-fibreglass ratio reinforced with 1% graphene, using tensile and flexural tests. The 70:30 composition ratio results in a lower maximum tensile strength and Young’s modulus, but a higher bending stress than the 50:50 ratio due to the higher volume of PALF in the sample. 70:30 PALF/fibreglass reinforced with 1% graphene is stiffer, resulting in a higher Young’s modulus compared to the sample without graphene. There is a slight decrease in flexural strength for the 70:30 PALF/fibreglass ratio reinforced with 1% graphene, while still maintaining superior bending stress strength compared to 50:50 ratio compositions. From the SEM test, PALF/fibreglass samples exhibited fibre pull-out, while 70:30 samples reinforced with graphene showed fibre breakage. Graphene enhanced the bonding between fibres and resins, leading to the breakage.Without graphene, weaker bonding led to fibre pull-out. Therefore, the PALF/fibreglass reinforced with graphene has the potential for aerospace applications, particularly in components subjected to high bending stress, such as aircraft wings or the horizontal tail.