Fabric Composites Research Articles

Thickening effect of shear thickening fluid under normal loading to improve stab resistance of shear thickening fluid–fabric composite

Thickening effect of shear thickening fluid under normal loading to improve stab resistance of shear thickening fluid–fabric composite

Research on foldable two-matrix 3D braided composites: Manufacturing and bending progressive damage

Research on foldable two-matrix 3D braided composites: Manufacturing and bending progressive damage

Utilizing photodeposition to fabricate micro-nano structured microcapsules for enhancing mechanical and high-temperature tribological performance of fabric composites

Fabric composite materials face significant challenges in maintaining excellent tribological properties at high temperatures. This study employed photodeposition to deposit gold (Au) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles on the surface of titanium dioxide-coated jojoba oil microcapsules (TiO2 @jojoba), yielding micro-nanostructured Au-TiO2 @jojoba and Cu-TiO2 @jojoba microcapsules. Subsequently, microcapsules participated in the in-situ polymerization of polyimide (PI), serving as crosslinking points in PEEK/PTFE fabric-reinforced composites. PEEK/PTFE-Au composites containing Au-TiO2 @jojoba microcapsules exhibited outstanding tribological and mechanical properties. Compared to microcapsule-free samples, PEEK/PTFE-Au composites showed a 30.26 % reduction in friction coefficient at 250 °C and a 24.28 % increase in tensile strength. In addition, mechanistic studies indicated that TiO2 underwent a friction chemical reaction converting to TiNF during friction accompanying by friction-induced phase transitions. The release of jojoba oil during friction and the occurrence of friction chemical reactions were the main friction reduction mechanisms of PEEK/PTFE-Au composites at high temperatures.

A flexible, soft superabsorbent polyester-cotton blended fabric in-situ coated by poly(sodium acrylate-co-acrylic acid)

A novel pre-synthesized polymer is fabricated with sodium polyacrylate and acrylic acid through free radical polymerization. Interestingly, the pre-synthesized polymer is further polymerized on the polyester-cotton fabric in the presence of glycerol as a cross-linking agent forming superabsorbent fabric. The composite functional fabrics is prepared by two steps, namely synthesis and finishing process. Owing to the vital role of the viscosity of pre-polymer for the superabsorbent property, the effect of monomer concentration, temperature, time, dosage of initiator and degree of neutralization on the viscosity of pre-polymer is thoroughly investigated. Besides, the effects of the degree of neutralization and dosage of polymerization solution as well as cross-linking agent on the water absorption of the composite and unfinished polyester-cotton blended fabrics is compared, respectively. After treatment, the water absorption capacity increases from 1 to 323.52 g/g in 1 h, reaching a maximum value of 417.53 g/g after 3.5 h. Besides, the water transportation obeys a Fickian diffusion mechanism. Furthermore, the composite fabric exhibits an optimum water retention capacity of up to 4 h. This speedy and super-water-absorbing material exhibits great potential in practical applications, such as in sanitary articles, wound dressings, and soil moisture.

Carboxylic acid modulated in situ growth of Zr-based MOFs on carboxylated cotton fabrics for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions

In this paper, carboxylated cotton fabric (CF-Ph-COOH) were obtained as active substrate by diazonium radical polymerization modification of cotton fibers. Then the MOF fabric composites were prepared by in situ growth of metal zirconium ions (Zr) and organic ligands on the surface of carboxylated cotton fabrics under carboxylic acid modifier. MOF fabric composites with controllable morphologies structures were achieved by regulating organic ligands, reaction time the type and dosage of regulator (formic acid and acetic acid). The prepared acetic acid regulated MOF fabric composites were designated as CF-HAc1-UiO-66, CF-HAc2-UiO-66, CF-HAc1-UiO-66-NH2, and CF-HAc2-UiO-66-NH2, respectively, and the formic acid regulated as CF-FA-UiO-66 and CF-FA-UiO-66-NH2. The fabricated carboxylic acid modulated MOF fabric composites were well characterized using SEM, TGA, XRD, FTIR, and XPS spectra. The adsorption experiment results show that carboxylic acid modulated Zr based MOF fabric composites can serve as adsorbent for effective removal of Cr(VI) from water, in which the CF-FA-UiO-66-NH2 was prepared under the ratio of ZrCl4 and BDC-NH2 is 1.006 and with 5.47 M formic acid regulator exhibits that the optimal adsorption efficiency and the removal efficiency is 79.5 %. In addition, the adsorption of Cr(VI) in water by CFA-UiO-66-NH2 showed a quasi-secondary kinetic model following the Langmuir adsorption model, showing a a typical of chemisorption. What’s more, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency and saturated adsorption capacity of CF-FA-UiO-66-NH2 was up to 80 % and 318.85 mg/g, respectively. The prepared CF-FA-UiO-66-NH2 MOF fabric composite was recyclable for removal of Cr(VI), and could be used as the potential adsorbent membrane for waste water treatment.

A pool construction using ramie fabric composite in eco-resin matrix: a cost of goods sold analysis (COGS)

One of the oldest and most traditional products made with resin and fiberglass is swimming pools; however, this product consumes large quantities of fiberglass mat and resin, both raw materials are based on non-renewable products and contribute significantly to carbon footprint and environmental damage. The increasing environmental concern has raised awareness in the industry and academia for the search of environmentally friendly materials. Natural fibers are attracting interest in engineering sectors due to specific advantages such as low density and cost, as well as renewability, biodegradability, recycling, and CO2 emission neutrality. In particular, the fiber extracted from the stem of the ramie plant is currently recognized as one of the strongest lignocellulosic fibers. In addition to natural fibers, eco-resins such as water-based acrylics have gained great attention from the industry due to their carbon footprint and environmentally friendly characteristics. The aim of this work is to calculate the cost of goods sold (COGS) for a pool constructed with composite ramie fabric in a water-based eco-resin matrix, for this purpose, a 1:30 scale prototype will be made, from which all manufacturing costs will be collected, then we will perform a mathematical extrapolation for comparison of values with products currently available in the market.

Mechanical Analysis and Simulation of Wood Textile Composites

Wood Textile Composites (WTCs) represent a new and innovative class of materials in the field of natural fiber composites. Consisting of fabrics made from willow wood strips (Salix americana) and polypropylene (PP), this material appears to be particularly suitable for structural applications in lightweight construction. Since the threads of the fabric are significantly oversized compared to classic carbon or glass rovings, fundamental knowledge of the mechanical properties of the material is required. The aim of this study was to investigate whether WTCs exhibit classic behavior in terms of fiber composite theory and to classify them in relation to comparable composite materials. It was shown that WTCs meet all the necessary conditions for fiber-reinforced composites in tensile, bending, and compression tests and can be classified as natural-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. In addition, it was investigated whether delamination between the fiber and matrix can be simulated by using experimentally determined mechanical data as input. Using finite element analysis (FEA), it was shown that the shear stress components of a stress tensor in the area of the interface between the fiber and matrix are responsible for delamination in the composite material. It was also shown that the resistance to shear stress depends on the geometric conditions of the reinforcing fabric.

Experimental and analytical investigation of the tensile mechanism of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites and fabric grids in elevated temperatures

The textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) combines high-strength fabric textiles with cementitious mortar matrix to enhance mechanical behaviour and durability, especially at high temperatures. The current study investigated how basalt, carbon, and glass textile grids and TRM composites respond under direct tensile and thermal loading up to 800 ℃. Changes in microstructure were analyzed using scan electron microscopy (SEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The results indicated that temperature significantly affected the coating material and cementitious mortar, weakening the grids and composite specimens. Carbon and glass fibre grids proved more resilient, and the carbon and glass TRM reduced 50% of their ultimate stress at 500 ℃, while for basalt TRM is 200 ℃. A slight gain of strength was observed for all TRM specimens at 300 ℃, and SEM analysis revealed critical changes in the mortar matrix and interfacial transition region. The results were further utilized to calibrate the Gibson model considering humidity and early-stage coating material changes, and yielding results consistent with experimental data.

Improving the mechanical performance of foam material based on bioinspiration

Inspired from foam-like biological construction, artificial foam, which is typically an ultralight and multifunctional material, has been developed for engineering applications. However, the presence of constructed porous materials leads to an extremely weakened load-bearing capacity. Therefore, we propose encasing the outside of bare foam with high-strength fabric to enhance the foam’s mechanical properties. A series of three-point bending tests are conducted to examine the enhancement in bending resistance generated by a high-strength composite fabric. A comparison between bare and encased foams shows that encasing bare foam with high-strength fabric significantly increases the foam’s load-bearing capacity, especially in terms of its bending resistance while retaining its intrinsic lightweight advantages.

Investigation on mechanical and thermal behaviour of graphene bonded carbon/Kevlar hybrid fabric polymer composites

The present research is aimed to understand the influence of graphene-reinforced carbon/Kevlar hybrid fabric epoxy composites. Samples HG0, HG2, HG4, and HG6 are fabricated using four layers of fabric mat and with varying graphene weight percentage as 0, 2, 4, and 6 wt.%, respectively. Mechanical characterizations such as hardness, tensile, and flexural strength were individually assessed. Thermal stability is evaluated through thermos-gravimetric analysis. Composite HG6 with high filler loading showed 71% and 114.4% greater tensile and flexural strength compared to unfilled HG0 specimen. Similarly, HG6 exhibited greater thermal stability. Inclusion of graphene particles in higher concentration improved the interfacial bonding between fibre/matrix/filler system. Fracture surfaces are analysed using scanning electron microscopy to understand the failure mechanisms.

The effect of STF-Kevlar composite materials on the impact response of fibre metal laminates

Many studies have confirmed that composite laminates made of metal and fiber reinforced composites have an excellent performance, especially when subjected to impact and fatigue loading, while maintaining a low weight-to-strength ratio. This paper presents an investigation on the impact resistance of shear thickening fluid (STF)-Kevlar composites-based fibre metal laminates (FMLs) subject to low velocity projectile impact. Firstly, the different surface treatments of aluminium alloy were carried out to identify the best bonding strength between the aluminium and composite layers, with the effect of 30V-20min anodizing treatment being identified as the best one. Secondly, impact tests were conducted on pure Kevlar fabric and STF-Kevlar composite fabric to compare their load bearing capacity and energy absorption, showing the latter with more than doubled energy absorption. Subsequently, FMLs based on STF-Kevlar and pure Kevlar fabrics were subjected to low velocity projectile impact. It is found that the impact resistance of the STF-FMLs made with one layer of STF-Kevlar composite fabric is almost equivalent to that of the FMLs made with two layers of pure Kevlar fabric. STF-Kevlar fabric, as a reinforcing material, has a significant contribution to the enhancement of the energy absorption of STF-FMLs.

Axial behavior of concrete cylinders retrofitted with a hybrid system of CFRP textile grid and engineered geopolymer composite

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) textile grid-reinforced engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) are effective in strengthening concrete structures. Considering environmental interest, engineered geopolymer composites (EGCs) have been employed as an alternative to ECC. In this study, we present a retrofit scheme for CFRP textile grid-reinforced EGC matrix composites for concrete cylinders and compare the axial behavior of strengthened concrete cylinders with a conventional FRP-reinforced ECC strengthening system. Axial compressive specimens were tested for various parameters, including the number of FRP textiles, original concrete strength, and damage level of the original concrete cylinder. The results indicated that the strengthened concrete cylinders failed in a ductile manner owing to the progressive rupture of the CFRP textile grids. The CFRP-EGC strengthening layers improved the axial bearing capacity, stiffness, and ductility of the concrete cylinders. The axial bearing capacity increased by 89.4%–170.4 %; therefore, the contribution of enhanced confinement effect was 36.7–113.6 %. The confinement effect provided by the grids ranged from 0.805 to 1.958 MPa and played a major role in the CFRP-EGC strengthening layers. Comparatively, the CFRP grid utilization is more efficient in the EGC matrix than in the traditional ECC matrix. Moreover, the influence of the pre-damage on the behavior of the concrete cylinders was compensated for by the strengthening layers.

Experiment-free multiscale simulation of residual deformation in non-crimp fabric composites

The effectiveness of multiscale modeling, consisting of quantum chemical reaction path calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and microscopic and macroscopic finite element analysis, developed for the process-induced residual deformation of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic was experimentally evaluated. In this study, non-crimp fabric composites with an arbitrary thermoset resin were fabricated, and process-induced deformation was measured. Process-induced residual deformations due to cure shrinkage and thermal shrinkage of cross-ply laminates under conditions similar to those in the experiment were predicted using multiscale modeling. The predicted deformation shape and maximum deformation value are in good agreement with the fabrication experiments. Multiscale modeling can consider the combined factors that affect the deformation (i.e. size, elastic moduli, coefficient of thermal expansion, and fiber volume fraction) and can provide important knowledge regarding the development of high-performance composite structures and for stable manufacturing.

Highly stable, antibacterial and antiviral composites films via improved non-solvent induced phase separation for textile application

Textile composites are ubiquitous in daily life and are one of the main ways in which bacteria and viruses spread. Highly effective antibacterial and antiviral flexible composites are effective for reducing microbe transmission. Herein, we reported an improved nonsolvent-induced phase separation method for the fabrication of flexible textile composites. Cu2O/polyurethane (Cu2OPU) composite films containing antibacterial and antiviral coatings were constructed using a Cu2O-polyvinyl butyral coagulation bath and binary solvent mixtures, yielding a composite that had excellent mechanical properties and stability and the components did not leach out. The as-prepared Cu2OPU composite films exhibited strong antibacterial and antiviral activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the H1N1 virus (above 99.99 % inactivation ratio). What’s more, Cu2OPU has excellent mechanical and environmental stability owing to the strong interfacial adhesion of Cu2O with the polymer matrix. Furthermore, it can withstand multiple washes and be suitable for daily use. Cu2OPU may be sustainably produced with great scalability, which may meet public, home, and textile applications.

A flexible self-cleaning/antibacterial PVDF/T-ZnO fabric based on piezo-photocatalytic coupling effect for smart mask

A novel flexible composite fabric has been engineered by combining piezoelectric poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and tetrapod zinc oxide (T-ZnO) nanostructures, which are integrated onto a nonwoven fabric substrate. This fabric exhibits a wide array of functionalities, notably self-cleaning and antibacterial properties, facilitated by the synergistic piezo-photocatalytic coupling effect. Through the utilization of the piezoelectric effect inherent in PVDF/T-ZnO in tandem with the photocatalytic attributes of T-ZnO nanostructures, the fabric achieves concurrent degradation of organic pollutants and antibacterial efficacy when exposed to mechanical vibration and solar irradiation. The piezo-photocatalytic coupling effect engenders an internal electric field that aids in the effective separation of photo-generated carriers (electrons and holes), thereby diminishing recombination rates and augmenting the efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation process. Notably, organic pollutants such as methylene blue and azithromycin exhibit degradation levels of 96.0% and 92.6%, respectively, within a timeframe of 25 and 60 min. The incorporation of PVDF/T-ZnO results in an approximate 40% enhancement in the degradation rate of organic substances compared to the use of T-ZnO in isolation. Furthermore, the composite fabric showcases exceptional antibacterial efficacy, effectively inhibiting the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus. Experimental findings reveal that the average antibacterial zone diameter of the PVDF/T-ZnO fabric measures at 7.68 mm, significantly surpassing that of the T-ZnO fabric and nonwoven fabric. Given its remarkable self-cleaning and antibacterial attributes, the PVDF/T-ZnO fabric exhibits substantial potential for diverse applications, including the development of intelligent masks tailored for deployment in healthcare settings and polluted environments.

Polylactic Acid Composite Nonwoven Fabric Incorporating Nano-Silver Coated Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Degradation of Carbaryl in Water

Polylactic Acid Composite Nonwoven Fabric Incorporating Nano-Silver Coated Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Degradation of Carbaryl in Water

Evaluating the impact of sportswear with different fabric properties on comfort and physiological response during running

ABSTRACT Comfort is vital in sportswear design. Previous research focused on the thermo-physiological comfort of modal blended fabric by examining its physical and thermal properties, neglecting comprehensive wear trials. This study compared the perceived comfort of two sportswear samples: polyester fabric and modal blended fabric. Ten participants (mean age = 22.4) wore the samples in random order during two trials. Each trial involved 25 min of treadmill running at a self-selected speed in a laboratory with a room temperature of 23.5 ± 1°C and 50% humidity. Heart rate, blood lactate level, skin temperature, perceived exertion, self-reported comfort, sportswear weight change, and fabric properties were recorded. Results showed that the blended fabric offered superior comfort despite the polyester fabric demonstrating better moisture transfer. This suggests that fabric composition and absorbency contribute to comfort and moisture transmission. Future studies should explore fabric structures and their impact on comfort in modal blended fabric using comprehensive human trials.

Extraction of γ-chitosan from insects and fabrication of PVA/γ-chitosan/kaolin nanofiber wound dressings with hemostatic properties

A nanofiber-based composite nonwoven fabric was fabricated for hemostatic wound dressing, integrating polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), kaolin, and γ-chitosan extracted from three type of insects. The γ-chitosan extracted from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis exhibited the highest yield at 21.5%, and demonstrated the highest moisture-binding capacity at 535.6%. In the fabrication process of PVA/kaolin/γ-chitosan nonwoven fabrics, an electrospinning technique with needle-less and mobile spinneret was utilized, producing nanofibers with average diameters ranging from 172 to 277 nm. The PVA/kaolin/γ-chitosan nonwoven fabrics demonstrated enhanced biocompatibility, with cell survival rates under certain compositions reaching up to 86.9% (compared to 74.2% for PVA). Furthermore, the optimized fabric compositions reduced blood coagulation time by approximately 2.5-fold compared to PVA alone, highlighting their efficacy in hemostasis. In other words, the produced PVA/kaolin/γ-chitosan nonwoven fabrics offer potential applications as hemostatic wound dressings with excellent biocompatibility and improved hemostatic performance.Graphical abstract

Multiple birds with one stone: A new type of PPy/Fe3O4/rGO multifunctional composite fabric for wave absorption, UV resistance, anti-static and thermal insulation

To solve the problem of electromagnetic radiation pollution, it is especially important to develop electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials with excellent performance. The preparation of composite multifunctional textile materials with excellent wave-absorbing properties is one of the research hotspots for practical personal protection applications. In this work, PPy/Fe3O4/rGO polyester/cotton composite fabrics were prepared by impregnation, chemical reduction, chemical co-precipitation and in situ polymerization. When the thickness is 0.97 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of PPy/Fe3O4/rGO polyester/cotton composite fabric is −12.12 dB, and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 4.7 GHz, which is excellent in wave absorption. Meanwhile, the PPy/Fe3O4/rGO polyester/cotton composite fabrics have excellent UV resistance (UV transmittance ratio of UVA and UVB bands as low as 0.02 %, UPF value of 100+), antistatic properties (static voltage half-life of 0.2 s), and excellent thermal management properties (thermal conductivity as low as 0.05796 W/(m·K)), and so on. The PPy/Fe3O4/rGO polyester/cotton composite fabrics prepared in this study are suitable for a variety of application scenarios, such as individual electromagnetic protection, individual protection in extremely cold environments, and individual heating physiotherapy, which is of great reference significance for the research of wearable individual protective textile materials.

Estimating Cloth Simulation Parameters From Tag Information and Cusick Drape Test

AbstractIn recent years, the fashion apparel industry has been increasingly employing virtual simulations for the development of new products. The first step in virtual garment simulation involves identifying the optimal simulation parameters that accurately reproduce the drape properties of the actual fabric. Recent techniques advocate for a data‐driven approach, estimating parameters from outcomes of a Cusick drape test. Such methods deviate from standard Cusick drape tests, introducing high‐cost tools, which reduces practicality. Our research presents a more practical model, utilizing 2D silhouette images from the ISO‐standardized Cusick drape test. Notably, while past models have shown limitations in estimating stretching parameters, our novel approach leverages the fabric's tag information including fabric type and fiber composition. Our proposed model functions as a cascaded system: first, it estimates stretching parameters using tag information, then, in the subsequent step, it considers the estimated stretching parameters alongside the fabric sample's Cusick drape test results to determine bending parameters. We validated our model against existing methods and applied it in practical scenarios, showing promising outcomes. (see https://www.acm.org/publications/class-2012)