Compression Moulding Method Research Articles

Influence of Prosopis juliflora bark powder/fillers on the mechanical, thermal and damping properties of jute fabric hybrid composites

In recent years, the natural fiber (NF) reinforced composites have become popular as substitute material for conventional metals and alloys in a range of structural applications. The aim of this experiment is to utilize the waste of both Prosopis Juliflora (PJ) bark and Jute fabric in valuable applications for the first time. The influence of fabric stacking patterns on the mechanical characteristics (ductile, flexural, hardness and impact) and thermal stability of fabric Jute/PJ bark powder reinforced hybrid composites in the epoxy matrix is investigated in this task. The compression moulding method is used to create composite laminates of same widths that are layered in various combinations of 5%, 10% and 15% weight of PJ bark powder. The prepared reinforced test samples characteristics of tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness characteristics are experimentally investigated. The outcomes revealed an inclusion of 15 wt% of PJ bark powder reveals positive effect on tensile, flexural, impact, hardness and thermal characteristics. These composites have a diverse range of applications, including industries, automobile and civil applications.

Effect of clamshell powder on the mechanical and damping properties of epoxy-bamboo composites

Compared to single natural fibre composites, hybridising natural fibres with filler particles presents a promising avenue for enhancing composites physical, mechanical, and damping properties. This study delves into incorporating clamshell powder, a filler derived from clams’ hard protective outer shells, into polymer composites. The focus is on investigating the potential of clamshell powder as a filler material to augment the mechanical and damping properties of epoxy-bamboo mat composites. The weight ratio of clamshell fillers varied from 0% to 9%, and the compression moulding method was used to fabricate the composites. As per ASTM standards, mechanical properties were evaluated by conducting tensile and flexural tests. Free vibration tests by impact hammer technique were employed to evaluate the natural frequency, damping ratio, and mode shapes of developed composites to measure damping properties. Results revealed that adding clamshell filler significantly improved composites tensile strength, flexural strength, and damping properties. The addition of clamshell elevated the tensile strength by 18.5%, and flexural strength by 24.2% for composite with 6 wt% filler, which can be attributed to the efficiency of load transfer and the interfacial bonding between fillers and epoxy matrix. SEM analysis supported the experimental results obtained. The highest damping value is received for 9 wt% filler, showing 30% enhancement compared to composites without clamshell filler. Modal analyses using ANSYS software further validated the positive impact of clamshell filler. This study underscores the potential of clamshell filler in enhancing the mechanical and damping properties of epoxy-bamboo composites, broadening their applicability in various fields.

Free vibration analysis of jute/kenaf/banana hybrid biocomposites: effects of various stacking sequences

This work provides an insight of the free vibration behaviour based on experimental modal analysis of hybrid natural fibre reinforced polymer composites fabricated via compression moulding method. This study aims to study the impact of different polymer matrices (vinyl ester and epoxy) and stacking order of different natural fibres (Jute, Kenaf and Banana) on the composite’s free vibration characteristics. Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Epoxy (JKBE) matrix composites exhibited enhanced free vibration properties compared to single fiber reinforcements, except the banana/epoxy composites. Additionally, Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Vinyl ester (JKBV) composites demonstrated improved free vibration properties in comparison to single fiber reinforcements, with the exception of kenaf/vinyl ester composites. Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Jute-Banana-Kenaf-Epoxy (KBJJBKE) and Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Jute-Banana-Kenaf-Vinyl ester (KBJJBKV) hybrid composites showed the highest natural frequencies of 68.36 Hz and 97.66 Hz, respectively. However, there was no significant improvements in the natural frequencies of Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Epoxy (JKBKBJE) and Jute-Kenaf-Banana-Kenaf-Banana-Jute-Vinyl ester (JKBKBJV) hybrid composites. The highest damping factor was observed for JKBKBJE (0.153) and JKBKBJV (0.224) hybrid composites. These hybrid composites with better free vibration properties shall be a potential candidate in the automobile interior applications.

Relation between water absorption and mechanical properties of flax 3D braided yarn woven fabric PLA bio-degradable composites

Natural fibre (flax) plain type of woven fabric is developed by using solid braided yarn and is utilised as filler material and PLA (polylactic acid) as a matrix. Solution casting is then used to create sheets of pure PLA and flax fabric–PLA. Composites are manufactured by sheets sequencing technique using the hot compression moulding method. Water absorption, thickness swelling and flexural tests are performed in loading directions of warp and weft of the composites. Results revealed that the absorption of water and swelling of thickness are enriched with an addition of flax fabric. The weft direction loaded composite displayed greater values of water uptake and thickness swelling. The warp direction loaded composites demonstrated the highest flexural strength (92.3 MPa) and modulus (4.5 GPa) compared to weft direction loaded composites. These values are decreased after water absorption.

Retracted: Improving the Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Composites of Hemp Fiber with Ramie and Banana Fiber through Compression Molding Method

Retracted: Improving the Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Composites of Hemp Fiber with Ramie and Banana Fiber through Compression Molding Method

Enhancement of mechanical properties of ramie and jute fibres reinforced epoxy hybrid composites: Influencing of SiC and Al2O3

Due to rising environmental awareness and dwindling oil supplies, many efforts have been made to replace synthetic fibres with plant fibre reinforced composites (PFRC). The need to eliminate plastics from everyday life has resulted in the development of a diverse range of eco-friendly natural-based composites for the automotive, chemical, and food packaging industries. PFRC plays an important role in the production of lightweight and cost-effective products. The current study looked at how different proportions of SiC/Al2O3 filler affected the mechanical properties of a plant fibre-based ramie/jute epoxy hybrid composite. By reinforcing a constant ramie (20 wt.%) and jute (10 wt.%) fibre with different proportions of SiC (2 –10 wt.%) and Al2O3 (0 –8 wt.%), hybrid composites were created using traditional stirring and compression moulding methods. The hybrid composite with 8% SiC and 2% Al2O3 (sample D) has higher tensile, flexural, hardness, impact, and interlaminar shear strength than the other combinations. The functional group of a nanoparticle-filled hybrid composite was evaluated using Fourier Transfer infrared Spectroscopy. Furthermore, SEM confirmed the excellent bonding of the viable hybrid composite combination’s filler, fibre, and matrix. According to the findings, a nano filler content of 8% SiC and 2% Al2O3 can improve mechanical properties and serve as a viable reinforcement in hybrid polymer composites for major engineering applications.

Magnetically assisted construction of Al2O3 platelets dual network and its excellent thermal conductivity in epoxy resin composites

Constructing three-dimensional thermally conductive networks in polymer matrix is a key strategy to improve the thermal management performance of electronic packaging materials. However, optimizing the thermal conductivity of the composite while retaining its electrical insulation properties still requires further structural design. Herein, the heat-transferring Al2O3 platelets dual network was constructed by using a simple compression moulding method combined with a magnetic alignment strategy. Al2O3@Fe3O4 was used for the magnetic orientation arrangement in the vertical direction of the laminated Al2O3 framework. And the obtained Al2O3/Al2O3@Fe3O4/Epoxy composites possessed satisfactory thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the composites containing 34.63 vol% filler was as high as 2.30 W/mK (K‖) and 1.83 W/mK (K⊥), which were significantly higher by 945 % and 732 % compared to epoxy resin. In addition, the introduction of Al2O3@Fe3O4 in the composite promoted isotropic thermal conductivity and provided electromagnetic shielding properties.

Mechanical characterization of randomly oriented short Sansevieria Trifasciata natural fibre composites

Abstract The present work investigates the mechanical characteristics of randomly oriented short Sansevieria Trifasciata Fibre Polyester (STFP) composites. The STFP composites are fabricated using compression moulding methods with varying fibre weight percentages (5 %–50 %) and fibre lengths (5 mm–50 mm). It has been observed that the impact, flexural, and tensile strength of STFPs improve as the length of the fibre increases, up to a maximum of 40 mm. After that, these properties start to decrease as the length of the fibre further increases. Further, the analysis revealed that STFPs exhibited an increase in properties when the fibre weight percentage was less than 40 %, followed by a decrease in properties as the fibre percentage increased beyond that point. The impact strength of STFP is around 8.2 J/cm2. Similarly, the STFP has a flexural modulus and strength of about 3.4 GPa and 82.6 MPa, respectively. Lastly, the tensile strength of STFP is around 78.26 MPa, the elongation at break is between 6.25 % and 9.36 %, and the Young’s modulus is 11.8 GPa. The matrix and fibre interaction were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) analyses are carried out. From these analyses, the thermal stability of STFP is 200 °C and its activation energy is 65.48 kJ/mol. After a thorough comparison with other well-known natural fibres, the proposed properties of STFP demonstrate its superiority as a practical and effective natural fibre composite.

Investigation of mechanical, thermal and water absorption behaviour of MWCNT’s with AL2O3 reinforced polymer composite

In this work, composite materials were developed using compression moulding method, which the composition of M2A1C (Epoxy + 2 wt % MWCNT +1 wt % Al2O3), M2A1.5C (Epoxy + 2 wt % MWCNT +1.5 wt % Al2O3) and M2A1C (Epoxy + 2 wt % MWCNT +2 wt % Al2O3). From the composition, M2A1.5C had improved the mechanical properties of 30%, 24% and 28% in tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength, respectively, compared to the M2A1C. From the thermo-gravimetric examination, the critical change was happened during increasing of Al2O3, however, the M2A1.5C had a significant improvement within the residual mass and maximum temperature decomposition with compared to other composites. Hydrophobicity decreased in the M2A1C composition, due to the low density of the material in the composite. The study is exploring ways to improve the polymer-metal matrix hybrid composite materials to make them lighter and more affordable, as well as easier to use in light load applications.

Development and characterization of rigid packaging material using cellulose/sugarcane bagasse and natural resins

Composites developed from cellulose and natural resins have received much attention due to their low cost and positive environmental impact. Knowledge of the mechanical and degradation characteristics of cellulose based composite boards is essential to obtain indications of the strength and degradability of the resulting rigid packaging material. The composite was prepared with sugarcane bagasse and hybrid resin (a combination of epoxy and natural resin such as dammar, pine, and cashew nut shell liquid) with the mixing ratios (Bagasse fibers: Epoxy resin: Natural resin) 1:1:1.5, 1:1:1.75, and 1:1:2 using compression moulding method. Tensile strength, young's modulus, flexural strength, soil burial weight loss, microbial degradation, and CO2 evolution was determined. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) resin-incorporated composite boards in the mixing ratio of 1:1:2 gave maximum flexural strength (5.10 MPa), tensile strength (3.10 MPa), and tensile modulus (0.97 MPa). The maximum degradation in soil burial test and CO2 evolution between the boards made using natural resin was found in the composite boards incorporated with CNSL resin with a mixing ratio of 1:1:1.5 were 8.30 % and 12.8 % respectively. The maximum weight loss percentage (3.49) in microbial degradation analysis was found in the composite board made using dammar resin in the mixing ratio of 1:1:1.5.

EROSION-RESISTANT NANOCOATING DERIVED FROM POLYPROPYLENE AND BAMBOO-BASED BIO NANO CARBON (PP-BNC) TO ENHANCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF PETROLEUM PIPELINES

Oil and gas transportation efficiency is hindered by petroleum pipeline erosion where the pipelines are exposed to solid particles, viscous fluids, processing temperature and pressure, surrounding conditions and accompanied gasses. The current issue is to solve the erosion of petroleum pipelines problem by developing an erosion-resistant nanocoating. The development of erosion resistant nanocoating which is derived from polypropylene and bamboo-based bio nano carbon (PP-BNC) is the main focus of this research. PP-BNC nanocomposite were prepared by using thermal composition method to obtain the bamboo BNC or also known as carbon black, followed by coagulation method to obtain PP-BNC nanocomposites (10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt% and 50 wt%) and lastly compression moulding method for the nanocomposite to become nanocoating thin film. During the thermal composition method, the grinded bamboo powder were combusted in tube furnace at 400°C, holding time for 30 minutes at 10°C/min rate in Nitrogen atmosphere. The solvents that were used are Toluene and Methanol during coagulation method. The structural, thermal and morphological properties of PP-BNC nanocomposites were characterised by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Whereas the mechanical properties such as tensile and abrasion resistance along with its weight loss were evaluated by tensile and abrasion resistance tests. PP with 20 wt% BNC has the best results as the weight loss and wear index are the lowest which is 0.001 g and 0.033 mg/cycles respectively, great tensile strength with the value of 20.52 MPa and able to withstand high temperature up to 163°C where the highest temperature underwater is only up to 100°C.

THE EFFECT OF CHEMICAL AND ULTRAVIOLET (UV) AGING UPON MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR AND AESTHETICS ASPECT OF NOVEL BULK MOULDING COMPOUNDS (BMC) COMPOSITES

The use of composite materials, and more specifically, glass fiber reinforced polymeric materials, is becoming increasingly common to replace conventional materials. In this way, advances can be achieved in terms of material properties, economic cost of manufacture or product life cycle. In this project, the mechanical behaviour of glass fiber reinforced composites BMC (Bulk Moulding Compounds) has been studied, as well as the aesthetic quality of the material surface under conditions that can occur in corrosive or weathering environments. In recent years, the use of BMCs in outdoor applications has become particularly important. Consequently, it is necessary to be aware of the effect of environmental factors such as UV radiation from sunlight, moisture or exposure to corrosive substances. In order to carry out the analysis of some BMC properties, different material formulations have been produced, varying some of the components, but not their ratio. The modified components are resin, thermoplastic additive, filler and pigment. The material was formed using the compression moulding method and machined to obtain test specimens for flexural, tensile, hardness, color and gloss tests. The results obtained were treated statistically by means of the ANOVA method, using the Minitab 9.1 software. This statistical analysis has allowed conclusions to be drawn on the relationship between BMC components and the mechanical and aesthetic characteristics of the material, as well as to detect possible interactions between BMC constituents. Keywords: BMC; Glass fiber; Acid; UV; Resin; Mechanical properties; ANOVA.

Enhancement of wood-plastic composite properties in presence of recycled vehicular soot as a carbon source material: Sustainable management approach

In the study, the wood-plastic composites (WPCs) were prepared using recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) and sawdust as biomass material. The recycled vehicular soot (RVS) was used as a potential carbon based additive in the composites; and its effect on the properties of the composites was studied. In the process, the soot loading was varied in the range of 0–2.5 wt%. The composites were prepared using the compression moulding method. The effect of recycled soot on the physico-mechanical and thermal properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, compression strength, impact strength, hardness, screw holding power / screw withdrawal force, water absorption and thermal stability of the in-house prepared WPCs was studied. From the results, it was observed that the mechanical properties of the composites improved in presence of soot and its loading. The soot offered positive results in mechanical properties when it was used up to a loading of 1.0 wt% in the composites. However, the soot loading beyond 1.0 wt% resulted in obtaining the detrimental results in the properties of the composites. The probable reason for decrease in composite properties when the soot was used beyond 1.0 wt% was due to the agglomeration of the soot particles in the composite network. The water absorption values of the composites decreased continuously with the increase of soot loading from 0 to 2.5 wt% due to the hydrophobic nature of soot. The prepared composites were thermally stable up to a temperature of around 240 °C. From the outcome of the study, it can be concluded that the recycled soot can be used as a potential substitute to commercial carbon material in the composites to enhance its properties; and also to prepare cost-effective composites.

Thermal and Chemical Performance Evaluation of Thevetia peruviana Oil-Based Composites Reinforced with Short Sisal Fibers

Thermal properties and chemical performance of newly developed Thevetia peruviana oil-based (TPO) bio-composites with short sisal fibers reinforcement were studied in this research, with the aim of producing materials derived from renewable resources for engineering applications. Three sets of TPO composites (5C, 10C and 15C) reinforced with sisal fibers 5, 10 and 15 wt% respectively were produced by compression moulding method. Thermographic analyser (TGA) was used to determine the thermal behavior of the new composites and the results showed that the composites thermal stability behavior increase with fiber loading. 5% degradation temperature (T5) and 10% degradation temperature (T10) of the new composites increased from 300 to 312 0C and from 338 to 419 0C, respectively. The char value of 8.264 of the unreinforced resin reduced on the addition of 5 wt% of fiber while there were enhancements in the char values of composites reinforced with 10 wt% and 15 wt% fiber. The chemical resistance and water absorption tests showed that the percentage gain/loss of the composites in all the reagents are negligible, with composite 5C showing superior resistance in all the media. The results showed that the newly produced bio-composites is a potential material for storage vessels production.

Enhancement in Mechanical Properties of Glass/Epoxy Composites by a Hybrid Combination of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanoparticles

In this work, an attempt was made to improve the mechanical performance of glass fibre-reinforced polymer composites by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and graphene nanoparticles (GNP) and their hybrid combination at different weight fractions (0.1 to 0.3%). Composite laminates with three different configurations (unidirectional [0°]12, cross-ply [0°/90°]3s, and angle-ply [±45°]3s) were manufactured using the compression moulding method. Characterisation tests such as quasistatic compression, flexural, and interlaminar shear strength properties were carried out per ASTM standards. Failure analysis was carried out through optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results showed a substantial enhancement with the 0.2% hybrid combination of MWCNTs, and GNPs showed 80% and 74% in the compressive strength and compressive modulus, respectively. Similarly, flexural strength, modulus, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) increased by 62%, 205%, and 298%, respectively, compared to neat glass/epoxy resin composite. Beyond the 0.2% of fillers, the properties started to degrade due to the agglomeration of MWCNTs/GNPs. The order of layups per mechanical performance was UD, followed by CP and AP.

Comparative study on low velocity impact behavior of natural hybrid and non hybrid flexible thermoplastic based composites

The current study attempts to evaluate the low-velocity impact (LVI) behavior of jute and banana fiber-based hybrid and non hybrid green composites. The proposed composites are fabricated using compression moulding method with variety of positioning of layers namely jute-rubber-jute-rubber-jute (JRJRJ), banana-rubber-banana-rubber-banana (BRBRB), jute-rubber-banana-rubber-jute (JRBRJ) and banana-rubber-jute-rubber-banana (BRJRB). Thus developed composites are subjected to LVI testing using conical and hemispherical shaped impactor in drop weight impact testing machine and different impact velocities of 5 m/s, 10 m/s and 15 m/s. Based on the ability of the proposed composites to absorb energy, coefficient of restitution (CoR), energy loss percentage (ELP), and failure behaviour, the suggested flexible composites’ performances are assessed. The study reveals that JRJRJ composite exhibits better energy absorption capability and BRBRB exhibits least energy absorption capability compared to its counterparts. The damage study reveals that hemispherical impactor leads to more damage area due to its larger contact area whereas, conical impactor results in local penetration. Results reveals that inclusion of jute fiber as reinforcement results in better LVI properties compared to banana fiber. It is also clear that the presence of a compliant matrix improves energy absorption and damage resistance in flexible composites.

Effect of Alkaline Treatment and Fumigation (Fumigation) on the Mechanical Properties of Fiber Unsaturated Polyester-Cantula Composite with Compression Molding Method

<p>This research examines the strength of the UPRs-Cantula composite with the<br />addition of filler microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Composites were created<br />with a volume fraction of 30% Vf and a 45° angle. This angle variation received<br />the same treatment as the others, including untreated, alkaline, and fumigation.<br />The treatment time for alkali treatment was 6 hours, while the treatment time<br />for fumigation was 10 hours. The strength of each angle variation was<br />determined, as well as its treatment of tensile strength, modulus of elasticity,<br />and Poisson's ratio UPRs-cantula composites. According to the results, the<br />alkali treatment produced the highest tensile strength and elastic modulus<br />values. The highest Poisson ratio value was discovered without treatment at a<br />45°. The alkaline treatment yielded the highest tensile strength and modulus of<br />elasticity test results. The pullout fiber fracture dominated the untreated<br />composite fracture, whereas the fiber breakage fracture dominated the alkaline<br />treatment.</p>

Thermal actuation shape memory of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with molecular orientation

• Preparation of shape memory UHMWPE/HDPE samples with molecular orientation. • Cyclic tensile shape memory property of UHMWPE/HDPE samples. • Movement and evolution of chain segments in shape-changing process. Conventional compression-molding method cannot illustrate the effect of molecular orientation on shape memory property. Herein, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is incorporated into ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to prepare samples with molecular orientation by the single screw extrusion and traction machine. Interestingly, the shape recovery rate (R r ) of samples with the same tensile direction as molecular orientation decreases from 66.13% to 60.71% with the traction rate, while the R r of samples with tensile direction perpendicular to molecular orientation exhibits an opposite tendency in cyclic tensile shape memory tests. Meanwhile, the shape fixation rate of these two samples does not change significantly. In addition, the possible mechanism of thermal actuation shape memory of samples with molecular orientation is interpreted.

The Effect of Fumigation and Alkalization on Dimensional Changes of Cantula Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites Under Immersion

This study aims to investigate effect of fumigation and alkaline treatment on dimensional change in cantula fibers reinforced UPRs composite under immersion test in aqueous environment. Composites were fabricated using compression moulding method with cantula fiber content of 30% vt with the addition of 5% microcrystalline cellulose. Composite specimens were immersed under aquades for 2 months at room temperature. The dimensional changes of cantula fiber reinforced UPRs in different solutions were found to follow a Fickian behavior. Fumigation treated fibers and alkali treated fiber composites after immersion has lower results both in dimensional changes and its slope than untreated fiber composites.

Fabrication and Mechanical Performance of Glass Fiber Reinforced, Three‐phase, Epoxy Syntactic Foam

AbstractIn the selection of materials for deep‐sea equipment, light weight and high strength are the most important criteria or requirements. In this paper, hollow glass microspheres (HGMS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), epoxy resin (EP) and curing agent were mixed to prepare hollow glass microspheres reinforced epoxy foam balls (HGMS‐EHS) by the rolling ball method. Glass fiber (GF) reinforced epoxy syntactic foam (GF‐ESF) was prepared by mixing HGMS‐EHS, HGMS, EP, GF, and curing agent using compression moulding method. By analyzing the mechanical properties and microscopic morphology of GF‐ESF, the results show that the addition of GF does enhance the compressive strength of epoxy syntactic foam. GF‐ESF has a density of 496 kg/m3, and its compressive strength is 30.48 MPa. By increasing the number of layers of HGMS‐EHS, the diameter of EPS, the density of HGMS and reducing the stacking volume of HGMS‐EHS, the density of ESF increased significantly thus subsequently increase the compressive strength. Therefore, the compressive strength and density should be considered comprehensively and find the best balance point in the process of preparing ESF. This paper could provide some suggestions for the preparation of deep‐sea epoxy composites.