Fabric Composites Research Articles

Enhanced energy absorption of auxetic cementitious composites with polyurethane foam layers for building protection application

Cementitious composites with impact energy absorption capabilities can have wide applications in protective structures. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the flexural response and energy absorption of auxetic cementitious composites reinforced with polyurethane foam. In total, ninety (90) composite specimens were prepared from polymer cement mortar overlayed with either carbon fibre fabric or auxetic fabric and polyurethane foam insertions in the upper and lower regions. These specimens were tested under flexural loads using a four-point loading setup at varying loading speeds from 1 mm/min to 300 mm/min. Digital image correlation method was employed to study the failure modes, displacement profiles, load-displacement curves, and energy absorption characteristics. The auxetic fabric overlayed composites exhibited increased energy absorption and ductility without any signs of debonding compared to the commonly used carbon fibre overlayed composite specimens. Polyurethane foam insertions in the upper part of the composites prevented splitting of the specimen by reducing the crack widening in the compression zone of the cementitious matrix. Additionally, an increase in loading rate improved the energy absorption capacity of the auxetic fabric cementitious composites compared to carbon fibre cementitious composites. Findings from this study will have applications for protecting structures that are vulnerable to impacts.

Assessment of UV Protection for Children's Summer Clothing.

Excess ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure during childhood poses a particular long-term risk of developing skin cancer later in life however recent studies have called attention to the absorption of chemical sunscreen ingredients into the bloodstream with unclear significance.This has led to recommendations to consider sun protection in the form of clothing to reduce the need for sunscreen products. Ten brands of routine summer clothing not labeled as sun protective from five distributors marketed for children were identified with varying price ranges.Summer clothing items consisting of T-shirts and tops were evaluated for fiber composition, cost, and UPF testing was performed to determine UVA and UVB transmittance. Results: Around 88.2% of blended textile compositions compared to 60% of 100% cotton textiles offered adequate UV protection with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) greater than 15. 58% of blended fabrics compared to 50% of cotton textiles offered a UPF greater than 30. There was no correlation between brand and cost with UPF values. Conclusions: In the absence of regulations for testing and labeling of all children's garments for UV protection, guidelines for the pediatric population for choosing clothing for the summer should reflect the information available to consumers that is easy to understand and more likely to result in higher UPF values.Based on fiber composition, blended textiles are more likely to have adequate UV protection compared to 100% cotton or 100% polyester.

Size-dependent mechanical behaviors of 3D woven composite under high strain-rate compression loads

Dynamic characterization of textile composites is confronted with great challenges due to its large unit-cell size and the inherent limitations in specimen size for the Hopkinson bar-based test system. The small specimen size will inevitably introduce variations in effective mechanical response and failure mechanism, and bring about additional problems in determining the realistic dynamic properties of the material. This work experimentally investigated the dynamic compression behavior of three-dimensional angle interlock woven composite (3DWC) using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Specimens with different sizes were designed to explore the size dependency, strain-rate dependency and orientation dependency for the compressive behavior of the 3DWC. A high-speed camera and an optical microscope were introduced to elaborate on the damage progressing process and fracture morphology under different loading conditions. With an increase in strain rate, the measured strength of warp-direction specimens increased by approximately 7.6%, 4.8%, and 2.6% for three different sizes of specimens, accompanied by more severe intra-tow damage. Different-sized dynamic specimens exhibited comparable failure processes but modest variations in measured properties. When the number of unit cells in a specimen increased from two to three and four, the strength was observed to rise by around 14.9% and 21.9% respectively. In comparison to the warp-direction specimen, the weft-direction specimens exhibited substantially higher strength and failure strain, as well as distinct dominant failure modes of yarns. This work provides valuable insights into the determination of dynamic properties for 3D woven composites, and the designing and interpretation of dynamic test methods.

Manufacturing and Properties of Various Ceramic Embedded Composite Fabrics for Protective Clothing in Gas and Oil Industries Part I: Anti-Static and UV Protection with Thermal Radiation

Protective clothing in gas and oil industries requires high-performance characteristics, with superior anti-static and ultraviolet (UV) protection and good thermal wear comfort in cold weather regions. This study examined the manufacturing and properties of various ceramic-embedded composite fabrics made from a new scheme (not a coating method) for protective clothing in the gas and oil industries. Therefore, sheath–core yarn specimens embedded with various ceramics, such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3)–graphite, zinc oxide–zirconium (ZnO–ZrC), and zinc oxide–antimony tin oxide (ZnO–ATO) were produced using a bi-component melt spinning machine, which is a novel method that was not tried before. Fabric specimens were also made from these ceramic-embedded sheath–core yarn specimens. UV-protection and anti-static properties of the ceramic-embedded composite specimen were compared with the thermal radiation and far-infrared (FIR) characteristics. The UV-protection factor (UPF) was measured according to the AS/NZ 4399 (1996) standard. ATLAS measuring equipment was used to analyze five duplicate specimens (4 × 8 cm). An anti-static assessment was also conducted using the JIS L 1094 standard method. A light heat emission apparatus was used to assess thermal radiation. A 10 × 10 cm specimen was prepared, and five duplicate assessments were conducted. Statistical analysis (F-test) was performed to verify the statistical significance of the experimental data with a 99% confidence limit. The ZnO–ATO-embedded composite fabric exhibited greater UV protection than the Al2O3–graphite-embedded and regular (control) specimen, indicating the excellent UV-protection property of the ZnO. In addition, the ZnO–ATO-embedded composite specimen exhibited excellent anti-static properties with lower rub-static voltage than the control fabric, which was attributed to the better electrical conductivity of ATO particles. In particular, the ZnO–ZrC-embedded composite specimen showed superior thermal radiation with excellent UPF and relatively good anti-static characteristics. Based on the high-performance characteristics of protective clothing worn in gas and oil industries, ZnO–ATO-embedded composite fabric has practical use for fabricating workwear protective clothing. In addition, considering protective clothing suitable for cold weather, ZnO–ZrC-embedded composite fabric is useful for protective clothing in cold weather regions.

Insights into the large‐size graphene improvement effect of the mechanical properties on the epoxy/glass fabric composites

AbstractIn this study, we investigated how the chemical structural properties, mechanical properties, and morphology of large‐size graphene platelets (LGPs) doped glass fabric (GF)/epoxy composites are affected by varying loading amounts of LGPs. Scanning electron microscope results revealed that the dispersion and filling effect of LGPs can improve the flowability of the resin, reducing the aggregation and shrinkage of the resin on the glass fabric surface, thereby facilitating better resin infiltration and coverage of the glass fabric surface. From the spectrum analysis, the binding of LGPs with epoxy resin was the physical combination, without new chemical groups generated during the curing process. The addition of LGPs improved the ratio of the crystalline phases in the composites, from 30.00% of the GF/epoxy to 57.50% of the GF/epoxy@2.2LGPs. Mechanical properties indicated that the composites exhibited greater tensile strength than pure GF, which progressively increased with increasing LGPs content until it reached 1.5 wt%, then the tensile strength starts to decrease. And the GF/epoxy@1.5 LGPs exhibited 136% enhancement in tensile strength compared to other carbon fillers reinforced composites, which achieved a satisfactory enhancement under relatively low loading content.Highlights The effect of the large‐size graphene platelets (LGPs) on the properties of glass fabric (GF)/epoxy composites. Compared to the glass fabric/epoxy composite, the LGPs doped composite possessed a much higher storage modulus (E′). The LGPs doped composite exhibited 136% enhancement in tensile strength compared to other carbon fillers reinforced composites. The addition of LGPs improved the ratio of the crystalline phases in the composites.

A multiscale deep learning model for elastic properties of woven composites

Time-consuming and costly computational analysis expresses the need for new methods for generalizing multiscale analysis of composite materials. Combining neural networks and multiscale modeling is favorable for bypassing expensive lower-scale material modeling, and accelerating coupled multi-scale analyses (FE2). In this work, neural networks are used to replace the time-consuming micromechanical finite element analysis of unidirectional composites, representing the local material properties of yarns in woven fabric composites in a multiscale framework. Leveraging the fast multiscale data generation procedure, we presented a second neural networks model to estimate the elastic engineering coefficients of a particular weave architecture based on a broad range of dry resin and fiber properties and yarn fiber volume fraction. As an outcome, this paper provides the user with a generalized, neural network-based approach to tackle the balance of computational efficiency and accuracy in the multiscale analysis of elastic woven composites.

3D Printing on Textiles – Overview of Research on Adhesion to Woven Fabrics

3D printing on textiles has great potential to influence developments in various industries. It enables the production of new, potentially personalised products in areas such as technical textiles, protective clothing, medical products, fashion, textile and interior design. 3D printing can also contribute to waste-free production processes. In the method of 3D printing on textiles, the material is applied directly to the textile substrate to create 3D objects, patterns or designs on the surface. The fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology, where thermoplastic filaments are extruded and deposited in thin layers based on a 3D model, is widely used for this purpose. A precise control of factors such as temperature and speed is essential in FDM to regulate the flow of polymer material during the printing process. The most commonly used polymer for 3D printing on textiles using FDM is polylactic acid (PLA). Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is another widely used material, known for its low shrinkage rate and high printing accuracy, while thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is used due to its exceptional mechanical properties, e.g. tensile strength, flexibility, durability and corrosion resistance. Good adhesion between 3D printed objects and the textile surface is essential for the production of quality products. Adhesion depends on various factors, e.g. textile properties, printing parameters and the type of polymer used. The composition of the woven fabric, including the areal density, warp and weft density, yarn count, fabric thickness and weave pattern, significantly affects the adhesion strength of the 3D printed polymer. When considering double weaves, which allow different materials in the upper and lower layers, better adhesion properties are found than at single weaves. A cross-sectional analysis revealed that the polymer penetrates deeper into a double-woven fabric, resulting in improved adhesion. In general, the study highlights the advantages of double weaves for 3D printing applications on textiles.

Effect of mold on curing deformation of resin transfer molding‐made textile composites

AbstractIn the process of preparing textile composites by resin transfer molding (RTM) method, both the upper and lower surface of the mold will interact with the composite parts due to the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between the mold and the part, resulting in warpage deformation. To address this key technical problem, this article first studied the effect of mold on the warpage deformation of composite material under different fiber volume fractions. Then a mold–part interaction modeling method for RTM process with nonthermoelastic deformation is proposed. By introducing shear layers between the upper and lower surfaces of the mold and the composite part, a finite element simulation model for predicting the curing deformation of the component is established and experimentally verified. The results show that the effect of mold–part interaction on the warpage deformation of the composite decreases with increasing fiber volume fraction. Meanwhile, the proposed modeling method can avoid complete material characterization, and the comparison between experimental and simulation results proves that the model can accurately simulate the curing deformation of composite components under the same process conditions. Finally, the analysis reveals that the interaction caused by thermal mismatch between the composites and the mold is less related to the intermediate layup, but mainly related to the fiber orientation of the layup layer in contact with the mold.Highlights The warpage deformation law of the mold on the composites with different fiber volume fractions is investigated. A mold–part interaction modeling method for a resin transfer molding process with nonthermoelastic deformation is proposed, where the mold stretching effect is represented by the cumulative effect of the interaction between the two layers on the upper and lower surfaces of the part.

Study of Galvanic Charging-Discharging Properties of Graphene Nanoplatelets Incorporated Epoxy-Carbon Fabric Composites

Polymer composites are increasing in demand in energy storage applications including in the electronic as well as electrical industries due to the ease of processing of these materials with associated advantages like light weight, corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength. In this investigation, efforts are made to enhance the charging and discharging properties of epoxy/carbon fabric composite by the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) into the epoxy/ carbon matrix. The performance of the composites with graphene platelets of 0.5 to 5 wt. % in epoxy were characterized and 1wt.% percolation threshold was observed poor performance in gravimetric charge and discharge characteristics were observed. Based on the percolation threshold Epoxy-Carbon fabric (EC) composites and Epoxy-Carbon fabric with 1 wt. % of GNP (ECG1) composites were fabricated using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding technique. The electrochemical performance was studied using the Cyclovoltammetry test and 0.1 M of Na2SO4 as a supporting electrolyte. The Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge characteristics were carried-out for EC and ECG1 at a scan rate of 80 sec, 300 sec, 4000 sec with 2 runs and 8 runs. The composite EC didn’t not show GCD characteristics, but the symmetry of charge-discharge characteristics observed for ECG1 and same are discussed in this paper. These highly effective and excellent characteristics demonstrate that Epoxy-GNP-CF composites may be promising composites for practical energy storage applications.

MWCNT-Coated Glass Fabric/Phenol Composite Heating Panel Fabricated by Resin Infusion Process.

MWCNTs (multiwalled carbon nanotubes) were applied to fiber-reinforced composite materials with phenolic resin having flame retardance for the composite heating panels of railroad vehicles. Instead of dispersing MWCNTs in the matrix, the surface of a pristine plain-weave glass fiber fabric was coated with MWCNTs through a series of dip-coating and drying processes, followed by the resin infusion of the phenolic resin to make the composite heating panel. Before and after the resin infusion process, low percolation thresholds of 0.00216 wt%MWCNT (weight percent of MWCNTs) and 0.001 wt%MWCNT, respectively, were achieved, as were very high electrical conductivities of 47.5 S/m at 0.210 wt%MWCNT and 26.7 S/m at 0.116 wt%, respectively. The low threshold and high conductivity can be attributed to the formation of electrical pathways directly onto the glass fabrics. It was confirmed that mechanical properties such as modulus, strength, and maximum strain were at the same level as those of the pristine glass fabric composite. The heating performance with temperature uniformity, as well as the electrical and mechanical properties, indicates that the resin-infused glass fabric composite having MWCNTs directly coated onto the fabric surface can be a solution for lightweight structural composite heating panels for railway vehicles.

Textile dyes effluents: A current scenario and the use of aqueous biphasic systems for the recovery of dyes

The textile industry is one of the most important industries in the world, but it is also one of the largest wastewater generators responsible for water depletion and ecotoxicity due to the inefficient fixation of textile dyes in fabrics. Although various studies have focused on the physicochemical and biological treatments of wastewater, these processes can be expensive and/or not environmentally sustainable, mainly focusing on the degradation of dyes rather than their valorisation. Aiming at the circularity of textile industries, Aqueous Biphasic Systems (ABS) have been proposed as circular, cost-effective, and sustainable platforms for the recovery of textile dyes. Thus, an overview of the use of ABS in the extraction and concentration of textile dyes is provided in this study, along with the main aspects of the textile dyeing process, the types of dyes used, their fixation efficiency, textile effluent composition, and commonly studied treatment methods. Overall, this study allows us to understand the influence of dye characteristics and ABS phase-forming compounds on the recovery efficiency of dyes, demonstrating the advantages of using this type of system in the design of a circular and sustainable extraction platform for the recovery and concentration of these compounds, as well as identifying the necessary improvements to successfully implement ABS-based processes at an industrial scale.

Mechanical, thermogravimetric, and dynamic mechanical behavior of high-performance textile structural composite panels for automotive applications

The present study investigates the mechanical behavior of the textile structural composite (TSC) panels produced from different textile structures such as chopped fibre, unidirectional (UD), bidirectional (2D plain), and three-dimensional (3D) orthogonal woven structures using two different high-performance fibres (glass and basalt) for automotive components such as door and bonnet of a car. These composite specimens were manufactured by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was carried out to evaluate morphological damage and fractography of fabricated composites. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the TSC panels were also carried out. Basalt fibre reinforced textile structural composites (BFRTSC) exhibited higher specific tensile, flexural, and impact strength as compared to glass fibre reinforced textile structural composites (GFRTSC). The basalt UD preform reinforced composite panels show a ∼ 372 % increment in specific tensile strength, ∼ 436 % increment in specific flexural strength, and ∼ 818 % increment in specific impact strength as compared to the conventional metallic automotive components. The TGA and DMA confirmed that the developed BFRTSC panels are thermally stable and exhibited higher storage modulus compared to GFRTSC panels. The developed TSC panels are considered a potential candidate to replace traditional metallic counterparts in automotives.

Fabric-structural Parameters Affecting the Mechanical Properties of Fabric-cement Composites

This research work studies the effects of fabric structure on the mechanical properties of fabric cement composites. Seven fabric structures from the same fabric material were used. In this work different sets of specimens were made with different fabric layers after that these specimens were tested on tensile, bending and compression testing machines. It was found that the mechanical properties of the composite materials were influenced by the properties of the reinforced fabric. Fabric tensile strength, which is determined by the fabric's structure, construction, and the number of reinforced fabric layers, is the key factor influencing both tensile and flexural strength of the cement composites. Additionally, when the number of fabric layers increases, some attributes of composites, such as tensile and bending strength, increase while compressive strength decreases.

Automated woven background removal for enhanced infrared thermographic inspection of fabric composites

Infrared thermography is a promising non-destructive testing methodology for the inspection of composite materials. While there are many accounts in literature that report an excellent performance on unidirectional composite laminates, this is not the case for woven fabric composites. Their inspection is typically characterised by the presence of an imprint of the weave pattern in the thermographic recordings, which is most-often found to be disturbing for reliable anomaly detection. In this contribution, it is proposed to evaluate the thermographic data in ????-space in order to separate the weave pattern from the defect information. To this end, an algorithm is introduced to automatically perform this decomposition. The efficiency of the proposed methodology is demonstrated for several weave patterns with different defect cases.

Preparation technology and experiments of textile lattice sandwich composites

Textile lattice sandwich composite (TLSC) with excellent debonding resistance has been widely investigated. In this paper, the preparation technology of TLSC was improved by foam filling technology, namely hand lay-up and vacuum infusion process, and the flexural properties were studied. The microscope images of TLSC specimens were observed. The structure and resin distribution of TLSC specimens prepared by the above technology was compared. Three-point bending experiments studied the bending properties of foam-filled specimens. The results show that the TLSC specimen prepared by the vacuum infusion process has more resin distribution and high-quality structural form. The obvious resin-rich region appears on the TLSC specimen prepared by hand lay-up. The foam-filling technology can significantly enhance the strength and stiffness of the structure.

Impact of yarn compositions, loop length, and float stitches on the mechanical behavior of knitted fabrics via full factorial design and RSM

This article presents a study on the tensile properties of knitted fabrics commonly employed in polymeric matrix textile composites. The key mechanical parameters investigated include stress (Pa), strain, Young's modulus (Pa), and work of rupture (J). The knitted fabrics were developed using the Cixing Knitting System software and subsequently manufactured using a double jersey (electronic) flat knitting machine. The primary objective of this research was to explore the impact of various factors on the mechanical behavior of these knitted fabrics. The factors studied were wale and course directions, float stitch density, loop length (cm), and the type of synthetic knitting yarns used (100% polyester and 100% polyamide) along with different combinations of knitting yarns (100% cotton and 67% polyester/33% cotton hybrid). The adopted ASTM D 5034 standard, Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to evaluate the mechanical performance of these fabric structures. The findings of the study revealed that the statistical adjustment of the data set for stress, strain, Young's modulus, and work of rupture in knitted fabric structures significantly reduced the standard deviations for mechanical responses. This information holds particular significance as it pertains to the frequent use of these knitted fabric structures as reinforcement in textile-reinforced composite materials. Overall, this study sheds light on the mechanical behavior in structures of knitted fabrics used in polymeric matrix composites, providing valuable insights for the design and optimization of advanced textile-based materials.

On deformable object handling: multi-tool end-effector for robotized manipulation and layup of fabrics and composites

Over the past decades, robotic automation has expanded in numerous industrial sectors; however, manufacturing operations involving the manipulation of non-rigid products are mostly preserved manual. The dynamic distortion of flexible objects underlines limitations in robot cognition and dexterity. Inspired by the gaps in composites industry automation, this paper presents a novel multifunctional robot end-effector for the robotic automation of composites layup. Aiming a holistic confrontation of layup challenges, the proposed end-effector incorporates tools for (a) the manipulation of sheet materials, like composite fabrics of variable dimensions; (b) the grasping of core materials, like foam blocks; (c) the handling of peripheral tools; (d) the exertion of fitting forces; and (e) the application of resin in diverse mold geometry cavities. The meticulous design of the end-effector’s configuration allows for consistent and collision-free tool usage with no excess robot tool changes, granting even higher productivity and efficiency. The enhancement in robot dexterity and proficiency for layup operations is validated within an automotive case, where semi-automation is intended for the improvement in overall workstation’s efficiency, quality, ergonomics, and well-being.

Optimization of machining parameters during milling on glass fiber-reinforced textile composite

Optimization of machining parameters during milling on glass fiber-reinforced textile composite

The Impact of Routine Laundering on Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) Values for Commercially Available Sun-Protective Clothing.

Background Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has potentially harmful effects on the skin. Sunscreen products have historically focused on blocking UV-B radiation to prevent sunburns while efforts to block UV-A radiation have been lacking. UV protective clothing, rated by ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) values, has gained popularity as an alternative form of UV protection, offering a physical barrier against UV rays. However, concerns arise regarding the disclosure and sustainability of UV-protective textiles, as companies often do not disclose the methods used to achieve UV protection. The addition of chemical sunscreen additives to textiles raises questions about their potential release during laundering and their impact on sustained UV protection and environmental health. Further research is needed to understand the risks and benefits of these practices. Methods Seven garments from commercially available sun-protective brand names claiming UV protection were tested for UPF values. The garments were washed separately using cold water in commercially available detergent in cold water followed by drying on a low setting. UPF measurements were obtained at baseline and at intervals of 10 wash cycles until 50 wash cycles were completed. Results Two brands (Brands A and D) experienced a significant decrease in UPF value (70% to 78%) by the completion of 50 washes. Brand A disclosed the use of a nano-zinc additive in their garments while Brand D did not disclose the means of achieving UV protection. In comparison, five brands (Brands B, C, E, F, G) maintained relatively stable UPF values throughout the 50 washes. The comparison between Brand A and Brand G, who disclosed their UV protectionmethods, showed that Brand A gradually decreased in UPF value throughout thewasheswhile Brand G remained stable. Conclusion The findings suggest that textile compositions with UV finishes may lose their UPF effectiveness during laundering by loss of the finish used over time or the textile integrity could be affected. This raises questions about the necessity of adding these UV finishes if there are fabrics that can maintain their UPF values without them.

Fabrication of chitosan/phenylboronic acid/SiO2 hydrogel composite silk fabrics for enhanced adsorption and controllable release on luteolin

Due to the growing demand for self-health and safety, eco-friendly health textile products with natural colors and pharmacological functionalities have gained considerable popularity. Rapid adsorption and controlled release of active molecules are important issues for functional health textiles. In this study, a functionalized chitosan-based hydrogel composite silk fabric was prepared using chitosan, 3-carboxyphenylboronic acid, and 3-(2, 3-epoxypropyl oxygen) propyl silane by dip-pad and vacuum freeze-drying techniques. The results showed that the incorporation of chitosan/phenylboronic/SiO2 hydrogel into silk fibers improved the UV protection capacity, mechanical properties, and adsorption properties of silk fabrics. The effects of various parameters on the luteolin adsorption properties of silk fabrics were discussed, including metal salt types, salt dosage, pH value, dyeing temperature, initial luteolin concentration, and dyeing time. Under the dyeing temperature of 60 °C and pH of 6.8, the luteolin exhaustion of the composite silk was more than that of the untreated silk, and the adsorption process followed the quasi-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Furthermore, the luteolin-dyed composite silk materials exhibited strong antioxidant activity and controllable release behavior with various pH levels. The as-prepared chitosan-hydrogel composite silk could be a promising material for the sustained release of drugs in medical and healthcare textiles.