Fiber Powder Research Articles

Numerical and experimental investigation of Joule heating in a carbon fibre powder epoxy towpregging line

Powder epoxy based towpregs offer favourable processing and storage properties, thanks to the low viscosity and thermal stability of the powder epoxy. Low-cost, high-quality towpregs, which are suitable for automated fibre placement or filament winding applications, can be produced at a high production rate with an automated towpregging line. This study focuses on improving the towpregging process by analysing the heating characteristics of a towpregging line that employs Joule heating to impregnate carbon fibre tows with powder epoxy. A finite element analysis heat transfer model was developed to identify the relationship between processing parameters and heating of the carbon fibre tows. Model predictions matched well with experimental results. Using the temperature distribution predicted by the model, powder epoxy melting and sintering behaviour was investigated using semi-empirical equations. Results revealed that Joule heating provides efficient heating with very low power consumption. It was found that while it is possible to produce towpregs at high production speeds (15 m/min), slower speeds might yield more consistent quality. Using parametric studies in the model, it was shown that it is possible to increase towpregging line production rate without compromising the towpreg quality, by altering some of the key process parameters (supplied current, electrode distance etc.).

Sustainable organic substrate production using millicompost in combination with different plant residues for the cultivation of Passiflora edulis seedlings

The use of sustainable organic substrates of recognized quality is essential in the production of seedlings of fruit species. In this context, the present study aimed to formulate different sustainable organic substrates based on millicompost combined with different proportions of locally available organic waste, such as coconut fiber ( Cocos nucifera ) powder, gliricidia ( Gliricidia sepium) and elephant grass shavings ( Pennisetum purpureum) for the production of Passiflora edulis seedlings. The organic substrates used were as follows: S1- millicompost; S2- commercial substrate and substrates formulated based on millicompost: S3%–25% millicompost + 25% gliricidia + 25% elephant grass + 25% coconut fiber; S4%–50% millicompost+ 50% elephant grass; (S5) 50% millicompost+ 50% gliricidia; (S6) 50% millicompost+ 50% coconut fiber. At 56 days of sowing, the following morphological parameters were evaluated: shoot dry mass (SDM); root dry mass (RDM); plant height (PH); number of leaves (NL); stalk diameter (SD); root volume (RV); leaf area in cm 2 (LA); seedling vigor (SV) and clod stability (CS). The nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) accumulated in the shoot dry mass of the seedlings were determined after this period. The organic substrates that provided seedlings with significantly higher parameters (P <0.05) of SDM, RDM, PH, NL, SD, RV, LA, SV and CS were as follows: S1> S6> S5. The other substrates (S2, S3 and S4) presented seedlings with morphological parameters similar to each other. In addition, there was a greater accumulation of P, K Ca and Mg (P <0.05) in the shoot dry mass of the seedlings developed on the substrates S1> S6> S5. The substrates S6 and S5 represent two new options of sustainable substrates, being effective in the production of yellow passion fruit seedlings with excellent vegetative growth rates. • Millipedes are able to transform agricultural and urban waste into organic compost. • The use of millicompost in the cultivation of Passiflora edulis seedlings was evaluated for the first time. • The millicompost is efficient and has produced healthy and vigorous seedlings. • Organic substrates based on millicompost with powdered coconut fiber or gliricidia are efficient. • New organic substrate options for passion fruit seedling producers are available.

Directional chitosan/carbon fiber powder aerogel supported phase change composites for effective solar thermal energy conversion and hot compression

Solar energy is an important green energy. Its efficient utilization has attracted wide attention. Phase change materials can absorb and release significant amounts of latent heat, which are expected to compensate for the intermittence and instability of solar energy. In this study, directional chitosan/carbon fiber powder aerogels were successfully prepared as a support matrix by directional freezing technique for encapsulation of phase change materials. Carbon fiber powder with low cost, high thermal conductivity and good light absorption was selected as a light trap and heat conduction reinforcing filler. Paraffin was effectively encapsulated in directional chitosan/carbon fiber powder aerogels via vacuum impregnation. The prepared paraffin/chitosan@carbon fiber powder composites (PA/CS@CFP) can achieve a high load rate (>94 %) and maintain good encapsulation capability, high enthalpy (211.9–257.5 J/g), thermal stability, solar-thermal energy conversion and storage capability. The lightweight, directional, high porosity CS@CFP aerogels are good matrices of phase change materials, which can realize the solar-thermal conversion and enhance the thermal response of the composite. Additionally, a human heat pack was developed to provide heating for human comfort after solar charging. PA/CS@CFP composites have great potential for solar energy utilization, waste heat recovery, building energy saving, and hot compression.

Development of cookies enriched with fiber and calcium-rich Neolamarckia cadamba fruit powder

Development of cookies enriched with fiber and calcium-rich Neolamarckia cadamba fruit powder

Thermoplastic starch composite with oil palm mesocarp fiber waste and its application as biodegradable seeding pot

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) composites with oil palm mesocarp fiber waste were prepared using compression molding. Oil palm mesocarp fiber (PC) was reduced to powder (MPC) by dry grinding in a planetary ball mill at various speeds and grinding times. It was found that fiber powder with the smallest particle size (33 μm) was obtained at a rotation speed of 200 rpm after milling for 90 min. A TPS composite with 50 wt% of MPC showed the highest tensile strength, thermal stability, and water resistance. A biodegradable seeding pot was produced from this TPS composite that was slowly degraded by microorganisms in the soil without releasing pollutants. The pot could support certain commercially and domestically grown plants for the duration of their growth period and showed potential as an innovative product that could replace existing non-biodegradable products.

Mechanical Characteristics and Self-Monitoring Technique of Smart Cementitious Mixtures with Carbon Fiber and Graphite Powder as Hybrid Functional Additives

In this paper, the self-sensing properties of cementitious composites under compressive loads were investigated by utilizing hybrid functional fillers, which are responsible for creating an electrical network that is used to build the self-sensing capability within the traditional cement-based mixtures. Most of the previous works depict the self-sensing capability with the aid of one type of functional fillers or fibers. The present paper attempts to utilize two types of functional fillers, representing a gap filling within the subject. Four hybrid proportions of Graphite (G) (wt.%) and carbon fibers (CF) (vol.%) were introduced. These are (0.5, 1.0), (1.0, 0.75), (1.5, 0.50) and (2.0, 0.25) respectively. In addition to carbon-based materials, polypropylene, polyolefin, and steel fibers are used as reinforcing fibers. One type of fiber was utilized in each manufactured mixture with a constant rate of 2% by volume of the mixture. A plain mixture without functional fillers has also been manufactured. The samples were non-destructively tested by an ultrasonic device before a uniaxial compression test was performed. To verify the self-sensing properties of the manufactured samples, the electrical resistance of the samples was recorded during load application each second. The self-sensing behavior was better for mixtures containing high dosages of graphite with respect to the fractional change in electrical resistivity (FCER). Steel and polyolefin fibers showed good results in terms of compressive strength behavior. However, polypropylene fibers showed the lowest compression strength among all types of reinforcing fibers used.

Flexural strength of Epoxy resin and Bagasse fiber reinforced composite materials

In this research, we are going to take out to investigate flexural strength and tensile strength properties of composite material with the using of epoxy resin and bagasse fibre in the powder form. These composites are bonded using epoxy resin and hardener mixed in appropriate volume. This composite was prepared with using bagasse fibre in powder form and the bagasse fibre powder used with different ratio in each material which are prepared and we found the high strength at the using 5gm bagasse fibre powder in both of Tensile and Flexural strength. Here for preparing specimen using Hand layup method. It can be use in more way because rare future of the environmentally friendly, waste utilization, good strength, bio-degradability and alternative for plastic.

The gastrointestinal and microbiome impact of a resistant starch blend from potato, banana, and apple fibers: A randomized clinical trial using smart caps.

The gastrointestinal (GI) impact of fibers including resistant starch (RS) consumption depends on various types and amounts of fibers, the initial microbiome states, and accurate intake measurements. A randomized clinical trial evaluated the GI impact of varying doses of a novel resistant starch blend (RSB) with smart cap monitoring. RSB contained at least 50% RS and was a proprietary mixture of a potato starch, green banana flour, and apple fiber powder (a source of apple pectin, not resistant starch). The study design randomized participants to one of four arms: 10 g/day of potato starch (0 RSB), 10 g/day of RSB, 10 to 20 to 20 g/day of RSB or 10 to 20 to 30 g/day RSB for two-week intervals over 6 weeks. Results confirmed that while resistant starch of approximately 5 g per day improves GI symptoms at 2, 4, and 6 weeks, it did not demonstrate a detectable effect on short chain fatty acids. Increasing doses of the blend (RSB) led to a decrease in the diarrhea score. Using an estimate of total consumption of RSB based on smart cap recordings of container openings and protocol-specified doses of RSB, a reduction in the sleep disturbance score was associated with higher RSB dose. The exploratory microbiome evaluation demonstrated that among the 16S rRNA gene sequences most associated with the consumption of the novel blend RSB, two belong to taxa of notable interest to human health: Faecalibacterium and Akkermansia.

\(\textit{In vitro}\) regeneration and acclimatization of \(\textit{Anthurium scherzerianum }\)schott plants

This study investigated the effects of different PGRs on in vitro plant regeneration of Anthurium scherzerianum Schott and acclimatization in the ex vitro stage. Depending on the objective of each experiment, the in vitro shoots were induced from callus cultured on a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing cytokinins and auxins. Results showed that 90% of leaf explants and 48% of petiole explants produced callus. A half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l Kinetin (KIN) gave the best result for shoot regeneration and 1.5 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) is suitable for rooting of A. scherzerianum. The culture vessel having a hole on the cap gave the best result on the growth of A. scherzerianum plantlets. After 90 days transferred to the greenhouse, in vitro plantlets which were cultivated on a mixed substrate of coconut fiber powder: rice husk ash: compost (6:3:1, respectively) had a better growth (shoot length of 8.88 cm, root length of 3.44 cm) than those on another mixed substrate of coconut fiber powder: compost (9:1, respectively).

Flexible biomimetic materials with excellent photothermal performance and superhydrophobicity

Although thousands of superhydrophobic composites have been reported, it is still a challenge to develop eco-friendly superhydrophobic materials by a simple and low-cost strategy. Here, a paper-based superhydrophobic material was prepared by carbon fiber powders and polydimethylsiloxane through a facile spraying method. This obtained material has excellent liquid resistance and self-cleaning properties, whose contact angle reaches 155°. In addition, it possesses excellent photothermal conversion characteristics with a stable surface temperature of 73.4 °C and good water evaporation performance with an evaporation rate up to 1.08 kg/(m2·h) under one solar intensity (100 mW/cm2). Also, it has outstanding self-deicing performance, whose deicing time is 120 s earlier than that of the untreated surface under one solar intensity. An adaptability test shows this strategy of functional coatings can also be applied to other fiber substrates (coating paper, kraft paper, non-woven fabric, paulownia veneer, etc.). Overall, this superhydrophobic material has a promising application prospect in many fields such as waterproof packaging, deicing materials, water evaporation materials, etc.

A Review on Flexural Properties of Wood-Plastic Composites.

Wood–plastic composite (WPC) is a kind of composite material that is made of plastic and wood fiber or wood powder. Because it is mothproof, is resistant to corrosion, and has plasticity, among other advantages, it has been researched and used increasingly in building materials. The flexural property of WPC is an important subject in evaluating its mechanical properties. In this paper, wood–plastic raw materials and processing technology are introduced; the internal and external factors of WPC which affect the flexural properties are analyzed; the different ways of enhancing the bending capacity, including the surface pretreatment, addition of different modifiers (compatibility agent and coupling agent) etc. are summarized; and the methods of operation and strengthening effect are analyzed. This work provides a reference for further research in related fields.

Effect of fiber content and plasticizer on mechanical and joint properties of carbon fiber powder reinforced PLA manufactured by 3D printing process

This study investigates the mechanical and joint properties of the carbon fiber powder (CFP) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by 3D printing process. Composite filaments with various contents of CFP (5 wt.%, 10 wt.% and 15 wt.%) were prepared using a single screw extruder. Adherends and tensile test specimens were printed by an open-source 3D printer. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was used as a plasticizer to improve the ductility of the PLA and PLA/CFP composite. Experimental results revealed that the CFP considerably improved the mechanical properties and the joint strengths of the composite specimens. Incorporating PEO into the blends enhanced ductility for both tensile and joint specimens but reduced strength. The SEM images showed that the fiber/matrix adhesion is weak. However, the parallel orientation of the fibers to the load direction together with their uniform distribution in the matrix increased the mechanical properties of the composites. SEM observations also showed that the addition of PEO caused porous matrix structure which is responsible for the increase in ductility of the PLA and its composites. Global yielding (G.Y) criterion was used to predict the joint failure loads and a comparison was made between experimental and predicted failure loads. The comparisons showed that the G.Y criterion over-predicted the failure loads. The minimum and maximum difference between experimental and predicted failure loads were 12.96% and 28.10%, respectively. At last, recommendations for further studies were also presented.

Influences of powder morphology on the densification and microstructure of a ZrO2‐based nanocrystalline glass–ceramic

AbstractMorphology is an important characteristic of raw powder utilized for ceramic sintering but the role of powder morphology is mostly overlooked. In this study, two types of ZrO2–SiO2 powder with different morphologies (fiber and particle) were synthesized by blow spinning and sol–gel method, respectively, followed by direct current electric field‐assisted hot pressing (FAHP) to obtain nanocrystalline glass–ceramics (NCGCs). Results showed that the two as‐synthesized powders had different pyrolysis behaviors. The two types of as‐synthesized powders were amorphous and tetragonal‐ZrO2 nanocrystallites first formed after calcination at 800°C. During FAHP, the particle powder can be densified at a lower temperature than that of the fiber powder, due to the facts that the particle powder showed higher specific surface area and higher densification driving force. The fiber powder was predominately densified by fiber fusion and plastic deformation, whereas the particle powder was densified via particle fusion. Both the two types of powder can be fully densified to obtain ZrO2–SiO2 NCGCs at 1230°C for 4 min. Tetragonal‐ZrO2 nanocrystallites in the NCGCs with particles as raw powder showed higher stability than those in the NCGCs with fibers as raw powder.

Effect of Sintering Temperature on Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Titanium Matrix Composites.

Carbon fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites were prepared by powder metallurgy. Carbon fiber (CF) powder and titanium (Ti) powder are mixed, pressed, and then sintered at a high temperature of 1300–1500 °C. The morphology and conductivity of carbon fiber-reinforced titanium matrix (Ti-CF) composites were studied. When the temperature range of the Ti-CF composites was from 1300 to 1500 °C, the porosity and resistivity first decreased and then increased. When the sintering temperature was 1350 °C, the diffraction peak of the sample was the strongest, the porosity was the smallest (4.16%), and the resistivity was the smallest (2.7 MΩ·mm). CFs have a very good strengthening effect on titanium-based composite materials.

Preparation and Nutritional Quality Evaluation of Fruit Peel Candies

The major motive of this research work is to study the preparation of candies from orange and lemon peels. Citrus peels are the discarded or waste material from citrus fruits which are used as a main ingredient in this research to utilize fruit waste and to reduce harmful effects on the environment and to produce value added products. Orange peels are an excellent source of vit-C, fibre, vit-B6, folic acid, calcium and other nutrients. Due to the presence of naturally occurring chemical limonene they have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemon peels are a good source of calcium, potassium, fibre, vit-C and healthy enzymes and flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Orange and lemon peels were dried to obtain high fibre and vit-C rich powder which is then used to prepare candies. Three samples of candies were prepared- C1(20 g orange peel powder + 100 g sugar), C2 (20 g lemon peel powder + 100 g sugar), C3(10 g orange peel powder+10 g lemon peel powder + 100 g sugar). Physio-chemical properties of candies such as pH, moisture content and Ash content were determined by using AOAC methods. Crude fibre, total sugar, vitamin C content and shelf-life of prepared candy were analysed. Sensory evaluation of candies was done by using hedonic scale.

Evaluation, Characterization of Fiber Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Corncob (Zea mays L.) during Alkalization

Corncob fiber powder was prepared by alkaline process, and their effects were investigated on the composition, physicochemical, and antioxidant properties of dietary fiber (DF) products. DF content was determined using AOAC enzymatic-gravimetric analysis, &#x0D; while chemical composition in fiber was observed on &#x0D; cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The results showed that cellulose content of significantly increased while hemicellulose and lignin was observed decreasing. Correspondingly, content of the insoluble, soluble, and total DF of corncob was increased by 14.72-20.77, 28.86-47.43, and 15.12-21.42%, respectively. Furthermore, the particle size of DF is distributed in a range from 58.50-83.90 µm. XRD analysis showed the characteristics of cellulose that exhibited increasing crystalline degree from 29.33% to 53.53% and 59.62%, respectively. FTIR shows that the DF matrix structure does not change and in the presence of special structures of cellulose compounds. The SEM results showed that the alkaline process could significantly decrease the particle size and influence on the physicochemical and functional properties of corncob insoluble DF. The results also showed that DF extract has lower DPPH radical scavenging activity. The results suggest that corncob DF have good potential candidate for dietary fiber containing antioxidant ingredient and for their further applications in food.

Rheological Behavior and Dynamic Mechanical Properties for Interpretation of Layer Adhesion in FDM 3D Printing.

Commercial filaments of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites with particulate filler, carbon fiber, and copper powder with different contents were fabricated by FDM 3D printing in XZ-direction at bed temperatures of 45 °C and 60 °C. The effects of additives and bed temperatures on layer adhesion, fracture behavior, and mechanical performance of the PLA composites 3D printing were evaluated. Rheological properties informed viscous nature of all filaments and interface bonding in the PLA composites, which improved printability and dimensional stability of the 3D printing. Crystallinity of the PLA composites 3D printing increased with increasing bed temperature resulting in an improvement of storage modulus, tensile, and flexural properties. On the contrary, the ductility of the 3D printing was raised when printed at low bed temperature. Dynamic mechanical properties, the degree of entanglement, the adhesion factor, the effectiveness coefficient, the reinforcing efficiency factor, and the Cole–Cole analysis were used to understand the layer adhesion, and the interfacial interaction of the composites as compared to the compression molded sheets. SEM images revealed good adhesion between the additives and the PLA matrix. However, the additives induced faster solidification and showed larger voids in the 3D printing, which indicated lower layer adhesion as compared to neat PLA. It can be noted that the combination of the additives and the optimized 3D printing conditions would be obtain superior mechanical performance even layer adhesion has been restricted.

Evaluation of the Technological Properties of Soil–Cement Bricks with Incorporation of Coconut Fiber Powder

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of soil by different percentages of coconut fiber powder in the manufacture of soil–cement bricks. The reference mix ratio of 10:1 (soil:cement) in volume was used for the manufacture of bricks, in addition to the partial replacement of soil mass by 5, 10, and 15% of coconut fiber. The characterization of the raw materials was performed with the analysis of the granulometry, together with technological tests, such as mechanical compressive strength and water absorption. As a result, it was observed that the soil has 34.30% clay and 62.80% sand, characterizing a sandy-clay soil type and the coconut fiber powder was characterized as a fine aggregate. The mechanical compressive strength tests showed a decrease in their average values according to the increase in the incorporation of coconut fiber into the bricks. It was concluded that the results of the mechanical compressive strength and some of the water absorption are in disagreement with the Brazilian technical standard. This conclusion corroborates other studies that show the difficulty in standardizing reference mixtures and working with soil, which is a highly heterogeneous material.

Effects of basalt fiber powder on mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete

In this study, the mechanical properties and microstructure of concrete containing basalt fiber (BF) powder were investigated. BF powder at five volumetric dosages of 0, 0.05 %, 0.1 %, 0.15 %, and 0.2 % were used to determine the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. In addition, the durability of the concrete at the optimal dosage was studied by erosion resistance, shrinkage deformation, and steel corrosion rate tests. The microstructure development was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction techniques. Experimental results showed that BF powder reinforced the concrete in a dosage-dependent manner. Relative to the late strength, it had a better reinforcement effect on the early strength of the concrete. Furthermore, the anti-abrasion performance of the concrete with a 0.20-vol % BF powder was significantly improved. According to the SEM, the incorporation of the BF powder led to development of Calcium Silicate Hydrate(C-S-H), which further refined the pores and promoted densification. Therefore, this study on BF powder to improve the properties of concrete is of significance for the further research and practical engineering applications.

Karakteristik Fisik Morfologi, pH, dan Waktu Alir Serbuk Serat Ampas Kelapa sebagai Bahan Pengisi Sediaan Farmasi

Utilization of coconut pulp fiber is still low so that it can be used in the pharmaceutical industry. This study aims to determine the physical characteristics of morphology, pH, and flow time of coconut pulp fiber powder as a filler in pharmaceutical preparations. The procedure of this research was started by making coconut pulp fiber powder, morphological characteristic test, pH test, and flow time test. The results of this study are: (1) Morphological characteristics test, coconut pulp fiber powder has a slightly yellowish white color, tasteless, odorless, and roughness of 426-600 m which means it is in accordance with pharmaceutical grade; (2) the pH of the powder is 6.43 which means it is close to neutral; and (3) the flow time test showed a result of 4.73 grams/second, which means the powder can flow well. In conclusion, coconut pulp powder can be used as a filler in pharmaceutical preparations.