Fiber-reinforced Polyester Research Articles

Erosion wear assessment of sugarcane fibre reinforced polymer composites for applications of wind turbine blades

This research reports erosion wear characteristics of polyester matrix composite reinforced with short fibres of sugar cane. Erosion tests were conducted using silica sand particles of size (200–500 µm) using a locally designed air jet-type erosion test rig. The sugarcane fibre-reinforced polyester composites (5% wt.) with different fibre lengths (3, 12, 48 mm) were impacted by sand particles at a fixed velocity of 60 m/s, impact angles (30°, 60°, 90°) and erodent weight of (2500,7500) gm. ANOVA approach was used to determine the most significant parameter and their combinations that minimize the erosion rate. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations were conducted to investigate the erosion mechanisms. Results indicated that the erosion rate is greatly influenced by fibre length as well as the erodent weight. Moreover, at an erodent weight of 2500gm, the behaviour of the material turns from brittle into ductile. At an erodent weight of 7500gm, the erosion rate is inversely proportional to the fibre length.

Identification of regularities in the behavior of a glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite of the impact test based on ASTM D256 standard

In this research, commotional analysis based on the finite element analysis (FEA) has been performed to investigate IZOD impact test based on the ASTM D256 standard. The ANSYS model primarily employs a composite constructed of glass fiber-reinforced polyester for the boundary conditions. The CEAST 9050 instrument was used to implement the impacting technique in the experimental inquiry. By employing mathematics, we have calculated that the applied force is 9.2 N. A hammer traveling at a speed of 3.5 meters per second is used to strike the samples, and the results are recorded after each blow. The object of this study is the mechanical properties and structural integrity of the composite material composed of glass fibers and polyester when subjected to impact forces. The main hypothesis of the study encompasses the optimism that the glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite, when put through the Izod impact test in accordance with ASTM D256. Convergence between the overall deformation indicator and the numerical result has occurred. Results from the numerical analysis were examined and confirmed, and compared to those from the experiment. The specimens in this study were totally distorted at three different thicknesses (6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm). Deformation was found to be greatest for the thinnest value of thickness considered in the study (6 millimeters), as determined by the results of the computer analysis. This was the case even though the thickness value was not the sole criterion. This is the actual state of affairs. The specimen was subjected to a von-Mises stress at three different thicknesses of 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm. The computer investigation revealed that the Von-Mises stress was highest at the thinnest possible thickness of just 6 millimeters. Internal energy, kinetic energy, and touch energy are only few of the various types of energy that have been studied in the context of energy conservation

Degradation of Kapok Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Composites with Calcium Carbonate Filler in Seawater

This research investigates the development of polyester composites reinforced with kapok fiber and CaCO3 filler to reduce environmental impact. Natural fibers, valued for their lightweight, fire resistance, cost-effectiveness, and biodegradability, are commonly used in composites. However, synthetic fibers, despite their superior mechanical properties, raise environmental concerns. The study focuses on the composites' performance, stability, and endurance in harsh conditions. Kapok fibers were manually extracted, and CaCO3 powder was sieved to 80 mesh. Composite samples were created with varying volume fractions of CaCO3 powder and kapok fibers, using polyester as the matrix. Tensile and bending tests, according to ASTM D3039 and ASTM D790 standards, were conducted on these samples. Additionally, water absorption was assessed gravimetrically, and mechanical strength degradation was studied via immersion in artificial seawater at different temperatures. Results indicated that water absorption increased with higher fiber volume fractions in the composite, primarily due to the water-absorbing capabilities of natural fibers and CaCO3 particles, surpassing that of polyester resin. Increased immersion temperatures accelerated water diffusion, impacting interactions between water molecules, polymer chains, and natural fibers. Furthermore, an increase in the CaCO3 filler volume fraction negatively affected the mechanical strength of kapok polyester-fiber composites. This was attributed to the agglomeration of CaCO3 powder, disrupting the polyester resin's viscosity and damaging the bond between kapok fiber and the matrix. The composites exhibited their highest tensile strength with 10% CaCO3 filler before immersion, but this strength decreased following exposure to high temperatures.

Investigation on mechanical behaviour of calcium carbonate and groundnut shell filler added cocos nucifera fiber reinforced polyester composites

Natural fiber-reinforced composites have become superior materials due to their potential to replace synthetic fibers, because of their low density, lightweight, low-cost biodegradability, and high specific strength. This study finds out the mechanical properties of coir fiber-reinforced polyester matrix composites with the addition of filler content. The composites were fabricated using a compression molding machine with a dimension of (300x300x3) mm. Totally 6 laminates were fabricated with variations in fiber and filler content. The fabricated composites were cut the different types of ASTM standards. The mechanical properties of the calcium carbonate and groundnut shell-filler added coconut fiber- reinforced polyester composites were studied. The maximum tensile, flexural, and impact strength was achieved by 29.6 MPa, 56.8 MPa, and 34.8 kJ/m2 respectively. The addition of fillers in composite increases the mechanical strength. Fractography studies were used to analyze the fracture behaviour in fiber-reinforced composites. Coir fiber-reinforced composite materials are applicable for low load-bearing applications

Study of Ultraviolet Radiation Effect on the Mechanical Properties of Jute and Montmorillonite Nanoclay Reinforced Polyester Nanocomposites

In this research, the effect of UV light on the mechanical properties of jute polymer nanocomposites was evaluated. Due to the fact that photodegradation is a surface process and is confined to the degradation of the mechanical characteristics of polyester resin, this study focuses on the resin quality. Therefore, test samples comprised of fibre-reinforced polyester nanoclay composites were fabricated different weight ratios of nanoclay. They were put through UV exposure in an Ultraviolet (UV) chamber. Tensile testing samples were made in accordance with ASTMD638 and had a minimum thickness of 3 mm. Additionally, specimens for Flexural and Impact testing were also produced. Samples were treated at various time intervals under UV radiation and their mechanical properties were determined. The effect of nano additives in preventing the deterioration of polyester’s mechanical qualities was also investigated, and it was found that the addition of clay to polyester resin reduces the deterioration level by 19.86%, 9.38%, and 13.53% when compared to pure polyester resin’s tensile, flexural, and impact properties, respectively. The results demonstrated that samples containing nano additives were less susceptible to UV damage than that of the samples without nanoclay. This is because of the fact that when clay was added to the polymer, its platelets totally exfoliated and acted as barriers against the entry of UV radiation.

The Reduction Factor of Pultrude Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polyester Composite Cross-Arm: A Comparative Study on Mathematical Modelling for Life-Span Prediction.

This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of pultruded composite glass fibre-reinforced polymer (pGFRP) cross-arms subjected to flexural creep behaviour to assess their performance and sustainability in composite cross-arm structure applications. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the failure creep behaviour of pGFRP cross-arms with different stacking sequences. Specifically, the study aimed to understand the variations in strain rate exhibited during different stages of the creep process. Therefore, this study emphasizes a simplified approach within the experiment, numerical analysis, and mathematical modelling of three different pGFRP composites to estimate the stiffness reduction factors that determine the prediction of failure. The findings show that Findley's power law and the Burger model projected very different strains and diverged noticeably outside the testing period. Findley's model estimated a minimal increase in total strain over 50 years, while the Burger model anticipated PS-1 and PS-2 composites would fail within about 11 and 33 years, respectively. The Burger model's forecasts might be more reasonable due to the harsh environment the cross-arms are expected to withstand. The endurance and long-term performance of composite materials used in overhead power transmission lines may be predicted mathematically, and this insight into material property factors can help with design and maintenance.

Investigation of mechanical properties of aluminum–glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite joints bonded with structural epoxy adhesives reinforced with silicon dioxide and graphene oxide particles

In this work, to investigate the mechanical properties of aluminum–glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite joints bonded with structural epoxy adhesives reinforced with silicon dioxide (SD) and graphene oxide (GO) particles, firstly, SD and GO particles were added to epoxy adhesive in varied weight percentages. After the surface treatment made by sanding aluminum and composite sheets with abrasive sandpaper, aluminum sheets and glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite sheets were bonded. Adhesives containing 0.2% SD and 0.25% GO had tensile strengths that were approximately 15.89% and 14.03% greater than neat epoxy, respectively. The lap shear strength of neat epoxy was improved with the addition of filler in all samples, and 0.2% SD and 0.25% GO-reinforced adhesives increased the shear strength of the neat epoxy by 66.57% and 125%, respectively. The adhesion, thin-layer cohesive and light-fiber tear were noted, as well as cohesive and fiber-tear failures based on the damaged surfaces of the samples.

Advanced Ultrasonic Inspection of Thick-Section Composite Structures for In-Field Asset Maintenance.

An investigation into the inspection capabilities of in-field advanced ultrasound detection for use on ultra-thick (20 to 100 mm) glass fibre-reinforced polyester composites is presented. Plates were manufactured using custom moulding techniques, such that delamination flaws were created at calibrated depths. The full matrix capture technique with an on-board total focussing method was used to detect flaws scanned by a 0.5 MHz linear array probe. Flaw through-thickness dimensions were altered to assess the threshold for crack face separation at which delaminations could be identified. Furthermore, part thickness and in-plane flaw dimensions were varied to identify the inspection capability limitations of advanced ultrasonics for thick composites. The results presented in this study demonstrate an inverse relationship between the ability to find delaminations and plate thicknesses, with inspections successful at depths up to 74 mm. When the delamination thickness exhibited surface-to-surface contact, the inspection capability was reduced to 35 mm. There was an exponential decay relationship between the accuracy of the flaw depth measurement and plate thickness, likely due to the necessity of low probe frequencies. The effective inspection depth was determined to be in the range of 1 to 20 times the wavelength. It is speculated that the accuracy of measurements could be improved using probes with novel coupling solutions, and detectors with optimised signal processing/filtration algorithms.

The development of composite reinforced hybrid fiber musa acuminata stem-hibiscus tiliaceust bark with filler liquid rubber as vehicle bumper

The characterized of the polyester composites reinforced of the hybrid fiber musa acuminata stem fiber (MASF)-hibiscus tiliaceust bark fiber (HTBF) with liquid rubber filler was studied. The object of research is the polyester composite material, hybrid natural fiber reinforcement and filler Carboxyl Terminated Butadiene Acrylonitryle (CTBN). The polyester composite material which is used as a vehicle bumper, is easily broken and has low heat resistance so that its shape easily changes/shrinks due to heat. This research aims to develop the tensile strength, impact toughness and heat resistance of polyester composites. The reason for using the MASF-HTBF hybrid fiber as a reinforcement for polyester composite materials is because MASF and HTBF are natural fibers that have great potential to be developed to improve the mechanical properties of polyester composites, as substitutes for synthetic fibers. In this study, the conditions of MASF and HTBF were given alkaline treatment by immersing them in 5 % NaOH solution for 24 hours then drying. The combined/hybrid ratio between the MASF and CTBF volume fractions is: 5 %:25 %, 10 %:20 % and 15 %:15 %. To increase impact toughness, CTBN filler is added with variations of 5 %, 10 %. The mechanical characteristics of the specimens were carried out by means of a tensile test and an impact test. The change in mass or shrinkage as a result is tested by TGA. The results showed that the MASF-HTBF hybrid fiber-reinforced polyester composite material with CTBN filler has better mechanical properties than single natural fibers, so it is important to develop it further as a material for making vehicle bumper

Numerical and experimental validation of the static performance of a full-scale flax fiber-polyester composite bridge model to support the design of an innovative footbridge

This paper deals with the numerical and experimental analysis of a large-scale footbridge model made of flax fiber-reinforced polyester composite. The goal of this work was to support the design of the 15 m span flax-polyester footbridge installed at the Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere, the Netherlands. The model stacking sequence, thicknesses, material, and vacuum infusion technology are identical to those of the footbridge. For the numerical analysis, a multi-layered laminate was modeled using ABAQUS with a composite layup and continuous shell elements. The model was equipped with 16 embedded fiber-optic Bragg grating (FBG) sensors for strain sensing and mechanical evaluation. The specimen was subjected to monotonic loading and unloading. Numerical results were compared with those obtained from the load test. The good agreement revealed the correctness of the assumptions. This study provides a design methodology based on numerical and experimental investigation, to overcome uncertainties derived from the application of this innovative material for load-bearing applications in footbridges.

A Comparative Study of the Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Jute and Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Composites

A Comparative Study of the Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Jute and Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Composites

Optimized Strength of Chopped Strand Mat Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Laminates with Single-Edge Notch under the Effects of Notch Shape/Size and Strain Rate

Optimized Strength of Chopped Strand Mat Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Laminates with Single-Edge Notch under the Effects of Notch Shape/Size and Strain Rate

Effect of combined natural and synthetic filler addition on the behaviour of glass fibre reinforced composite

ABSTRACT This study was focused on developing and evaluating the impacts of wood and graphite fillers on an E-glass fibre-reinforced polyester composite. The fillers employed in this study include teak, casuarina, psuedon wood dust, graphite, and hybrid fillers such as casuarina and graphite fillers. They tested for tension, flexural, impact, hardness, and dynamic mechanical analysis. In the current work, the optimum loading level is 15 wt% which was determined through testing at various loading levels. The experimental results have shown that the mechanical, physical, and thermomechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polyester composites improvement mechanism analysis depend upon chemically treated wood dust fillers by avoiding surface delamination during fabrication. By using the hand layup method, composites were created by maintaining the fibre constant while distributing the fillers following the rule of mixture; a hybrid composite has a filler distribution of 1:1. Hybrid composite has exhibited increased flexural strength and hardness by 72.77%, 63.33% compared to casuarina wood of 15 wt% by avoiding incompatibility of casuarina wood filler with the resin. The glass transition value of the hybrid composite was increased by 1.4% compared to the above said casuarina wood composite, making it a more thermally resistant material. The hardness of the hybrid composite has increased by 2.78% compared to the teak wood of 15 wt% composite.

Study the effects of fiber loading and orientation on the tensile properties of date palm fiber-reinforced polyester composite

Study the effects of fiber loading and orientation on the tensile properties of date palm fiber-reinforced polyester composite

The effect of fiber stacking sequence on mechanical and morphological behavior of paddy straw/pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced ortho-laminated polyester hybrid composites

The contemporary agricultural natural fiber is effectively used for fabricating composites because of its economical, ample availability, and biodegradability. In this way, the potential material for the reinforcement of hybrid (paddy straw and pineapple leaf) fiber- and ortho-laminated polyester composites was conducted. This research article is focused on the hybridization of untreated, treated, and paddy pulp fiber-reinforced polyester composite laminates. The unidirectional paddy straw fiber and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) were used in the fabrication process of laminate using a compression molding machine with the mold dimensions of 300 × 300 × 5 mm is used and the investigation of mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, shear) behaviors are conducted in the samples as per the standard. Five samples were prepared by varying the fiber content in the matrix in which sample S1 pure polyester plate without any addition of reinforcement. Out of these five samples, sample 4 (S4) produced better tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and shear values of 28 MPa, 61 MPa, 3.46 Joules, 64 HR L, and 68.7 MPa, respectively. Comparing the laminate samples of S1 and S4 there is a 35.2% increase in the tensile value of S4, similarly, other values also resulted in better hikes. In addition to that, the water absorption properties of the laminate were also evaluated and fiber breakage, fiber pullout, fiber orientation, crack propagation, and voids on the fractured specimens were identified with help of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Overall, the fabricated hybrid composite laminates were lightweight and has good fiber-matrix bonding with improved mechanical and morphological properties for commercial and home need applications.

Effect of Surface Modification on the Impact Strength and Hardness of Areca Husk Fibre Reinforced Polyester Resin Composite

Reinforced natural fibre composite materials are attracting greater attention in the area of material engineering due to their low density, low cost and higher mechanical strength. In the present study, the Areca Husk Fiber (AHF) was extracted through the retting process. The surface modification of AHF was done by chemical treatments such as mercerization, potassium permanganate treatment, benzoylation, acrylation and acetylation. The surface modification was studied through FE-SEM imaging. The composites of surface modified AHF reinforced polyester resin composites were prepared as per ASTM standards using polyester resin as matrix material and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO) as hardener. The Izod-Charpy impact strength, Hardness (Shore-) hardness analysis was carried out to study the mechanical behaviour of the composites. The results showed that surface modification of AHF can enhance the impact strength of the composite materials but not the hardness of the composites.

Investigating the tensile and flexural strength of sunflower oil treated Ethiopian Highland bamboo fibre reinforced polyester composites

As bamboo composites have wide applications, this study investigated the mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) of oil-treated Ethiopian Highland bamboo fibre/polyester laminated composites using an experimental and analytical approach. The goal of oil treatment is to soften the components of bamboo fibre, resulting in more flexible fibre strands with high tensile and flexural strengths. The composite was manufactured using hand layup methods with a fibre/matrix ratio of 35%/ 65% by volume. The fibre orientations used in the laminates were [0]5 for both tensile and bending tests. The maximum tensile and flexural stresses of oil-treated bamboo fibre-reinforced polyester composite (OBFP) were 193.3 MPa and 173.4 MPa, respectively. These outcomes surpassed untreated bamboo fibre-reinforced polyester composites by 39.6% and 50.2% (UBFP), respectively. The fibre tensile and flexural strains were increased by 25.1% and 25.7%, respectively, as a result of oil treatment. According to the findings, oil-treated bamboo fibre laminates exhibited better tensile and flexural characteristics. The oil treatment lubricated the fibre and increased strand flexibility to reduce abrupt breakage.

Mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties of natural fibre-reinforced polyester

Natural fibres have been used in a wide range of polymer composite reinforcements to produce new composites with good properties that can be used in many applications. In this study, the fracture toughness, acoustic, and thermal properties of date palm fibre (DPF)/polyester composite and DPF/sheep wool hybrid reinforced polyester were investigated. Physical properties, such as water absorption and thickness swelling, have also been reported. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the composites and hybrids were obtained. The composites and hybrids were produced by compression moulding and cut into standard shapes before being tested. DPF and DPF/sheep wool contents (wt%) were 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%. The test results indicate that the fracture toughness improved from 3.45 MPa·m1/2 (with 0% additive content) to 11.55 MPa·m1/2 (with 20% DPF content) and 13.95 MPa·m1/2 (with 20% hybrid content). The energy release rate increased from 3.99 kJ/M2 (with 0% additive content) to 39.82 kJ/M2 (with 20% DPF content) and 53 kJ/M2 (with 20% hybrid content) due to the good adhesion between the matrix and fibres. DPF improved the acoustic insulation properties of the polyester/DPF composite with mass fractions of 10%, 20%, and 30%. At a frequency of 2000 Hz, the acoustic attenuation in decibels (dB) increased from 16.2 dB with pure polyester to 17.2, 18.2, and 19.5 dB with 10%, 20%, and 30% DPF content, respectively. The increase in sheep wool and DPF hybrids in the polyester matrix increased the acoustic attenuation to 18.4, 20.6, and 24 dB, respectively, because DPF and sheep wool have good acoustic insulation properties. Thermal conductivity was 0.161 W/m·C with 0% additive content, decreasing to 0.133, 0.107, and 0.082 W/m·C with 10%, 20%, and 30% DPF content, respectively, and 0.112, 0.073, and 0.051 W/m·C for 10%, 20%, and 30% DPF/sheep wool hybrid content, respectively, owing to good thermal insulation properties of DPF and sheep wool. Water absorption gradually increased with DPF and DPF/sheep wool hybrid because DPF and sheep wool have good absorption properties. Thickness swelling increased with increasing DPF and DPF/sheep wool hybrid contents but not to the same extent. SEM images indicated good distribution and bonding of DPF with the polyester matrix up to 20% and good results for DPF/sheep wool with the polyester hybrid at 10% and 20% hybrid content.

A novel Artificial Neural Network-based model for predicting dielectric properties of banana fiber filled with polypropylene composites

The objective is focusing on the prediction of dielectric properties of the polypropylene composites reinforced with banana fiber using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). To prepare the composites in accordance with ASTM requirements, randomly oriented banana fibers were combined with polypropylene at volume fractions of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. For these composites, the impedance analyzer was used to determine dielectric characteristics such as the dielectric constant, tan δ, and ac conductivity. To estimate the dielectric properties, an artificial neural network is used with a supervised training strategy. The data set was assembled using ReLU, sigmoid, and tanh, three activation functions. Forecasting the outcome variables used temperature, frequency, filler content, and polymer content as input factors. Comparing the model utilizing ReLU to the other two activation functions, the MSE value was 0.32, and the R2 value was 0.98. Dielectric parameter values from both experiments and ANN modeling show a similar pattern. The dielectric properties of fiber-reinforced polyester matrix composites can be accurately predicted using ANN, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Effect of Cocos nucifera shell powder on mechanical and thermal properties of Mucuna atropurpurea stem fibre-reinforced polyester composites

Effect of Cocos nucifera shell powder on mechanical and thermal properties of Mucuna atropurpurea stem fibre-reinforced polyester composites