Glass Fiber Mat Research Articles

A Photoelectric Synergistic Flexible Solid Slippery Surface for All‐Day Anti‐Icing/Frosting

AbstractThe accumulation of ice on surface has caused great harm to lots of fields such as transportation or aerospace. Nowadays, various equipment or tools used in low‐temperature environments, which face the risk of interface icing, usually have irregular shapes. Traditional rigid anti‐icing materials are difficult to meet practical application requirements. Thus, it is crucial to develop flexible anti‐icing materials that can be applied to various shape surfaces (curved surfaces, flat surfaces). In this paper, a photoelectric synergistic flexible solid slippery surface (FSSS) is prepared by using flexible basalt fiberglass cloth, flexible copper foil, flexible polyurethane/carbon nanotubes mixture, and flexible solid lubricant (the mixture of coconut wax and coconut oil). Even under harsh conditions of the temperature as low as −80 °C, the FSSS exhibits excellent all‐day anti/de‐icing performance whether on flat or curved surface. Moreover, the FSSS shows long‐term stability both on flat and curved surface: situated in air for 60 days, submerged in water for 60 days, kept in acid environment (pH 1) and base environment (pH 13) for 30 days. Besides, the FSSS can also achieve self‐healing function under −80 °C. This flexible surface provides a novel approach for de‐icing/frosting of multi‐shaped objects in the future.

Mechanical properties and vibration characteristics of multiaxial carbon/glass hybrid fiber composites

AbstractIn this paper, the mechanical properties and vibration characteristics of Carbon‐Glass Hybrid Fiber Composites (CGHFC) are experimentally investigated with varying axial directions and blending ratios. The experimental results demonstrate a significant increase in the tensile strength of the CGHFC with an increasing content of carbon fibers. The biaxially CGHFC exhibits a maximum static tensile strength of 413.27 MPa in the 0° direction and 466.33 MPa in the 90° direction, surpassing both the quadratic and uniaxial directions. Notably, compared to biaxially oriented glass fiber material, the tensile strength of CGHFC is enhanced by 44.36%, thereby significantly improving its overall performance, making them particularly suitable for blade structures subjected to simultaneous tensile and vibratory loads. By optimizing the fiber orientation and blend ratio, the CGHFC provides good vibration control and fatigue resistance while ensuring high strength, thus maximizing the overall performance and service life of the blades. The results of this paper provide important data and theoretical support for the selection and design of wind turbine blade materials and help to promote the development of composite materials in wind turbine blade structure and design.Highlights CGHFCs show enhanced tensile strength with more carbon fibers. Biaxial CGHFCs have max tensile strength at 0° and 90° directions. CGHFCs' strength improves by 44.36% over glass fiber materials. Optimized CGHFCs offer superior vibration control and fatigue resistance. Research supports wind turbine blade material innovation.

Mid-infrared pulsed fiber laser source at 4.3 µm based on a CO2-filled anti-resonant hollow-core silica fiber

Fiber lasers in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) band are of great interest due to their wide range of applications such as manufacturing, defense, spectroscopy, and free-space communication. Due to the immaturity of the soft glass fiber fabrication technology and the limitation of the type of doped rare earth, laser power scaling and wavelength expansion above 4 µm are greatly limited. Lasers based on gas-filled hollow-core fibers (HCFs) have proved to be an effective way of generating mid-IR lasers. We demonstrate a pulsed 4.3 µm laser source based on a CO2-filled HCF for the first time. The pulse energy characteristics and output spectrum of the mid-IR laser have been investigated. The maximum pulse energy of the mid-IR laser is 236 nJ. The maximum average power of the mid-IR laser is 297.8 mW with a slope efficiency of 17.3%. A step-tunable mid-IR output is achieved from 4293.718 nm to 4392.085 nm including 8 emission lines. Furthermore, the time-domain and frequency-domain properties of the mid-IR laser have been studied to understand laser operation better. This work has an important reference value for the development of pulsed mid-IR fiber gas laser sources.

Lightweight aircraft design: Integrating biomechanics and algorithm optimization for drone construction using paper materials

Lightweight aircraft design emphasizes materials like composites, alloys, and advanced polymers to reduce weight while ensuring structural integrity. Streamlined aerodynamics, efficient propulsion systems, and optimized component layout further enhance performance. The purpose of this research is to develop an innovative aircraft design model for drones, integrating algorithm optimization techniques and lightweight materials to enhance the performance and efficiency of drones with the utilization of open-source software. We apply this structure to the construction of drones with fixed-wing (FW) and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) configurations. The aircraft’s body is constructed using lightweight materials such as glass fiber fabric (Gff) and extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), employing a vacuum-assisted wet layup technique for fabrication. Multi-objective Co-evolving Ant Colony Optimization (MC-ACO) was used to improve the construction of drones with VTOL and FW capabilities. This strategy enabled it to be easier to achieve the trade-offs required for a generalist drone design, such as range, payload capabilities, and swarm operations, which were then evaluated against commercially available software to evaluate the effectiveness. Incorporating biomechanics into the design method permits higher consideration of user interaction with drones. The findings indicate that low-fidelity architecture is a suitable starting point for prototyping under limited time frames. The paper concludes with a discussion of the technical constraints of employing free software, as well as some practical concerns for flight testing drones with hybrid configurations.

Influence of Stacking Sequence on the Mechanical Properties of Banana-Glass Fiber Hybrid Laminates for Automotive Shells

The development of composite materials using natural fibers has garnered significant global research interest. Banana fibers, due to their abundant availability and rapid growth cycle, present a promising option for composite material development. When combined with synthetic fibers to form hybrid composites, the resulting material may exhibit significantly improved properties, which is desirable for automotive body manufacturing. The hybrid properties of such composites, however, remain largely unexplored and require thorough evaluation. This study investigates the mechanical performance of hybrid laminated composites fabricated from banana and woven glass fibers bonded with epoxy resin. The composites were produced using non-crimp banana (B) fiber and woven glass (WG) fiber fabrics through the hand lay-up process with four distinct stacking sequences: [WG/B-0⁰/B-0⁰/WG], [WG/B-0⁰/B-45⁰/WG], [WG/B-0⁰/B-60⁰/WG], and [WG/B-0⁰/B-90⁰/WG]. Comprehensive mechanical testing, including tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness tests, along with environmental testing (water diffusion) was conducted in accordance with ASTM standards. Results indicated that the [WG/B-0⁰/B-0⁰/WG] configuration exhibited the highest tensile strength, while the [WG/B-0⁰/B-60⁰/WG] configuration achieved superior flexural strength. The [WG/B-0⁰/B-45⁰/WG] configuration demonstrated the highest impact strength and energy absorption. Rockwell hardness testing revealed that the average hardness numbers for all orientations were approximately 79, which is considered moderate for composite materials. Water absorption tests showed maximum water saturation in [WG/B-0⁰/B-90⁰/WG] of ∼5.5%, where the other laminates had water saturation between 4.5-4.9%. The microscopic analysis of the [WG/B-0⁰/B-45⁰/WG] laminate suggests fiber-matrix debonding and fiber pull-out as the major cause of failure under tensile and flexural loading. These findings suggest that the hybrid laminated composites, particularly the [WG/B-0⁰/B-0⁰/WG] and [WG/B-0⁰/B-45⁰/WG] configurations, exhibit mechanical properties suitable for automotive body applications.

Performance of Combined Woven Roving and Mat Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites Under Absorption Tower Lifting Loads.

This study investigates the structural integrity of a glass-fiber reinforced polymer absorption tower during lifting operations, evaluating factors of safety and stress distribution for both horizontal and vertical scenarios. A key focus is the comparative analysis of surface and volumetric meshing techniques in finite element modeling. Results demonstrate that surface models achieve comparable stress predictions to computationally intensive volumetric models, significantly reducing computational demands without compromising accuracy. For instance, stress at the flange edge with holes was accurately captured using a surface model with 5675 elements (12.79 MPa), yielding similar results to a volumetric model requiring over 94,000 elements (13.37 MPa). Similar computational efficiency and agreement between modeling approaches were observed at the packing support ring-shell joint. Finite element analysis employing Hashin's failure criterion, informed by industry-standard experimental data, revealed safety factors ranging from 1.9 to 2.5 for horizontal lifting and four for vertical lifting. These safety factors indicate sufficient margins for safe operation. While these findings support the feasibility of both lifting methods, further investigation is recommended to address the lower safety factors observed in specific horizontal lifting scenarios. A comprehensive assessment incorporating industry standards, dynamic load effects, and potential mitigation strategies is crucial to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the GFRP absorption tower.

Behavior of laminated timber portal frames reinforced with fiber-reinforced plastic laminates under cyclic lateral load

This study aimed to enhance the structural performance of a drift joint with a slotted-in steel plate using laminated timber made from small- to medium-diameter timbers. An analysis was conducted to compare and evaluate the structural performance and seismic behavior of laminated timber portal frames reinforced with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) laminates, such as glass fiber cloth (GFC), glass fiber reinforced plastic sheet (GS), and carbon-reinforced plastic sheet (CS), under low amplitude cyclic lateral loads, in comparison to unreinforced portal frames (UR). The reinforced portal frame, strengthened by FRP laminates, exhibited higher resistance to strength and stiffness strength degradation due to cyclic loading-induced degradation at low drift angles compared to the unreinforced frame affected by heterogeneous timber. The reinforced portal frame, particularly the GFC and GS, exhibited energy dissipation rates 32% and 17% higher than UR, respectively, making them the most effective in vibration damping. FRP laminates mitigated fiber direction cleavage from drift pin holes. The average maximum moment and average yield moment of the reinforced portal frame increased by 18% and 21%, respectively, due to the alleviation of joint failure. Finally, CS significantly affected the maximum moment, while GFC significantly influenced the yield moment.

An experimental and analytical approach to study the sliding wear performance of epoxy composites with steel wire and glass fiber reinforcement

This study investigates the sliding wear behavior of hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with alternating layers of glass fiber mats and steel wire mesh. The objective is to enhance the wear resistance of glass fiber-epoxy composites with the incorporation of steel wire mesh. Three composite types with different stacking sequences are fabricated using the hand layup technique. Dry sliding wear tests are conducted using a pin-on-disc test rig under various operating conditions, following to ASTM G99 standard. Taguchi analysis with L25 orthogonal array identifies sliding velocity as the most influential factor on wear rate, followed by normal load. Steady-state wear analysis is performed to evaluate the effect of each significant factor independently. Analysis of variance results show sliding velocity significantly affects wear rates, contributing 67.63% for glass-epoxy composite (G11) and more than 75% for glass-steel-epoxy hybrid composites (G7S4 & G4S7). A regression model, based on experimental data, predicts specific wear rates with error margins of 3.17% for glass-epoxy composite and less than 2% for glass-steel-epoxy composites. Additionally, electron microscopy is used to analyze worn surfaces, revealing the primary wear mechanisms.

Mechanical properties and damping ratio of gradient polymer concrete for damping beam structure

AbstractDue to its higher overall performance than ordinary concrete, polymer concrete (PC) beam has been widely used in the field of structural engineering. However, it is widely recognized that PC cannot simultaneously achieve the highest mechanical strength and optimal damping performance to reduce vibration during its long‐term service lifetime. To address this contradiction, the effect of various diluents contents on the overall performance of PC was investigated first in this investigation. Experimental findings revealed that the bending strength of PC exhibits an initial increase followed by a decrease with an increment of diluents, while its damping ratio displays an inverse trend. To obtain excellent overall performance (higher flexural strength and damping ratio) of PC, gradient PC has been manufactured by horizontal partition casting process (HPCP) and stereoscopic layered casting process (SLCP). Experimental results demonstrated that the gradient PC manufactured by HPCP exhibited better overall performance compared to SLCP. Furthermore, the graphite and carbon fiber were incorporated into the above gradient PC, and experimental results revealed that the incorporated graphite and carbon fiber can further increase the overall performance of the above gradient PC. Similarly, the incorporation of glass fiber cloth and carbon fiber cloth, along with surface treatment, significantly enhanced the overall performance of PC. The significance of this study lies in enhancing the comprehensive performance of PC beam structures, thus broadening its utilization scope within structural engineering.

Fabrication and performance of short glass fiber reinforced polyamide composites

This article deals with the impact of short glass fiber (GF) on the performance of 60/40 wt% of polyamide 6/polyamide 12 (PA6/PA12) blend. The short fiber-reinforced composites were fabricated by using melt compounding via twin screw extruder and injection molding. The morphological, water uptake, rheological, thermo-mechanical, and mechanical properties of the composites were discussed. The morphological observations show that the PA6/PA12 blend exhibited compatible morphology and also adhesion between the fiber and matrix was quite strong. The tensile strength/modulus and storage modulus of the blend were substantially improved with GF reinforcement as a result of these morphological findings. While the water uptake of neat PA6 decreased significantly after blending with PA12, the incorporation of GF further reduced the water uptake of the PA6/PA12 blend. The thermomechanical analysis showed the enhancement of the stiffness of the composites and also glass transition temperature increment.

Fluid-Dynamics-Rectified Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Preparing Graphene-Skinned Glass Fiber Fabric and Its Application in Natural Energy Harvest.

Graphene chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth directly on target using substrates presents a significant route toward graphene applications. However, the substrates are usually catalytic-inert and special-shaped; thus, large-scale, high-uniformity, and high-quality graphene growth is challenging. Herein, graphene-skinned glass fiber fabric (GGFF) was developed through graphene CVD growth on glass fiber fabric, a Widely used engineering material. A fluid dynamics rectification strategy was first proposed to synergistically regulate the distribution of carbon species in 3D space and their collisions with hierarchical-structured substrates, through which highly uniform deposition of high-quality graphene on fibers in large-scale 3D-woven fabric was realized. This strategy is universal and applicable to CVD systems using various carbon precursors. GGFF exhibits high electrical conductivity and photothermal conversion capability, based on which a natural energy harvester was first developed. It can harvest both solar and raindrop energy through solar heating and droplet-based electricity generating, presenting promising potentials to alleviate energy burdens.

Robust Solid–Solid Phase Change Coating Encapsulated Glass Fiber Fabric with Electromagnetic Interference Shielding for Thermal Management and Message Encryption

AbstractElectromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites with both thermal response/management functions and message transfer/encryption behavior are ideal for use in fields such as aerospace, construction engineering, and military equipment. In this work, a self‐cross‐linking supramolecular solid–solid phase change polyethylene glycol (ScPEG) coating is prepared based on multiple hydrogen bonds, which is used for encapsulating glass fiber fabric (GFF) modified with silver nanowires (AgNWs). The solid–solid phase change coating is obtained through the hydrolysis‐condensation of PEG with a reactive silanol end group. Polyethylene glycol molecular chains can store and release heat by switching between the crystalline and amorphous state. The silanol groups can form supramolecular networks through the physical cross‐linking of multiple hydrogen bonds, resulting in an excellent thermal stability. In particular, hydrogen bonds between ScPEG and AgNW‐modified GFF (A‐GFF) enhance interfacial interactions, and the resulting robust structure enables an efficient stress transfer. ScPEG‐coated A‐GFF can achieve a tensile strength of up to 191 MPa and a tunable EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 40 to 72 dB depending on the number of fabric layers. Moreover, the fabric exhibits a flexible thermal response characteristic, an outstanding thermal management capability, and potential message encryption behavior.

Comparing tensile, bending and interlaminar shear performance of GFRP composites fabricated using recovered and virgin glass fibers: Optimization of the microwave assisted chemical recycling technique

AbstractGlobal glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) recycling provides an effective solution to the end‐of‐life wastes and industrial scrap, by which we can construct a closed‐loop system that reduces environmental impact while increasing sustainability. This study reports the tensile, flexural and shear properties of GFRP composites fabricated from reclaimed fibers from the waste GFRP. A hybrid recycling technique that is, microwave assisted chemical recycling has been used for recovering the glass fiber fabrics. The quantity of solvents (a mixture of 30% H2O2 and CH3COOH in 1:1 ratio) required (in mL/g) for degrading the polymer is optimized with respect to the amount of microwave irradiation time. The microwave irradiation duration was varied at constant power of 900 W for optimizing the quantity of solvent used. SEM analysis of both virgin and reclaimed fiber surfaces indicate an almost complete degradation of polymer from the waste composites. RGFE laminates, fabricated from reclaimed glass fiber fabrics, exhibited marginally higher tensile strength (7%–8%) and significant lower tensile modulus (~29%). On the other hand, RGFE composites demonstrated a greater strain to failure of ~44% compared to VGFE composites during tensile testing, consequently leading to a subsequent increase in tensile toughness by ~28%. The ILSS values obtained from SBS tests and storage modulus and loss factor curves from DMA tests showed almost similar values. SEM studies revealed the probable causes of failures of the samples for tensile and flexural tests.Highlights Hybrid recycling technique using microwave irradiation is optimized. Amount of solvent used is optimized by varying the irradiation times. Tensile and flexural strengths exhibit a marginal increase of 7%–8%. Significant rise in strain at failure by 44% and tensile toughness by 28%. Fractography studies have been performed for analyzing failures.

An experimental and spectroscopic investigation on pongamia pinata as liquid dielectrics for rural micro grid under various load conditions

The transformer mineral oil is generally hydrocarbon-based and is not environmentally friendly, so it holds a significant share in environmental pollution. As an alternative to conventional transformer oil, plant-based insulation oil has been investigated globally in the past few decades. Even though vegetable oils are considered an environmentally viable alternative to mineral oil, the extensive utilization of vegetable oils could create a threat to Indian food security. The present work focuses on using Pongamia Pinnata oil (PPO) as a significant alternative to conventional transformer oil (CTO) in distribution transformers. The effectiveness of the proposed PPO is experimentally verified using thermal studies and electrical studies through a low-level distribution transformer of 1 kVA. A comparative analysis was carried out between the proposed and conventional oil regarding physical, chemical, and thermal properties. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis have been carried out for fibreglass cloth insulation material with PPO and CTO to ensure the intrinsic structural strength of the insulation material. The structural strength ensures the bonding and life span of the insulation in the transformer. The cost–benefit analysis is also favourable for the proposed oil as a better green liquid dielectric for transformers.

Fiberglass Construction Testing Simulation On Boat Hulls

As a maritime country, Indonesia relies heavily on ships as an economical means of transportation and conveyance. Boats, which were used for many years, were originally made of wood. However, because wood has properties that are easily weathered due to weather and chemical factors and requires adequate maintenance, fiberglass material in the form of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics) laminates appeared as a substitute for wood. This material has many advantages over wood, so ships made from FRP began to gain a place in the shipping world, especially among ship manufacturers. However, In 2009, a survey carried out at multiple shipyards revealed that the construction design and lamination process of fiberglass ship hulls generally did not have clear standards, resulting in a significant risk of accidents. To minimize this risk, a simulation of fiberglass construction testing was held with samples taken from 6 shipyards where each sample had a different configuration and material, and the results of Carbon Fiber provided optimal results.

Diagnosis of avian salmonellosis using PCR kits of different manufacturers

Relevance. The problem in timely detection of this infection is that poultry contaminated with salmonellae may not show clinical signs of the disease. Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of avian salmonellosis is designed for direct detection and identification of pathogenic agents, especially in cases where their detection is difficult by other diagnostic methods. Advantages of PCR tests allow to successfully use this method in veterinary laboratory practice. The aim of this work is to conduct comparative tests of diagnostic PCR kits of different manufacturers in the diagnosis of avian salmonellosis.Methods. To conduct comparative studies of pathological material for the presence of the DNA of Salmonella spp., Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium by molecular biological method, three commercial kits of domestic and imported production for isolation and detection of Salmonella DNA by PCR were used. Determination of the possibility of using membrane glass fiber materials, in the form of cards for taking dry samples of pathogenic material, for subsequent PCR was carried out in comparative tests with parallel studies of biomaterial delivered to the laboratory in frozen form.Results. Comparative studies of pathological material for the presence of Salmonella spp. DNA using three commercial kits for the isolation and detection of Salmonella DNA by polymerase chain reaction, imported and domestic production were carried out. It was found that when comparing the results obtained using kits of different manufacturers for the presence of Salmonella spp. DNA, comparable results were observed. The study was performed within the framework of the state assignment No. FGUG-2022-0009 of (FSC VIEV).

Numerical Analysis of a Linear Quasi-Static and Vibrational Response of Gypsum Sandwich Panels Reinforced with Fiberglass Fabrics

Numerical Analysis of a Linear Quasi-Static and Vibrational Response of Gypsum Sandwich Panels Reinforced with Fiberglass Fabrics

Multifunctional composite electrolytes for mechanically-robust and high energy density carbon fiber structural batteries

Mechanically robust electrolytes with high ionic conductivity play an essential role in carbon fiber (CF) structural batteries that simultaneously store energy and bear mechanical loads. However, multifunctional composite electrolytes are rarely developed, especially for air-stable and safe structural Zn-ion batteries. Herein, a composite electrolyte GF-SPE is designed and fabricated by integrating ionic conductive poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based solid-state polymer electrolyte (SPE) matrix and glass fiber fabric (GF) reinforcement, which simultaneously exhibits mechanical robustness and high ionic conductivity, facilitating homogeneous Zn electrodeposition without obvious side reaction, such as dendrite growth, corrosion et al. Therefore, the symmetric cells Zn//GF-SPE//Zn cell can cycle stably for more than 800 h at 1 mA cm−2. The carbon fiber structural battery fabricated with composite structural electrolyte GF-SPE delivers a high energy density of 19.35 Wh kg−1 based on the total mass of the whole device and cycling stability over 1,000 cycles in extreme environments. Furthermore, the high capacity of structural Zn-ions batteries can be maintained when they withstand flexural stress of over 120 MPa. The in-situ mechanical-electrochemical testing further confirms the priority of structural Zn-ion batteries.

Load history dependency of stiffness properties of PTFE-coated glass fibre membranes

The aim of this contribution is to investigate whether the order of load ratios applied to a textile structure impacts the biaxial stiffness behaviour of the structural textile itself. These investigations are performed based on biaxial tests on an architectural woven glass fibre fabric, a representative of such membranes. The first part of the paper investigates the existence and extent of load history dependency in the material response. Biaxial test results show that effects of a previous load history on the weave geometry cannot be eliminated by further load cycling in all biaxial stress ratios. Moderate to strong effects are recognized in two stress ratios, although not in both weave directions.The second part of the paper examines how these effects influence material stiffness parameters and structural calculations. Two boundary value problems are investigated: a pressure chamber test and a roof structure. Parameters obtained by fitting biaxial tests with or without history are considered. By incorporating an adaptive load-ratio dependent scheme, highly predictive numerical results are obtained, showing that while the effect of load history may appear small in the biaxial tests and pressure chamber test, it can be significant in complex structural problems like roof structures.

Multi-scale design of MWCNT/glass fiber/balsa wood composite multilayer stealth structure with wide broadband absorption and excellent mechanical properties

In unmanned aircraft applications, electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers suffer from defects in narrow absorption bands and poor mechanical properties. To solve the problems, a lightweight multilayer stealth structure with wide broadband absorption performance and excellent mechanical properties was designed and prepared by adjusting microscopically the number of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and modulating macroscopically the thickness-matching relationship of the structure to promote the absorption of EMW synergistically. Under the MWCNT of 30 wt% and the depletion layer with the thickness of 0.2 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) covers the entire Ku-band while maintaining a minimum reflection loss (RL) of −15 dB. Besides, the radar cross-sectional area attenuation is as high as 23.1 dBm2, as well as the mechanical properties of the radar absorbing structures (RAS) were improved significantly due to the reducing structural density from balsa wood and the enhancement effect of glass fiber mats (GFM). The study constructed balsa-based RAS with excellent EMW absorbing and mechanical properties from both micro-nano scale and macro-structure, providing a research route for designing high-performance and lightweight stealth structures.