Fiber Cloth Research Articles

Carbon fiber fabrics functionalized with monoclinic CuO nanostructures using seed-assisted hydrothermal growth treatment

The woven carbon fibers (WCF) fabrics were functionalized by growing copper-oxide (CuO) nanostructures using Seed-assisted hydrothermal technique. The effective growth of CuO on surface hydrolyzed WCF samples were achieved by seeding followed by growth treatment in the prepared precursor solution. The impact of hydrothermal process parameters such as number of seeding cycles, duration of growth treatment and molar concentration of growth solution were studied by performing 96 set of experiments with three repetitions. In this work detailed analysis of structural, morphological, and elemental attributes of the CuO-coated WCF fabrics samples have been done. The WCF fabrics were uniformly coated with monoclinic CuO nanostructures having nanopellets, nanoflakes, nanowires, and nanoflowers morphologies. Different characterization techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analyzer were used to study different attributes of CuO-modified WCF samples. The number of seeding treatments and the length of growth treatment had a significant impact on growth of CuO nanostructures on WCF. The detailed analysis exhibits that the developed CuO-modified WCF samples may enhance interfacial surface area, bonding capacity and reduce void content by allowing nanostructures to cross-link together and with polymer matrix while fabricating composite materials.

Effect of moisture in flax fiber on viscoelastic properties of the manufactured flax fiber reinforced polymer by fractional-order viscoelastic model

Flax Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FFRP) composites, known for their eco-friendliness and mechanical strength, find extensive application in construction. This study investigates the influence of moisture content in flax fiber fabrics on FFRP's viscoelastic properties. Isothermal frequency sweep tests were conducted to assess dynamic mechanical properties under varying moisture levels. The Huet-Sayegh viscoelastic model, with fractional order integration, was employed for analysis. Results indicate optimal viscoelastic properties when fabric humidity matches manufacturing conditions. However, the correlation between the loss factor and the humidity is not straightforward. In summary, FFRP's capacity to store and dissipate energy diminishes with the increased moisture content, but the reduction does not follow a specific pattern with humidity levels.

Construction of periodic hollow SiC microtube ceramic for synergistic broadband absorption performance at elevated temperatures

Silicon carbide (SiC) has been utilized as a semiconductor material and has been shaped into various structural forms to obtain outstanding electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption properties, characterized by low weight and excellent absorption capabilities even at high temperatures. A chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) approach was used to synthesis a periodic structured SiC microtube ceramic on a carbon fiber plain preform, taking inspiration from the porous structure found in SiC materials. Afterwards, the carbon fibers were removed by oxidation at a temperature of 900 °C. The periodic structural SiC microtube ceramic exhibited a porosity above 68 %, rendering it a lightweight material possessing a density of 0.8 g/cm3. The SiC microtube ceramic displays a periodic structure and exhibits anisotropy at 0° and 45°, respectively, as a result of the braided structure of the fiber fabric. When evaluated at a 0° angle of incidence, the SiC microtube ceramic, with a thickness ranging from 2.4 to 2.6 mm, showed excellent absorption of EMW energy in the Ku-band frequency range, attenuating more than 90 % of the energy, with a minimum reflection loss of −56.36 dB at 15.65 GHz. SiC microtube ceramics have demonstrated an effective absorption bandwidth exceeding 8.2 GHz throughout a temperature range of ambient temperature to 600 °C, with a thickness of 2.8 mm. Furthermore, the SiC microtube ceramic exhibited stable EMW absorption properties and thermal conductivity even at temperatures as high as 600 °C.

Emergence of fibrecraft specialization 8000 years ago in early Neolithic North China

Fiber technology, crucial to human societies for millennia, encompasses cordage and textiles. The development of fiber crops and the production of fiber-based clothing are significant components of the Neolithic Revolution. Despite China being an independent center for agriculture, the role of fiber technology in this context remains largely unexplored. In this project, we employed a comprehensive approach that combines microfossil analysis and use-wear examinations to study tools from the Peiligang site in North China. This site uniquely spans the Upper Paleolithic and early Neolithic periods, offering an ideal setting for investigating the evolution of fiber production. Our results reveal that some Paleolithic blades and scrapers were associated with fiber production, which coincided with ostrich eggshell beads and hematite during the cold and dry Last Glacial Maximum period. Responding to climatic fluctuations, fiber production played a significant role in subsistence and ritual activities. In the early Neolithic, advanced fiber production is evident. Two adjacent burials yield tools and microfossil remains representing a toolkit for fiber and possible textile production, including harvesting, retting, pounding, scraping, and sewing. Fibers recovered from human bones provide potential evidence of textile production and use. Dyeing with blue, black, and red colorants was common for textiles, cordages, and strings. These grave goods suggest the involvement of the deceased in craft production with bast fibers, possibly embodying the earliest specialization in fiber craft 8000 years ago in Neolithic China.

COMBINATION OF MACRAME AND ECO POUNDING WITH COCONUT FIBER DYEING FOR LAMP SHADE

This design is motivated by the use of coconut fiber, which in general the community uses it as fuel and is considered a disturbing waste and causes buildup as coconut production increases. Technological developments and public awareness to return to natural materials will make coconut coir used as a natural dye for fibers (cloth or rope). The use of natural coconut fiber dyes is not widely known even though it has considerable potential to be developed and has a high selling value. The design method used in this design uses the theory of S.P Gustami which consists of 3 stages: namely exploration, design, and embodiment of the work. The exploration stage includes extracting sources of ideas about macrame, eco pounding, lamps and coconut coir. The design stage includes the selection of materials, techniques, and the visual form of the work. The final stage is the embodiment of the work. The final result of this design is in the form of six alternative designs, one of which was chosen to be realized. The realization of the work is in the form of a decorative lampshade on the table which has a function not only as lighting, but also as a decorative element and can beautify a room. This lampshade is presented by applying a combination of macrame and eco pounding techniques which are the novelty of this product. The use of natural coconut coir dyes is one way to preserve the environment.

Numerical and experimental study on anisotropic heat transfer behaviors of quartz fabric composite preforms: Multiple micro‐scale models method

AbstractThis paper presents a comprehensive study on anisotropic heat transmission behaviors in quartz fiber fabrics. Considering the random distribution characteristic of fibers within the yarn, an innovative two‐scale finite element method (tFEM) is introduced, incorporating multiple micro‐scale fiber models (MMFM) based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations. MMFM are divided into 8 distinct models to capture intricate fiber arrangements. The macro‐scale fabric model is constructed based on the geometric structure analysis by Micro‐CT technology. Both micro‐ and macro‐scale models are assembled with the air matrix to form the two‐phase composite model. The Hot‐Disk thermal analysis instrument is applied to measure the anisotropic thermal conductivity (ATC). Numerical results from MMFM shows more excellent agreements with the experimental ones at 3D orthogonal directions of fabrics, i.e., the error rates of the thermal conductivity in the warp, weft and thickness directions between numerical and experimental methods are all less than 3%, which indicates the tFEM including MMFM in this paper is more accurate than the tFEM including OSMFM. In addition, the temperature distribution and heat transmission differences due to fiber arrangements are simulated and illustrated through the MMFM. Afterwards, temperature drop and isothermal characteristics are demonstrated in this study.Highlights Effects of fiber arrangements on steady heat transfer behaviors at micro‐scale are illustrated. Isothermal and temperature‐drop characteristics at micro‐ and macro‐scale are simulated and studied. The transverse isotropy of thermal conductivity at micro‐scale and the anisotropy of that at macro‐scale are revealed.

Efficient reduction-oxidation coupling degradation of nitroaromatic compounds in continuous flow processes

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) with electron-withdrawing nitro (-NO2) groups are typical refractory pollutants. Despite advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) being appealing degradation technologies, inefficient ring-opening oxidation of NACs and practical large-scale applications remain challenges. Here we tackle these challenges by designing a reduction-oxidation coupling (ROC) degradation process in LaFe0.95Cu0.05O3@carbon fiber cloth (LFCO@CFC)/PMS/Vis continuous flow system. Cu doping enhances the photoelectron transfer, thus triggering the -NO2 photoreduction and breaking the barriers in the ring opening. Also, it modulates surface electronic configuration to generate radicals and non-radicals for subsequent oxidation of reduction products. Based on this, the ROC process can effectively remove and mineralize NACs under the environmental background. More importantly, the LFCO catalyst outperformed most of the recently reported catalysts with lower cost (13.72 CNY/ton) and higher processing capacity (3600 t/month). Furthermore, the high scalability, material durability, and catalytic activity of LFCO@CFC under various realistic environmental conditions prove the potential ability for large-scale applications.

Effect of Carbon Fiber Fabric Modification on the Tensile Mechanical Characteristics of Polyether Ether Ketone/Carbon Fiber Fabric Composites

In the aviation industry lightweight, high-strength materials have replaced metals to lighten vehicles and reduce fuel consumption. Polymer matrix composite materials have thus been chosen because they are highly resistant to oxidation and chemicals, are lightweight compared to metals, and are simple to manufacture. The aim of this study was to increase the compatibility of carbon fiber fabric (CFF) with polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polymer. Meldrum’s acid and nitric acid modified CFFs were assessed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PEEK matrix composites reinforced with CFF were produced by a compression molding method. The composites were characterized by tensile strength tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We concluded that the CFF modification improved the compatibility between CFF and PEEK. The enhancement of the tensile properties of the composites was another indication of this modification’s beneficial effects.

Moisture barriers used in firefighters' protective clothing: Effect of accelerated hydrothermal aging on their mechanical and barrier performance

AbstractFirefighters' protective clothing rely on moisture barriers to safeguard against liquid ingress while enabling sweat evaporation for comfort and safety. However, these moisture barriers can degrade over time, jeopardizing firefighters' safety. Existing evaluation methods, primarily visual inspection, are inadequate for assessing moisture barrier integrity in service. This study examines the effect of accelerated hydrothermal aging on the tear force, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and apparent contact angle in three moisture barrier models used in firefighter protective clothing. The moisture barriers studied varied in composition, structure, and base fabric fiber content. Results revealed that moisture barriers' responses to aging are influenced by factors, such as fabric structure, adhesive configuration, finish, and the presence of additional coatings. The hardening of the adhesive layer between the ePTFE membrane and the base fabric was observed in two of the moisture barriers, leading to a slight tear force reduction. Two of the moisture barriers also experienced crack and pit formation on the membrane side, which affected the WVTR. The water‐repellent finish on the fabric side degraded in one moisture barrier. Understanding these complex behaviors is essential for predicting the long‐term moisture barrier performance and enhancing firefighter safety.

Facile metal-oriented in-situ growth of zeolitic imidazole framework membranes on carbon fiber cloth with superior capacitive performance

Facile metal-oriented in-situ growth of zeolitic imidazole framework membranes on carbon fiber cloth with superior capacitive performance

Electrocatalytically active and charged natural chalcopyrite for nitrate-contaminated wastewater purification extended to energy storage Zn-NO3− battery

Charged natural chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, Ncpy) was developed for a three-dimensional electrochemical nitrate reduction (3D ENO3−RR) system with carbon fiber cloth cathode and Ti/IrO2 anode and Zn-NO3− battery. The 3D ENO3−RR system with Ncpy particle electrodes (PEs) possessed superior nitrate removal of 95.6 % and N2 selectivity of 76 % with excellent reusability under a broad pH range of 2–13 involving heterogeneous and homogeneous radical mechanisms. The Zn-NO3− battery with Ncpy cathode delivered an open-circuit voltage of 1.03 V and a cycling stability over 210 h. It was found that Ncpy PEs functioned through self-oxidation, surface dynamic reconstruction (Cu1.02Fe1.0S1.72O1.66 to Cu0.61Fe1.0S0.27O2.98), intrinsic micro-electric field (CuI, S2− anodic and FeIII cathodic poles), and reactive species (•OH, SO4•−, 1O2, •O2− and •H) generation. Computational analyses reveal that CuFeS2(112) surface with the lowest surface energy preferentially exposes Fe and Cu atoms. Cu site is beneficial for reducing NO3− to NO2−, Fe and Fe−Cu dual sites are conducive to N2 selectivity, lowering the overall reaction barriers. It paves the way for selective NO3− reduction in wastewater treatment and can be further extended to energy storage devices by utilizing low-cost Ncpy.

Insight into in situ enzymatic transesterification modification of polyethylene terephthalate fibers with polyethylene glycol

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric was enzymatically modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Lipase from Aspergillus oryzae was used as a catalyst. The wetting behavior of the modified PET fabric was characterized by the water contact angle, water adsorption dynamics and moisture regain. The initial water contact angle of the modified fabric decreased from 129.3° to 74.9°. The water absorption dynamics results indicated that the equilibrium water absorption amount of the modified fabric was approximately 10 times greater than that of the untreated sample. The initial absorption rate (Vinit) of the modified fabric was almost 30 times higher than that of the untreated fabric. The moisture regain reached 3.52 % after modification. Scanning electron microscopy revealed granular and sheet coatings on the surface of the modified fabric. Chemical linkage of PEG onto the PET fibers was confirmed by attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The modification had no significant effect on the thermal properties of the PET fabrics according to the thermogravimetric curve and differential scanning calorimetry results. The mechanical properties of the modified fabric were slightly improved. Therefore, in situ enzymatic transesterification between PET and PEG could be a potential novel modification approach for adding value to PET fiber textiles.

Multifunctional hierarchical electronic skins: Unveiling self-repairing mechanisms and advancements in sensing and shielding performance

In light of advancements in electronic skins (E-skins), their application in extreme environments poses significant challenges. Inspired by real human skin, we have developed a hierarchical structured electronic skin that utilizes flexible carbon fiber fabric as a framework. Copper nanoflakes and embedded sensors function as the neural layer, while Ethylene Vinyl Acetate acts as the dermal layer, and Polytetrafluoroethylene is employed as the epidermal layer. The reported E-skin demonstrates outstanding flexibility, excellent heat resistance, robust mechanical properties (fracture strength of 1600 MPa, Young's modulus approximately 3.8 GPa), exceptional bending/compression strain performance, excellent hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 120°), effective electromagnetic shielding performance (approximately 45 dB total shielding effectiveness for X-band), and electromagnetic wave absorption capability. Additionally, this E-skin possesses self-healing properties, capable of restoring to its original hydrophobic state within 30 s under a 9V voltage through the Joule heating effect, complemented by corresponding theoretical and mathematical modeling. This E-skin introduces a novel, environmentally friendly, and operationally simple strategy for enhancing the extreme environment resistance and durability of flexible devices.

Study on the Properties and Fatigue Characteristics of Glass Fiber Composites Due to Porosity

A study was conducted on the changes in mechanical properties and fatigue failure characteristics due to voids, one of the fabrication defects in composite materials. This study was primarily based on glass fiber fabrics applied to wind turbine blades and their material properties were predicted through micro and meso modeling of composite materials by simulating random defects including voids. As the wind turbine blades become larger, various defects develop. The fundamental changes in the materials’ properties due to voids were predicted through homogenization methods and Representative Volume Element (RVE), and the failure properties were obtained through progressive failure analysis by applying virtual coupons according to ASTM D3090 and ASTM D6641. The progressive failure was identified using the Matzenmiller–Lubliner–Taylor (MLT) failure condition, and the fatigue failure characteristics were assessed through the Tsai–Hill 3D load.

Rational construction of noble-metal-free fuel cell-supercapacitor hybrid power source using polyaniline electrode as both anode and cathode

The integration of fuel cell device and supercapacitor device into a singular hybrid power source at the electrode level can make the best use of the advantages of each individual device and more importantly, eliminate the energy loss by virtue of the conversion of chemical energy to electric energy on electrocatalyst material and the storage of electric energy on energy storage material simultaneously. To avoid the use of noble metal electrocatalyst and exploit the dual electrocatalytic and capacitive function of polyaniline, a noble-metal-free fuel cell-supercapacitor hybrid power source employing polyaniline electrode as both anode and cathode is rationally constructed. Based on electrochemical in-situ Raman spectroscopy, this work proposes that the open circuit potential (OCP) of polyaniline electrode is a simple and quick indicator of the redox state of polyaniline. After carefully selecting the fuel and carbon-based support, it is found that the ascorbic acid fuel and the carbon fiber cloth supported polyaniline contributes to the lowest OCP threshold in the anode, and thus the fastest self-charge and largest stabilized open circuit voltage of hybrid power source. The hybrid power source can be self-charged to 0.32 V and yield a peak power density of 0.21 mW cm−2.

Thermo-mechanical behaviour of newly developed fabric-reinforced engineered geopolymer mortar

Geopolymer technology is a spectacular technique which provides solutions to several construction problems in a sustainable way. In the primary stage of this research, geopolymer mortar using industrial and agro wastes, such as fly ash and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) was developed. It was found that the geopolymer mortar with 10% SCBA shows good mechanical and durability properties. In the second stage of this research, engineered geopolymer mortar (EGM) using 10% SCBA content and polypropylene (PP) fiber was developed. In the final stage of this study, a novel strengthening system made of fabric-reinforced engineered geopolymer mortar (FREGM) composites was developed using EGM and glass fabric. To characterise mechanical response, the FREGM material has been subjected to flexural and tensile tests. It was discovered that 4-layers of glass fabrics attained 21.87 MPa flexural strength. The feasibility of practical applications of this newly developed FREGM material was checked by using it for strengthening the cylindrical and beam specimens. For the cylindrical specimen, the test variables include methods of installations (cast-in-place and prefabricated), number of glass fiber fabrics, and test temperature (200 °C, 400 °C and 600 °C). The cast-in-place cylinder specimen achieved 6% higher load carrying capacity than the precast cylinder, and 30% higher load carrying capacity than the control specimen. The beam specimens strengthened with geopolymer mortar, EGM and FREGM materials performance were evaluated by studying the load- deflection behaviour, cost analysis, ductility factor, crack and installation methods (cast-in-place and prefabricated). It is found that the cast-in-place beam specimen achieved 9.5% more strength than the precast beam and 46% higher than the control specimen.

The Interaction and Lift-Off Forces of an Atomic Force Microscope Tip from Single Fibers Extracted from Protective Clothing Fabric.

The widespread use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) poses a potential health hazard to humans, especially to those involved in either nanoparticle manufacturing or the usage and assembly of a final product. In this study, we performed systematic force vs distance experiments (F(z)) using an atomic force microscope (AFM) on fibers commonly used in street clothing and protective laboratory clothing to better characterize the relevant interaction forces between engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and the contacted fabric fibers. The intent of this study is to identify those factors that influence the interaction of ENPs with fabrics with an aim to improve the efficacy of protective clothing against ENP exposure and mitigate potential health risks. A ∼14 nm diameter AFM SiOx tip (with nanoscale radius of curvature) is considered as an effective oxide ENP. Features present (or absent) in a well-executed F(z) AFM experiment provide a fingerprint that distinguishes the relevant forces and interaction mechanisms in play. Measurements of F(z) as a function of relative humidity were also performed to assess the importance of thin surface water layers in binding nanometer-size oxide ENPs to a fabric fiber. The F(z) data indicate the dominant mechanism for adhesion of the oxide tip to the various fabric fibers (cotton, Tyvek (HD polyethylene), polypropylene, and polyester) can be attributed to a van der Waals interaction. The analysis provides no evidence for long-range electrostatic forces or capillary-induced adhesion of the AFM tip to the fibers studied.

Experimental research of the effect of manufacturing holes and defects on the mechanical characteristics of laminated polymer composite

The paper presents a developed methodology for experimental research of the mechanical characteristics of a laminated polymer composite, taking into account manufacturing holes and defects. The results of experimental determination of mechanical characteristics are presented, the influence of the filler material, the type of fabric fiber weave, holes and manufacturing defects on the mechanical characteristics of laminated carbon fiber reinforced plastic are analyzed. The test specimens were made from carbon fiber 200T, 200P, ACM C300X and binder “Inject SL(B)”. Static tests of specimens for uniaxial tension, compression and three-point bending were performed.

Eco-friendly sustainable adsorption dyeing of MOF-modified carboxymethyl cellulose fiber fabric using acid dyes

Eco-friendly sustainable adsorption dyeing of MOF-modified carboxymethyl cellulose fiber fabric using acid dyes

Simple double shooting approach with bisection for FRCM reinforced curved masonry prisms subjected to shear

In this study, curved masonry pillars reinforced with FRCM subjected to standard shear tests are analyzed through a novel mono-dimensional model, where failure is governed by Mode II. Three approaches with different accuracy are proposed: i) the first, where the outer matrix is neglected; ii) the second, where the inner matrix is assumed rigid; and iii) the third which considers both matrix layers. Matrix and fiber are assumed subjected to a monoaxial state of stress and exchange tangential stresses at the interfaces. The load is applied by incrementing the displacement at the free fiber edge. Material properties of matrix, fiber and interfaces are assumed constant on small portions of the bonded length. Non-linearity is considered penalizing the elastic modulus using the results of the previous time step. The substrate is assumed rigid. The substrate curvature influence is manifested through interface normal stresses, incorporated into the bond-slip constitutive behavior via the Mohr-Coulomb law. The normal stresses can be determined by enforcing radial equilibrium. For the first two models, the field problem is constituted by a system of two 2nd order differential equations into two variables, namely the displacement of the inner (or outer) layer of mortar and of the fiber textile. A 1D shooting is employed, after having converted the boundary value problem (BVP) into an initial value one (IVP), being the latter fully explicit. For the third model, the field problem is constituted by a system of three 2nd order differential equations, and an additional displacement variable is introduced, necessitating a 2D shooting. The validation is carried out through comparisons with existing experimental data. Good predictions of the load-slip curves, for different strengthening configurations (extrados and intrados with two curvature radii), are observed. In addition, an insight into local stress distributions and material degradation for matrix layers and interfaces is obtained.