Glass Fiber-reinforced Composites Research Articles

Effect of bio-waste conch filler addition on mechanical performance of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy polymer composite

Abstract In this, the effect of conch shell particles on mechanical performance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite was investigated. The GFRP composites were prepared using hand layup method. The conch particles were added in the incremental levels of 0, 25, 35, 45, and 55 wt.% to GFRP composites. The C–H stretching vibration and aliphatic amine groups in conch-filled composites confirmed the dispersion of conch particles. The mechanical performance of GFRP composites was evaluated by impact strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and fatigue strength tests. The GFRP composites fabricated using 35 wt.% of conch shell particles showed higher impact toughness of 35 J in presence of centered notch compared to GFRP composites developed without conch shell particles that showed impact toughness of 13 J. The ILSS of GFRP composites drops by the addition of conch shell particles. The GFRP composites fabricated using 35 wt.% of conch shell particles showed 26.21 % reduced ILSS compared to the GFRP composites developed without conch shell particles. The GFRP composites fabricated using 45 wt.% of conch shell particles exhibited fatigue life of 10,093 cycles. These results suggest that conch filler – GFRP composites can be used for lightweight applications, which are cost-effective and ecofriendly.

Effect of hygrothermal ageing on the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer composite: Experimental and numerical approaches

This paper studied the effect of hygrothermal ageing on the mechanical performance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites (GFRPCs), a crucial material for marine applications due to its lightweight and superior resistance to environmental chemicals. However, prolonged exposure to moisture and temperature can degrade its properties, impacting structural integrity. The influence of moisture diffusion in GFRP composite laminates was evaluated by accelerated ageing tests, which involved submerging the composite laminate in seawater at 75°C until it reached full saturation. The composite laminates were fabricated with weight fractions of glass fiber reinforcements 55 %, 60 %, and 65 %. After two months of submersion, mechanical characteristics, namely tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) were investigated. A computational model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics to analyse the coupled interfaces of moisture diffusion and heat. The failure mechanism of the GFRP composites was analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). After two months of submersion, the moisture uptake data for the tension test samples showed a maximum saturation of 3.45 % for the 55 % fiber weight fraction, leading to a reduction in tensile strength from 269 MPa to 171 MPa and in modulus of elasticity from 24 GPa to 21 GPa. For the ILSS test samples, the maximum moisture saturation was 2.95 % for the 55 % fiber weight fraction, with a corresponding decrease in ILSS from 24 MPa to 21 MPa. However, increasing the glass fiber weight fraction from 55 % to 65 % resulted in improved tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and ILSS in both as-manufactured and aged samples. The results of simulations and experiments showed that hygrothermal ageing causes the fiber surface to debond and causes matrix cracking, which in turn creates an uneven internal stress field.

A Statistical Assessment of Drilling Effects on Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymeric Composites.

Fiber-reinforced composites are extensively used in many components and structures in various industry sectors, and the need to connect and assemble such types of components may require drilling operations. Although drilling is a common machining process; when dealing with fiber-reinforced composite materials, additional and specific problems may arise that can com-promise mechanical integrity. So, the main goal of this work is to assess how various input variables impact two main outcomes in the drilling process: the exit-adjusted delamination factor and the maximum temperature on the bottom surface where the drilling tool exits. The input variables include the type of drilling tools used, the operating speeds, and the thickness of the plates being drilled. By using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), the analysis aims to identify which factors significantly influence damage and exit temperature. The results demonstrate that the influence of tools and drilling parameters is critical, and those selections impact the quality of the hole and the extent of the induced damage to the surrounding area. In concrete, considering the initially selected set of tools, the BZT03 tool does not lead to high-quality holes when drilling medium- and high-thickness plates. In contrast, the Dagger tool shows potential to reduce exit hole damage while also lowering temperature.

Surface Modification of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composite Posts by Hydrogen Peroxide: A Scoping Review

AbstractOn the rehabilitation of endodontic treated teeth using intraradicular retention, adhesive failures often occur between the intraradicular post and the resin-matrix cement. The main aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review on the surface modification of glass fiber-reinforced composite posts by hydrogen peroxide solutions. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed database, using combinations of keywords pursuing articles published between 2010 and 2024 in English language. Of the 13 selected studies, 12 investigated the bond strength between the glass fiber-reinforced composite (GFRC) post and the resin-matrix cement after the surface treatment of the post, 5 articles analyzed failures using a stereomicroscope, and 7 studies analyzed the surface topography by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Etching procedures with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) altered the surface of the GFRC post by selectively dissolving the matrix without damaging the fibers, resulting in a larger surface area of exposed fibers available to react with the adhesive system or silane. Studies revealed high bond strength values between the etched GFRC posts to the resin-matrix materials. Surface treatment of GFRC posts with hydrogen peroxide seems promising considering the feasibility on the surface modification resulting in the improvement of bond strength of intraradicular posts to resin-matrix cements.

Bibliometric analysis of the current status and trends in dental applications of glass fiber-reinforced composites from 1998 to 2022.

Over the last few years, considerable attention has been devoted to glass fiber-reinforced composites (GFRCs) in the field of dentistry. Glass fiber-reinforced composites are useful in prosthodontics, endodontics, restorative dentistry, orthodontics, and periodontics. This study considered various aspects related to GFRCs to assess the publications and citations on the subject from 1998 to 2022.A bibliometric method of analysis was adopted to conduct the study. The relevant papers published within the established time frame were identified. A document-type filter was applied to retrieve only those results that were peer-reviewed. The most influential authors, journals, institutions, and countries were identified, as indicated by the number of citations, as well as the most frequently used keywords.The findings of the bibliometric analysis revealed that the first article on GFRCs in the context of dentistry was published in 1998. The greatest number of papers on this subject was published in 2011 (n = 51), while the number of citations reached its peak in 2008 (n = 1,546). The University of Turku in Finland published the greatest number of articles, whereas Brazil was the most prolific country, producing the highest number of publications on dental fiber. Researchers from Brazil, Italy and Germany mainly collaborated with researchers from other countries, including the USA and Finland. The analysis revealed that publications of multiple authors were more likely to be cited.Significant advancements have been made in the field of GFRCs, as demonstrated by an increased collaboration amongst different countries, organizations and investigators, which enhanced the development and progression of research related to GFRCs.

Experimental Investigation on the Important Factors on Structural Adhesive Joint Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

The static strength of fiber-reinforced epoxy composite structural adhesive lap joints was examined experimentally. Surface roughness and geometrical control parameters (adherent and adhesive kinds) were assessed for their effects. To examine load, elongation, and strength at failure, tensile tests were conducted. Cyanoacrylate glue outperformed SHCP 268 resin, and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites outperformed sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. The study offers information on how to maximize adhesive bonding for lightweight multi-material design construction.

Enhancement of mechanical and tribological properties in glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and ANN-based COF prediction

ABSTRACT The study investigated the effects of incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites on their mechanical and tribological properties. Experimental results demonstrated significant enhancements across various parameters. Microhardness increased by 25.03%, attributed to improved interfacial bonding and load transfer facilitated by MWCNTs. Tensile strength and modulus improved by 10.58% and 28.2%, respectively, indicating reinforced load-bearing capacity. Flexural strength and modulus increased by 33.78% and 36.29%, respectively, due to enhanced interfacial bonding. Inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) exhibited a notable increase of 20.79% with MWCNT incorporation. Ity mpact toughness improved by 19.41% in Izod and 32.32% in Charpy tests, attributed to MWCNTs’ energy-dissipating properties and enhanced interfacial bonding. Tribological tests showed decreased wear and friction coefficients, along with reduced debris formation and fiber breakage in SEM analysis, indicating improved bonding between the matrix and fibers. Furthermore, an artificial neural network (ANN) model accurately predicted the coefficient of friction, aligning well with experimental values, offering potential for predictive modeling in composite material analysis. Overall, the incorporation of MWCNTs significantly enhanced mechanical properties and wear resistance of the composite material.

Fatigue life prediction of continuous glass-fiber reinforced elium thermoplastic composites via energy based thermographic approach

The long-term performance of composite materials produced within the scope of lightweighting, should be examined with fatigue tests. Nonetheless, these tests take a long time and require a lot of energy. For overcoming these limitations, the thermographic method was used during the fatigue test and recorded temperature changes. Before starting the fatigue tests, the mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced Elium-based composites were clarified via tensile and three-point bending tests for two different fiber orientations (0/90 and 0/90/45). Then, the fatigue tests were carried out to identify the long-term performance of these materials. During the test, temperature values were recorded with an infrared camera. These values were converted to energy dissipated per cycle and temperature increase. These data established high cycle fatigue strength limits for both fiber orientations. In addition, using the fatigue test data, the potential cycles at lower stress values were calculated using a mathematical model and were validated with verification tests. With this method, the fatigue cycle has been predicted for high cycle fatigue tests and it carried out the validation test successfully with 93% similarity of fatigue cycle. Finally, the cycle numbers of all low-stress high-cycle fatigue tests were determined.

Experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Assessment of recycling and repair methods for discontinuous glass fiber reinforced vitrimer composites with reclaimed parts

In the context of fiber-reinforced polymer composites, the pursuit of sustainability is of paramount importance to promote environmentally responsible practices. Vitrimer materials have recently gained significant attention for their potential to enable repair and recycling, rendering them an attractive choice for manufacturing eco-friendly composites while maintaining mechanical strength akin to a thermoset resin like epoxy. This study specifically focuses on glass fibers, and delves into the examination of mechanical properties using both chemical and mechanical recycling methods for quasi-isotropic, randomly dispersed discontinuous glass fiber-reinforced vitrimer composites. It places specific emphasis on the optimization of factors to promote sustainable production. The findings indicate that chemical recycling methods are remarkably effective, resulting in the almost complete restoration of mechanical properties when appropriately selected process parameters are applied. Additionally, this study investigates diverse repair techniques, with the overlap repair method exhibiting the highest degree of recovery. These findings underscore the remarkable potential of glass fiber reinforced vitrimer composites, characterized by their high mechanical properties, for applications in various industries, particularly in structural contexts. Overall, this study highlights the significant reduction in composite waste achievable through recycling and repair strategies, aligning with the broader goal of advancing sustainability within the domain of engineering and manufacturing.

Enhancing flame retardancy and mechanical strength of glass fiber-reinforced biomass polyamide composites with surface-functionalized black phosphorus

Fiber-reinforced polyamide exhibits exceptional mechanical properties and durability; however, its widespread application is impeded by potential fire hazards. In this study, a hybrid material consisting of black phosphorus (BP) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was synthesized, denoted as BP-CO-POSS. The fire safety of fiber-reinforced polyamide demonstrated significant enhancement upon the incorporation of aluminum diethyl phosphinate (Alpi) and BP-CO-POSS. This enhancement was evident in various aspects, including the suppression of heat release behaviors, reduction in the emission of toxic gases, and an increase in the UL-94 rating. Notably, with the additional inclusion of 0.5 wt% BP-CO-POSS, a substantial decrease in both heat release rate (31.15 %) and total heat release (37.59 %) was observed when compared to the application of Alpi and BP alone, thus affirming the existence of a synergistic effect. This observation was substantiated through a comprehensive analysis of results obtained from both gas and condensed phases. This study offers a practical methodology for the widespread utilization of phosphorus-rich advanced materials, thereby further enhancing the fire safety of fiber-reinforced polymers.

The Role of Glass Fiber-reinforced Composites in Maxillary Fracture Repair

The Role of Glass Fiber-reinforced Composites in Maxillary Fracture Repair

Relationship between microstructure and dielectric/thermal management properties of biomass ramie fiber and its applications in recyclable wave-transparent composites

Industrial fiber crops are increasingly utilized in functional composites as substitutes for conventional fibers, aiming to address the limited microwave transmittance (MWT) and thermal conductivity (λ) of commercial glass fiber-reinforced composites (D-GFRC), which significantly reduce the service life of communication equipment shells and result in substantial waste pollution. Ramie fiber-reinforced composite (RFRC) possesses good dielectric/thermal management properties attributed to distinctive microstructure. However, the uncontrollable microstructure and unclear structure-property relationship of ramie fiber hinder its application in communication composites. Herein, the microstructures of ramie fiber, including aggregation and micro/nanopores structures, were successfully manipulated by coupling physical fields (temperature and force fields) with the guidance of molecular simulation. Subsequently, a clear relationship between microstructure and dielectric/thermal management properties was established. Moreover, leveraging this relationship, the performance of RFRC was optimized through coupled physical fields. Specifically, the MWT of RFRC reaches an impressive 95.9 %, and the λ is enhanced by 140 % compared to that of D-GFRC. Importantly, RFRC waste can be completely transformed into functional particles, thereby achieving a closed-loop utilization. This research strategy offers valuable insights into the regulation of microstructures and the development of recyclable wave-transparent composites derived from industrial crops.

Mechanical and metallurgical properties of a glass fiber-reinforced Al7075 hybrid composite produced by infiltration and after aging and abrasion

Abstract Within the scope of this study, composite structures were produced by reinforcing Al7075 with 6 mm size glass fiber (GF) scrap at different weight rates (2–3 %) using the infiltration method. Mechanical and metallurgical examination of unreinforced Al7075 samples and reinforced Al7075 composite samples were carried out. After the aging heat treatment of the samples, pin-on-disc wear and hardness tests were performed. FESEM and EDS analyses were conducted to examine the hardness and microstructural changes caused by the applied processes on the samples. It was observed that GF reinforcement increased the hardness of the material and there was full wettability between Al 7075 and GF. Thus, wear resistance increased. The highest hardness and wear resistance were obtained in the 6 h aged 2 wt.% GF-reinforced Al 7075 matrix hybrid composite sample. In addition, it was observed that the distribution of GF scrap added as reinforcement at a rate of 2 wt.% in Al 7075 was homogeneous, and the hardness measurements taken from different areas were similar.

Enhancing wear resistance, mechanical properties of composite materials through sisal and glass fiber reinforcement with epoxy resin and graphite filler

This study investigates the mechanical and wears properties of sisal and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites with graphite as filler material. We assessed the mechanical properties of the hand-layup-fabricated composite materials, including hardness, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, by ASTM standards. We also performed wear evaluations using a pin-on-disc apparatus. The results showed that the weight fractions of sisal fiber, glass fiber, graphite, and epoxy resin significantly affected the mechanical properties of the composites. In contrast to composites reinforced with individual fibers, hybrid composites exhibited enhanced mechanical properties. The optimized compositions showed improvements in tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness properties. The wear analysis revealed that a variety of factors, including the weight percentage of reinforcement, sliding velocity, load, and sliding distance, had an impact on the composites' wear resistance. The SEM images provided significant insights into the composite material's micro structural characteristics and failure mechanisms. In general, this research showcases the potential of graphite filler-reinforced sisal and glass fiber epoxy composites for use in applications that demand exceptional abrasion resistance and mechanical strength. Further refinement of the composition and processing methodologies could lead to the development of composites tailored to specific application demands.

Analysis of glass fiber-reinforced composite leaf springs in a light commercial vehicle

Leaf springs are designed to bear loads as well as shocks in automotive vehicles. Two leaves of glass fiber-reinforced composites (GFRCs) of various shapes sandwiched between steel plates were analyzed for application in a minitruck. Computer-aided engineering analysis was performed for five different types of GFRC material leaf springs: flat leaf, flat and parabolic leaf, both parabolic leaf, both parabolic leaf springs with aluminium alloy bushes at the eye-end and spring steel multi-leaf springs. A silencer pad was used in the parabolic leaf spring to reduce delamination and vibration at contact points of the mating leaf. The various shapes and combinations of leaves provided varying parameters, namely, the deformation, maximum equivalent strain, maximum equivalent stress and fatigue life. The CAE results showed that compared with the other combinations, the flat leaf and parabolic leaf combinations provided the maximum equivalent strain, maximum equivalent stress and fatigue life.

Nonlinear dynamic study of FG-GFRC-NPR structures

The functionally graded glass fibre-reinforced polymer composite(FG-GFRC) is one of the contemporary sophisticated materials that may be employed for a variety of technical purposes. The shock absorption capacity of FG-GFRP laminates can be improved by incorporating auxetic property (i.e., negative Poisson's ratio NPR) in the structures, which can be attained by a particular stacking sequence of glass fibres (GF) and a different percentage of GF distribution along the thickness direction within the FG-GFRP structure. The nonlinear dynamic behaviour of such structures must be investigated. The clamped-clamped FG-GFRP-NPR structure is stimulated under a uniform transverse load distribution in the current work. Based on the higher-order shear deformation theory (SDT), the displacement field and nonlinear stress–strain relationship are derived. The nonlinear differential equation with cubic non-linear components were derived using Hamilton’s principle and transformed using Galerkin’s technique and obtained governing equation of motion. MATLAB has been used to conduct all numerical simulations. A time series, a phase picture and a Poincare diagram (PCM) were generated to characterize the vibration behavior of such auxetic structures.

Improving tensile properties of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites based on enhanced multiphase structure: The modification of resin systems and glass fibers

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites have been widely used as reinforced materials in marine engineering due to their good corrosion resistance and economic benefits. However, the mechanical properties of GFRP are lower than that of composites reinforced by carbon and aramid fibers etc. Methods to improve the mechanical properties of GFRP received ongoing attention. GFRP have various mechanical properties due to the characteristics of its multiple phases. This study developed an optimized processing method based on multiphase structures for GFRP composites, significantly enhancing the tensile properties of GFRP laminates. The modified GFRP can be produced efficiently by this method to meet more utilization situations in marine engineering. The influence of curing agents, silane coupling agents (SCA)-treated glass fibers (GFs), and nanomaterials on GFRP's tensile properties was investigated. The findings reveal a 10.64 % increase in the characteristic load of GF bundles due to the improved bonding between fibers by SCA. Besides, the contact angle between SCA-treated GFs and epoxy resin shows a significant reduction (26.69 %). Variations in ply thickness and resin system distinctly influence the tensile properties and failure modes of GFRP laminates. Laminates with 4-ply GF fabrics facilitate more effective load transfer across the matrix-fiber boundary, yielding optimal tensile properties for GFRP. Epoxy/phenolic amine resin system with more reactive functional groups (-OH) enhances the fiber-resin bonding, further improving the tensile properties of GFRP. The enhancement mechanism of the multiphase structure in GFRP was elucidated by microscale characterization, indicating that the multiphase structures in GFRP, enhanced by SCA, nanomaterials, and functional curing agents, significantly improve its tensile properties.

Investigation of Drilling Performances, Tribological and Mechanical Behaviors of GFRC Filled with B4C and Gr

AbstractIn this study, the effects of Gr and B4C filler materials on drilling performance, mechanical, and tribological behaviors of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were experimentally investigated. Glass fiber-reinforced composite materials filled with B4C and Gr at different weight ratios (5%, 10%, and 15%) were manufactured using hand lay-up method. The produced composite materials underwent various tests, including mechanical tests (tensile and flexural tests), tribological tests (wear behavior), and drilling tests under different parameters. Additionally, SEM images of the worn and fractured surfaces were examined. The addition of both B4C and Gr fillers adversely affected the mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced composites. It was observed that tensile and flexural strengths decreased with increasing filler ratios. However, the addition of B4C and Gr fillers enhanced the wear resistance of glass fiber-reinforced composites. It was revealed that in drilling operations, as the feed rate increased, the thrust forces increased, while the cutting speed increased, the thrust forces decreased. It was determined that delamination values in glass fiber reinforced composites decreased as the feed rate increase, while delamination values increased as the cutting speed increased. Generally, the thrust forces, vibration, delamination, and moment values obtained during the drilling of B4C-filled glass fiber composites were found to be higher compared to Gr-filled glass fiber composites.

Assessing Intra-Bundle Impregnation in Partially Impregnated Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites Using a 2D Extended-Field and Multimodal Imaging Approach.

This study evaluates multimodal imaging for characterizing microstructures in partially impregnated thermoplastic matrix composites made of woven glass fiber and polypropylene. The research quantifies the impregnation degree of fiber bundles within composite plates manufactured through a simplified compression resin transfer molding process. For comparison, a reference plate was produced using compression molding of film stacks. An original surface polishing procedure was introduced to minimize surface defects while polishing partially impregnated samples. Extended-field 2D imaging techniques, including polarized light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopies, were used to generate images of the same microstructure at fiber-scale resolutions throughout the plate. Post-processing workflows at the macro-scale involved stitching, rigid registration, and pixel classification of FM and SEM images. Meso-scale workflows focused on 0°-oriented fiber bundles extracted from extended-field images to conduct quantitative analyses of glass fiber and porosity area fractions. A one-way ANOVA analysis confirmed the reliability of the statistical data within the 95% confidence interval. Porosity quantification based on the conducted multimodal approach indicated the sensitivity of the impregnation degree according to the layer distance from the pool of melted polypropylene in the context of simplified-CRTM. The findings underscore the potential of multimodal imaging for quantitative analysis in composite material production.