Hybrid Polymer Composites Research Articles

Advanced Polymer Composite with Graphene Content for Emi Shielding

One of the increasingly common unexpected outcomes of the extensive usage of electronic devices and systems is electromagnetic interference (EMI). The need for efficient fillers and shielding materials to manage electromagnetic interference (EMI) and associated issues is rising. Adding more filler typically means greater production costs, poor dispersion, and unintended agglomeration, which makes polymer composites harder to work with and mechanically weak. Therefore, it is highly desired to design a strong composite with conductive filler content that nonetheless performs well as an EMI shield. Therefore, using a graphene substrate and dispersion of conducting polymers such as polyacetylene and MWCNT fillers, a hybrid polymer composite based on polyetherimide is proposed in this research. Next, the enhancement of EMI shielding efficiency is examined. The design of the graphene substrate was completed with a coating based on nano filler, and the blending methods of the polymer matrix and the reinforcing filler materials are explored. ANSYS-HFSS software is then used to assess the shield's efficacy among others, and the results demonstrated improved performance. Therefore, by putting the suggested design into practice, high-performance EMI shielding materials can be created by combining various shield fillers. As a result, the composites' mechanical, electrical, and EMI shielding qualities will all improve.

Unveiling the Influential Factors and Heavy Industrial Applications of Graphene Hybrid Polymer Composites

Graphene hybrid-filler polymer composites have emerged as prominent materials that revolutionize heavy industries. This review paper encapsulates an in-depth analysis of different influential factors, such as filler/graphene type, aspect ratios, dispersion methods, filler-matrix compatibility, fiber orientation, synergistic effects, different processing techniques, and post-curing conditions, which affect the processing and properties of graphene hybrid polymer composites, as well as their resultant applications. Additionally, it discusses the substantial role of graphene reinforcement with other fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, silica, nano-clays, and metal oxides, to produce functionalized hybrid polymer composites with synergistically enhanced tailored properties, offering solutions for heavy industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy harvesting. This review concludes with some suggestions and an outlook on the future of these composite materials by emphasizing the need for continued research to fully optimize their potential.

Synthesis of New Ruthenium Complexes and Their Exploratory Study as Polymer Hybrid Composites in Organic Electronics.

Polymeric hybrid films, for their application in organic electronics, were produced from new ruthenium indanones in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by the drop-casting procedure. Initially, the synthesis and structural characterization of the ruthenium complexes were performed, and subsequently, their properties as a potential semiconductor material were explored. Hence hybrid films in ruthenium complexes were deposited using PMMA as a polymeric matrix. The hybrid films were characterized by infrared spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. The obtained results confirmed that the presence of the ruthenium complexes enhanced the mechanical properties in addition to increasing the transmittance, favoring the determination of their optical parameters. Both hybrid films exhibited a maximum stress around 10.5 MPa and a Knoop hardness between 2.1 and 18.4. Regarding the optical parameters, the maximum transparency was obtained at wavelengths greater than 590 nm, the optical band gap was in the range of 1.73-2.24 eV, while the Tauc band gap was in the range of 1.68-2.17 eV, and the Urbach energy was between 0.29 and 0.50 eV. Consequently, the above comments are indicative of an adequate semiconductor behavior; hence, the target polymeric hybrid films must be welcomed as convenient candidates as active layers or transparent electrodes in organic electronics.

Thermomechanical evaluation of zinc oxide/hydroxyapatite/high‐density polyethylene hybrid composites

AbstractThis study examines the impact of zinc oxide (ZnO) on the spectral, thermal, mechanical, and morphological characteristics of developed composites of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE). Composite samples were fabricated with different compositions of ZnO (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) along with a constant quantity of hydroxyapatite (HA, 10 wt%) in pure HDPE. The synthesized hybrid polymer composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), universal testing machine (UTM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) methods, allowing for a thorough assessment of their spectral, thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties, repectively. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of HA and ZnO metal vibrations in the hybrid polymer samples. The thermal stability was increased by the incorporation of different amounts of ZnO, and the decomposition temperature was increased from 319.31 to 412°C for 10 wt% of ZnO hybrid composites as compared to pure HDPE. DSC findings indicated that increasing the ZnO contents, prompted the degree of crystallinity to rise to 14.81% as contrasted to neat HDPE. It was observed that yield strength and ultimate tensile strength for the 10 wt% ZnO composite increased up to 51.85% and 31.72%, respectively, compared to pure HDPE. However, at higher loading of ZnO, surface cracks were observed, which is detrimental for composite materials. Hence, the improved attributes indicated that the synthesized ZnO/HA/HDPE polymer composites can be a promising material for biomedical engineering applications.

Glass–Carbon–Kevlar fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composite (HPC): Part (A) mechanical and thermal characterization for high GSM laminates

The quest for light weight hybrid polymer composites (HPC) has resulted into multiple materials and structural configurations for achieving high performance in automotive and aerospace applications. Incidentally, the past reported work has (in general) involved variable GSM while investigating reinforced fiber layers. The variable GSM may lead to a random response of each layer to the applied forces and thermal degradation, due to which attributing the role of various layers to results/properties is difficult to ascertain. This research employs a uniform/consistent approach with high GSM (400) based HPC with multiple stacking sequences of glass (G), carbon (C), and Kevlar (K) to investigate thermo-mechanical properties. The research first focuses on fabrication of eleven stacking sequences of hybrid combinations, followed by identification of an optimal sequence based on mechanical (tensile strength, flexural strength, charpy impact resistance) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) characterization. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for fracture mechanisms of hybrid composites showing fiber pull out, matrix crack, and delamination. Results show that the tertiary combination having 2 Glass, 5 Carbon and 5 Kevlar layers (G2C5K5) named H9 herein provides a good balance of tensile, flexural, impact resistance and thermal properties; its deviation from the best of each category is within approximately 5, 13.5, 9.9 and 10.9 % (for tensile, flexural, impact, TGA) respectively. The range of properties evaluated in this study is deemed suitable for lightweight aircraft structures.

Effect of alumina fillers on physical and mechanical properties of luffa/groundnut shell natural fiber reinforced polymer composites

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with hybrid luffa waste and groundnut shell waste natural fibers and to evaluate the effect of different filler loadings of alumina on the mechanical behavior of the hybrid composites. The luffa fibers were made to undergo mercerization in 10% NaOH solution. All the treated fibers and the alumina fillers were characterized using X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The study used three different filler loadings of alumina (Al2O3) (5%, 10%, and 15% by volume) and three different fractions of treated luffa‐waste groundnut shell hybrid fibers (10%, 30%, and 50% by volume). The composites were fabricated using the hand layup technique, and the prepared test specimens were subjected to mechanical and physical properties testing as per ASTM standards. The experimental findings indicated that the inclusion of Al2O3 filler improved the physical and mechanical characteristics of the natural fiber‐reinforced hybrid composites. The results showed that the composites with 30 vol. % fibers (1:1 luffa fiber: groundnut shell fiber) and 10 vol. % Al2O3 content showed enhanced tensile, flexural, shear, and impact strength and hardness. Besides, a good synergy between the alumina fillers, natural fibers, and the polymer matrix was observed in the surface morphology of the composite specimen. The developed composites can be used in low and medium‐load‐bearing structural and non‐structural applications.Highlights Development of hybrid polymer composites with luffa and novel groundnut shell fibers Hybridization of alumina ceramic particles with natural fiber hybrid composites Assessment of physical and mechanical properties of the polymer composites

Development of hBN/natural fibres reinforced polymer composites using grey relation grade analysis for thermal and electrical applications

The objective of this work is to enhance the thermal conductivity and electrical properties of polymer hybrid composites through a systematic novel grey relation grade analysis (GRGA) optimization approach. This involves reinforcing the hybrid composites with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and various kinds of natural fibers or fillers. The development of a unique technology to produce multiphase composites using 2% of natural fibers or fillers such as coir fiber, rice husk filler, wood filler (WF), banana fiber (BF) and sugarcane fiber along with hBN (1, 3, 5 wt.%) particulates as reinforcements in epoxy matrix. The Taguchi L15 matrix array is utilized to fabricate interlaced composite samples via hand layup molding. Ultrasonic waves are used to ensure the uniform distribution of hBN filler into the matrix. Analysis of variance and GRGA reveal the significant results. It shows that the multiphase hybrid composites exhibit good thermal conductivity when higher content of hBN (5 wt.%) particulate for all the micro particulate polymer (MPP) composites. Multi-response optimization shows that the micro BF (2 wt.%) interlaces with hBN (5 wt.%) composite exhibits the higher thermal conductivity and electrical resistance compared to all other natural fiber interlaced composites. The aforementioned MPP composite has thermal conductivity of 1.03 W (m·K)−1 and electrical resistance of 279.88 Giga Ohms. Besides, the WF interlaced hBN (5 wt.%) composite shows the minimum dielectric constant compared to all other natural fiber composites. This desirable result is caused by the proper dispersion of hBN with the matrix which encourages interlocking with the fiber and the matrix. Maximum electrical resistance is observed for composite containing 5 wt.% of h-BN and 2 wt.% of BF. The developed MPP composite could be used in heat shields, electrical insulation components, and interior automotive components like dashboards, luggage compartments and interior walls.

Engineering properties of hybrid polymer composites produced with different unsaturated polyesters and hybrid epoxy

In this study, the mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites produced with different unsaturated polyesters and hybrid epoxy resins are investigated. The composites were produced by blending unsaturated polyester resins (i.e., orthophthalic, isophthalic, and terephthalic) and bisphenol-A-based epoxy-vinyl ester resin to produce single, binary and ternary blends. In doing this, a total of 14 different combinations were produced. The results show that the binary and ternary polymer blends tend to improve almost all the tested properties of the polymer composites. Further, the fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirmed that the reason for enahcned properties is due to better crosslinking and longer chains of polymers produced in binary and ternary mixtures. The absence of peaks determining the styrene polymerization character for all mixtures also demonstrates that the polymerization reaction takes place in all mixtures. It is also believed that the binary and ternary resin mixtures have developed higher energy absorption compared to single resin composites. All of the mentioned has been achieved while the gelation temperatures of the hybrid resin mixtures were not changed significantly and they began gelation at the expected temperature values. In addition to the gelation, peak exotherm temperatures, and barcol hardness values demonstrated that all mixtures achieved sufficient curing. The result of this study is significant and point to the great potential of producing high performance polymer composites through the use of binary or ternary resin mixtures.

Preliminary Investigations and Support for the Mechanical and Dynamic Characteristics of a Natural Rubber Reinforcement in E-Glass/CNT/Epoxy Composite

The present investigation reports the synthesis and mechanical properties of a hybrid polymer composite consisting of E-Glass fiber, epoxy and 2 wt.% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a varying percentage of natural rubber (NR). The prepared hybrid polymer composites were examined in terms of their surface morphology, thermal properties as well as mechanical properties. The findings from the present study indicate that natural rubber enhances the mechanical properties of the hybrid polymer composites and, in particular, 10 wt.% is the optimum percentage of NR that yields the highest strength of 88 MPa, while the strength is 52 MPa with 5 wt.% NR. In order to evaluate the damping properties, a dynamic mechanical analysis was carried out on the E-Glass/CNT with NR composites at various frequencies along with a thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the composite reinforced with 10 wt.% natural rubber exhibited a higher glass transition temperature of 376.86 °C and storage modulus of 2468 MPa when compared to the other composites, which indicates the enhanced cross-linking density and higher polymer modulus of the composite. X-ray diffraction analysis was also conducted and the results are reported to improve the general understanding of crystalline phases.

Influence of Awj Parameters on Material Removal Rate, Surface Roughness, and Kerf Angle during Machining of Prosopis Juliflora Bark Fibres/Carbon Reinforced Hybrid Polymeric Composites

This study investigates the impact of changing the settings of the Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ) on the material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness, and kerf angle during the machining process of carbon-reinforced hybrid polymeric composites and Prosopis juliflora bark fibres. The hybrid nature of these materials presents unique machining opportunities as well as difficulties. As a result, optimizing the AWJ settings is essential for productive and efficient machining. The findings demonstrate the intricate connections between the AWJ parameters and the machining characteristics of the hybrid composite. To optimize MRR while minimizing surface roughness and controlling the kerf angle, the optimal parameter combinations are identified. The findings provide valuable insights for the manufacturing industry, particularly concerning sustainable materials and hybrid composites.

Investigation of the Relationship between the Energy Characteristics of Phases (Reinforcing Fibers and Binder) and Wettability of Filler in Hybrid Polymer Composite

The study of issues related to the development of a scientifically substantiated method of obtaining hybrid polymer composites (containing more than one type of reinforcing continuous fiber) in order to improve the stiffness characteristics of the material is an urgent task of building materials science, allowing to expand the field of effective application of polymer composites for structural purposes. Wetting of reinforcing fibers with binders during the fabrication of composites largely determines the occurrence of adhesive bonding. In this study it is revealed that wettability correlates with energy characteristics of phases (reinforcing fibers and binder); dispersion parameters of free surface energy of carbon and glass fibers without oiling composition and apprette, parameters of free surface energy of fibers with oiling compositions and apprettes are determined; wetting of fibers by epoxy resins with determination of their surface tension, parameters of free surface energies at the boundary with air is studied; the question of the separation of fibers from air is investigated.

A treatise on mechanical properties of natural and synthetic fibre reinforced hybrid polymer composites

Hybrid composites have proved to be a potential material attracting large scale attention for applications such as in construction, automobiles, aerospace and locomotives. In this article, a treatise on the hybrid composites types, their diversity of properties, the effect of various fibre surface treatments on mechanical properties of natural fibres and possible natural and synthetic fibre combinations for a variety of applications is presented. The mechanical characterization (tensile, flexural and impact) of different combinations of natural and synthetic fibres in thermoplastic or thermoset polymer matrices along with the critical issues is also showcased. Although the importance of hybrid composites, mechanical properties and their applications are already available in the literature, enhancing damage tolerance and impact resistance has not been duly focused by the research community.

Adhesive interaction in hybrid polymer composites. Energy characteristics of phases at the air interface

Introduction: The study of the adhesive strength formation mechanisms in polymer composites involves the deliberate selection of components to facilitate their joint action in transferring stresses from the fibers to the binder through the phase interface. The strength of the adhesive interaction between components can be expressed through their energy characteristics, provided technological and other factors are ensured. Purpose of the study: The study aims to investigate the energy characteristics of hybrid polymer composite phases at the air interface. Methods: The optical method was used to capture micrographs of wetting fibers of different nature by liquids, based on which contact angles were determined. Tensile tests of fibers were conducted, and thermal analysis of fibers was performed using a synchronous thermal analyzer. The surface tension of epoxy resin and the epoxy resin / hardener system was determined using a tensiometer. Results: The method for determining surface energies of solids was upgraded. The upgraded method makes it possible to determine the free surface energy of fibers of different nature and the surface tension of the binder. The effect of oiling compositions (finishing agents) was quantitatively evaluated.

Innovative method for studying impact energy absorption of hybrid polymer composites used in the defence industry

This study presents an experimental methodology for testing the impact energy absorption of hybrid polymer composites used in the defence industry. For this purpose, an apparatus was also developed and designed in accordance with this methodology, the construction and operation of which are described in this publication. As part of this methodology, to provide a comprehensive characterization of the impact energy absorption properties of the tested composites, it was complemented with rheological measurements of non-Newtonian fluids, one of the main components of the hybrid polymer composite, as well as microscopic analysis of defect structures. This methodology allowed for a comprehensive, rapid, and effective verification of composites impregnated with non-Newtonian fluids and composites with hybridized reinforcement. In summary, the methodology presented in this work enables a fast and precise analysis of the absolute impact energy absorption, which is crucial for composites used in the defence industry.

A Review on the Effect of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Tribological Properties of Biolubricants.

This review provides a comprehensive and accessible literature review on the integration of nanoparticles into biolubricants to enhance wear and friction regulation, thus improving the overall lubricated system performance. Nanotechnology has significantly impacted various industries, particularly in lubrication. Nanobiolubricants offer promising avenues for enhancing tribological properties. This review focuses on oxide nanoparticles, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), copper oxide (CuO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles, for their ability to enhance lubricant performance. The impact of nanoparticle concentration on biolubricant properties, including viscosity, viscosity index, flash point temperature, and pour point temperature, is analyzed. The review also addresses potential obstacles and limitations in nanoparticle incorporation, aiming to propose effective strategies for maximizing their benefits. The findings underscore the potential of nanobiolubricants to improve operational efficiency and component lifespan. This review aims to provide valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and professionals in exploring and leveraging nanotechnology's potential in the lubrication industry. This review paper explores the basics of tribology along with its significance, green principles, mechanisms, and energy savings because of friction, wear, and lubrication. Condition monitoring techniques are also explored to achieve brief knowledge about maintaining reliability and safety of the industrial components. Recent advances in tribology including superconductivity, biotribology, high-temperature tribology, tribological simulation, hybrid polymer composite's tribology, and cryogenic tribology are investigated, which gives a thorough idea about the subject.

INTERCALATING POLYMER WITH NANO STRATUM GRAPHENE FOR EMI SHIELDING

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) has been identified as one of the ever-increasing unintended consequences of the widespread use of electronic devices and systems. There is a growing demand for effective shielding materials and fillers to control EMI and related concerns. Increased filler content usually results in higher costs, poor dispersion, and unwanted agglomeration, making polymer composites mechanically fragile and difficult to produce. As a result, developing a robust composite with conductive filler content while maintaining good EMI shielding performance is extremely desirable. Hence in this paper, a hybrid polymer composite based on polyetherimide is suggested by dispersion of conducting polymers like polyacetylene and MWCNT fillers with a Graphene substrate. Then the improvement in EMI shielding effectiveness is investigated. The blending techniques of the polymer matrix and the reinforcing filler materials are discussed and the design of the Graphene substrate was done with a nano filler based coating on it. The effectiveness of the shield is then analyzed with ANSYS-HFSS software. S-parameters of the shield like S11, S12, and S21, etc. are determined using the plots obtained and this showed superior performance. Hence by implementing the proposed design the high-performance EMI shielding materials can be fabricated by the combination of different fillers for the shield. This will improve the electrical, mechanical, and EMI shielding properties of the composites.

Experimental investigation of mechanical and erosion properties of twill E-glass/sisal fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composite

Natural fiber-reinforced hybrids are a new topic of study in supramolecular chemistry. Such natural fabrics are low-cost fibers exhibiting good specific characteristics and low density. The tribological and mechanical properties of handwoven sisal/twill glass fabric reinforced polymer blends were scientifically investigated. Hand lay-up lamination specimens were created in a mould and dried under mild pressure at atmospheric conditions for 24 h. Each of the hybrid composites had four layers, with the quantity and location of glass layers varying to provide five distinct layering patterns. A group of any and all sisal lamination, on the other hand, had been created. ASTM standards were followed for sample preparation and evaluation. The results revealed that incorporating twill E-glass fiber with polymer composites may considerably improve the characteristics of the sisal combination. S5 hybrid composites reached maximum tensile and bending strengths of 74.26 MPa and 161.25 MPa, respectively. The wear of the S3 series laminated hybrid is lower (0.84 × 10–4) than that of the other hybrid compound and plain polymer material. The layering arrangement has a stronger impact on hybrid composites in terms of both mechanical and tribological characteristics. The results show how layering affects the mechanical and tribological properties of these new natural fiber-reinforced combinations. This presents exciting new opportunities for many material research and engineering applications, such as making strong, portable car parts.

Identification of Hybrid Polymer Material STERED and Basic Material Properties Used in Road Substructures or Pavements.

Modern road construction uses a large number of polymer-based materials. Material composition depends on their roles. Among the most important functions of road body materials is to transfer all loads safely to the subgrade. A thorough understanding of material properties in various climates is crucial for this purpose. In the automotive industry, polymer residues from recycling can be used to make innovative materials, such as STERED, a hybrid polymer composite. Drawing on the porous nature of this material, this paper investigates its mechanical behavior. For road construction, the compressive properties of the material are most important. The paper presents the results of a detailed analysis and experimental research of the STERED material from in-lab tests. Successful research will lead to the inclusion of the material in road body compositions with excellent retention properties, vibration damping, and potential in circular economy.

Numerical prediction of thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient of glass fiber-reinforced polymer hybrid composites filled with hollow spheres

The optimal performance of composites enriched with hollow spheres has been reported in contemporary literature, whereas their thermal properties have received less attention. In this regard, a finite element method (FEM)-based micromechanical model has been developed systematically to investigate the role of intra-matrix embedding of hollow spheres on the thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of unidirectional fiber-reinforced hybrid composites. In so doing, the concept of representative volume element (RVE) considers microstructures comprising an epoxy matrix, E-glass fiber, and E-glass hollow spheres, assuming perfect bonding (ideal interface) between the components and modified approximate periodic boundary conditions. By computing the longitudinal and transverse temperature gradients generated due to the application of uniform heat flux as well as the geometrical variation in RVE owing to temperature enhancement, thermal conductivity and CTE have been respectively determined. Comprehensive evaluations have been conducted to examine the effects of microstructural-level features, including fiber volume content and orientation, plus volume content and thickness of hollow spheres, on the effective thermal conductivity and CTE of pseudo-porous ternary E-glass/epoxy composites.

Experimental investigation on mechanical performance and drilling behavior of hybrid polymer composites through statistical and machine learning approach

The current study focuses on fabricating partially biodegradable composites added with nettle and grewia optiva fibers in epoxy. The mechanical properties of various fiber reinforcement combinations, such as tensile, impact, and flexural strength were evaluated. One of the main issues when drilling natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites is delamination damage. Therefore, the drilling ability of the hybrid composites was investigated by various drilling operation conditions: drill diameter (4, 6, 8 mm), feed rate (0.125, 0.212, 0.3 mm/rev) and spindle speed (400, 600, 800 rev/min). The experimental investigation was carried out using a twist drill at dry and ambient temperatures. The response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted during the investigation and the contribution of feed rate (65.31%) was found as the dominant factor, followed by spindle speed (35.83%) and drill diameter (10.72%) to influence the delamination factor of hybrid composites. The grey relation analysis was further applied to the experimental results to rank the experiments. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the fractured surface of tested samples and delamination damage caused by drilling operations. The developed composites offered a maximum tensile strength (34.3 MPa), impact strength (11.13 J) and flexural strength (23.91 MPa) observed in the hybrid composites for a reinforcement combination of 5% nettle and 15% grewia optiva fibers. The prediction models developed by RSM and artificial neural network (ANN) were matched with the investigated results and ANN was noticed to be more accurate than the RSM. The research work will be beneficial for the industries involved in the development of structural panels reinforced with nettle and grewia optiva fibers.