Natural Fibrous Materials Research Articles

Effect of an amine-aldehyde condensate modifier on the thermal and mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

Purpose The manufacture of polymer composites with a lower environmental footprint requires incorporation of sustainably sourced components. In addition, the incorporation of novel components should not compromise the material properties. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of a synthetic amine functional toluidine acetaldehyde condensate (AFTAC) as a modifier for fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. One of the fiber components was sourced from agricultural byproducts, and glass fiber was used as the fiber component for comparison. Design/methodology/approach The AFTAC condensate was synthesized via an acid-catalyzed reaction between o-toluidine and acetaldehyde. To demonstrate its efficacy as a toughening agent for diglycidyl ether bisphenol A resin composites and for the comparison of reinforcing materials of interest, composites were fabricated using a natural fiber (mat stick) and a synthetic glass fiber as the reinforcing material. A matched metal die technique was used to fabricate the composites. Composites were prepared and their mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated. Findings The inclusion of AFTAC led to an improvement in the mechanical strengths of these composites without any significant deterioration of the thermal stability. It was also observed that the fracture strengths for mat stick fiber-reinforced composites were lower than that of glass fiber-reinforced composites. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the use of the AFTAC modifier as well as incorporation of mat stick fibers in epoxy composites has not been demonstrated previously.

Alterations in Growth Habit to Channel End-of-Season Perennial Reserves towards Increased Yield and Reduced Regrowth after Defoliation in Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the primary source of natural textile fiber in the U.S. and a major crop in the Southeastern U.S. Despite constant efforts to increase the cotton fiber yield, the yield gain has stagnated. Therefore, we undertook a novel approach to improve the cotton fiber yield by altering its growth habit from perennial to annual. In this effort, we identified genotypes with high-expression alleles of five floral induction and meristem identity genes (FT, SOC1, FUL, LFY, and AP1) from an Upland cotton mini-core collection and crossed them in various combinations to develop cotton lines with annual growth habit, optimal flowering time, and enhanced productivity. To facilitate the characterization of genotypes with the desired combinations of stacked alleles, we identified molecular markers associated with the gene expression traits via genome-wide association analysis using a 63 K SNP Array. Over 14,500 SNPs showed polymorphism and were used for association analysis. A total of 396 markers showed associations with expression traits. Of these 396 markers, 159 were mapped to genes, 50 to untranslated regions, and 187 to random genomic regions. Biased genomic distribution of associated markers was observed where more trait-associated markers mapped to the cotton D sub-genome. Many quantitative trait loci coincided at specific genomic regions. This observation has implications as these traits could be bred together. The analysis also allowed the identification of candidate regulators of the expression patterns of these floral induction and meristem identity genes whose functions will be validated.

Characteristics of Natural Fiber Composites Materials Reinforced with Aluminum and Copper Powder for The Performance of Automatic Motorcycle Clutch Pad

Currently, research on natural fiber composites (NFC) for automotive applications has attracted the attention of researchers and academics. Natural fibers such as coconut fiber and wood powder are mixed with metal materials such as aluminum and copper to obtain the composite characteristics of automatic motorcycle clutch pad materials. Coconut fiber and wood powder are suitable natural materials for composites and are easily obtained from waste. Natural fiber materials with metal reinforcement into composites are expected to produce materials suitable for friction materials such as clutch pads and brake pads with a good characteristic. This study aims to determine the characteristics of the coefficient of friction, wear, and hardness of NFC materials reinforced aluminum and copper powder for the performance of automatic motorcycle clutch pads. Experiments were carried out on various compositions of aluminum and copper powder. Tribometer testing was carried out to determine the friction coefficient and wear. Hardness testing using the Vickers method and testing the performance of automatic motorbikes with a chassis dyno test. The results show that the performances of the clutch pad with NFC-reinforced aluminum and copper show power and torque results that resemble the performances of genuine part materials in each operating cycle. The value of friction coefficient, wear, and hardness of this material are a value close to that of a genuine part clutch pad material. The improved performance of this material is expected to be considered in the manufacture of future clutch pads.

Analisis Beda Rata-Rata Pengaruh Fraksi Volume Komposit Pada Pengujian Impact Berpenguat Serat Resam Dan Serat Pinang

Technological developments and advances in the industrial sector have led to the increasing use of metals. This condition causes the availability of metal raw materials to decrease. Overcoming this, the use of composites in the industrial world is a solution. Many composite reinforcing materials use natural fiber materials are often used because they have advantages in strength and stiffness that are higher than other engineering materials. In this study using a factorial experimental method that looks at the effect of the composite ratio (volume fraction) with the use of 2 natural fiber mixtures, namely resam fiber and areca nut on impact strength. This study aims to determine the average difference in each treatment carried out in the impact test. The volume fraction treatment variants used in this study are 25%; 30%; 35% resam fiber and 10% areca nut fiber with a long soaking time of 2% NaOH mixed fiber for 2 hours with the α value used is 5%. It was found that in treatment 1: 2 the average value is different while in the treatment of 2: 3 and 1: 3 the average value of the variables is not different.

Pengaruh Variasi Fraksi Volume Komposit Serat Sabut Kelapa Matrik Polyester Terhadap Kekuatan Tarik

In the era of the use of technology that is currently developing. Has a major impact on the use of fiber as a composite material. One of the widely used fibers is coconut coir. Coconut coir is a natural fiber material that can be an alternative choice in the manufacture of composites. The purpose of this study was to obtain optimal tensile test values of coco fiber composite materials with variations in volume fraction of 3%, 5% and 7% and fiber lengths of 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm. This study analyzes the effect of variations in the volume fraction and fiber length of coconut coir with a polyester matrix on tensile testing using the Taguchi method. This tensile test was carried out using the ASTM D638 standard with the hand lay-up method. Factors that affect the tensile strength of coco fiber are volume fraction and fiber length. The combination of levels of factors that produce the average value and variance of the tensile strength of coconut coir fiber, namely the volume fraction factor (B) level 1, namely the volume fraction of 3% with a value of 30.933 and the fiber length factor (A) level 2, namely the fiber length of 15 mm with the most optimum value of 29.633.

Computational analysis of physico-mechanical properties of cotton fibers using elastic tensor analysis tool

The harm that has been caused to the climate because of the broad usage of synthetic materials has incited the improvement and use of natural fiber materials. This study is an endeavor to investigate the underlying physico-mechanical properties of few cotton fibers which are cultivated across India, USA, and Ukraine. Powder X-ray diffraction data of considered fibers were acquired and utilized along with statistical tools to get their physico-mechanical properties. The chosen materials belong to monoclinic unit cell with lattice parameters a=7.350 Å, b=8.220 Å, c=10.370 Å and β=96.28°. The XRD has been refined using FullProf software package and obtained the crystallographic information file. Trealor's principle has been employed to obtain the 6×6 elastic constants for a monoclinic crystal system. These elastic constants were employed to open-source Elastic Tensor Analysis Tool (ELATE) and spatial dependence of elastic moduli were plotted and observed that, the USA cotton has significant mechanical properties compared to Indian and Ukraine cotton. This method can be extended to any material of interest to compute the physico-mechanical properties.

Yield performance, mineral profile, and nitrate content in a selection of seventeen microgreen species.

Originally regarded as garnish greens, microgreens are increasingly valued for their nutritional profile, including their mineral content. A study was conducted under controlled environmental conditions utilizing a selection of seventeen microgreen species belonging to seven different botanical families to investigate the genetic variation of macro- and micro-minerals and nitrate (NO3 -) content. Plants were grown in a soilless system using a natural fiber mat as the substrate. After germination, microgreens were fertigated with a modified half-strength Hoagland solution prepared using deionized water and without adding microelements. At harvest (10 to 19 days after sowing, based on the species), yield components were measured and dry tissue samples were analyzed for the concentration of total nitrogen (N), NO3 -, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and B. Genotypic variations were observed for all of the examined parameters. Nitrogen and K were the principal macronutrients accounting for 38.4% and 33.8% of the total macro-minerals concentration, respectively, followed in order by Ca, P, S, and Mg. Except for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), all the tested species accumulated high (1,000-2,500 mg kg-1 FW) or very high (>2,500 mg kg-1 FW) NO3 - levels. Eight of the studied species had a K concentration above 300 mg 100 g-1 FW and could be considered as a good dietary source of K. On the other hand, scallion (Allium fistulosum L.), red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata), amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.), and Genovese basil (Ocinum basilicum L.) microgreens were a good source of Ca. Among micro-minerals, the most abundant was Fe followed by Zn, Mn, B, and Cu. Sunflower, scallion, and shiso (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) were a good source of Cu. Moreover, sunflower was a good source of Zn, whereas none of the other species examined could be considered a good source of Fe and Zn, suggesting that supplementary fertilization may be required to biofortify microgreens with essential microminerals. In conclusion, the tested microgreens can be a good source of minerals showing a high potential to address different dietary needs; however, their yield potential and mineral profile are largely determined by the genotype.

ANALISIS BENDING PADA KOMPOSIT SERAT ALAM DAUN AGEL DENGAN RESIN EPOXY

The use of composite materials, especially those developed by natural fibers in various equipment, has begun to develop a lot, the use of natural agel leaf fibers as composite materials can reduce the use of synthetic materials and increase the utilization of agel leaf natural fibers which are still a lot of wasted. This study aims to determine the stages or processes of agel leaf natural fiber composite using 2 methods of hand lay up, vacuum bag and to determine the value of the bending strength of agel leaf natural fiber material between variations of the epoxy matrix in the direction of the fibers 0^° and 〖90〗^°.Based on the data from the test results, it can be concluded that the average value of maximum bending strength in agel leaf natural fiber composites using the vacuum bag manufacturing method with a volume fraction of 60% and fiber direction 0^° and 〖90〗^° has an average maximum bending strength value that is the highest, namely 11.006 MPa and 11.057 MPa and the composite of agel leaf natural fiber using the hand lay up method (non vacuum bag) with a volume fraction of 50%, 60%, 70% and fiber direction 0^° has the lowest average maximum bending strength values of 3.413 MPa, 5.404 MPa, 4.625 MPa.

Fiber-Reinforced Clay: An Exploratory Study on Automated Thread Insertion for Enhanced Structural Integrity in LDM

This exploratory study examines the potential of combining clay and natural fiber material in liquid deposition modeling (LDM) to enhance the structural integrity of the soft-bodied print during the additive manufacturing (AM) process. For this purpose, a custom extruder module and a support structure have been developed as novel additions to the delta 3D printer that allows for automated fiber thread insertion into the deposit clay body and stabilize the 3D print during drying. This study explores material compatibility and durability in the liquid state and the material strength of the sintered ceramic body after pyrolysis of the natural fibers. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of an automated process for thread insertion and tensioning control to stabilize and control the 3D print until drying and showcase the versatile design possibilities of this method. The study may serve as a baseline for future research on fiber-reinforced clay printing in the construction industry and related disciplines.

A review of fused filament fabrication of continuous natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites: Techniques and materials

AbstractThe combination of continuous natural fiber and fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing enables the manufacturing of low carbon emitting, environment friendly, lightweight, and high strength biomass composites with designated geometry characteristics. In current literature, reviews associated with continuous fiber 3D printing primarily cover synthetic fibers, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar, and glass fiber. Very few pieces of literature on the FFF printing of continuous natural fibers are available. Techniques/methodologies for incorporating continuous natural fiber reinforcements in FFF is an emerging field of research. A comprehensive review and discussion on current progress and the future prospects of continuous natural fiber 3D printing would be beneficial to its development. This article summarizes the current research status of continuous natural fiber 3D printing, including information on printing techniques, materials, and the influence of printing parameters on composite properties, so as to provide reference for the future development of FFF technology using continuous natural fiber and thermoplastic composites.

Filamentous Fungi Are Potential Bioremediation Agents of Semi-Synthetic Textile Waste.

Textile waste contributes to the pollution of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. While natural textile fibres are known to be biodegraded by microbes, the vast majority of textiles now contain a mixture of processed plant-derived polymers and synthetic materials generated from petroleum and are commonly dyed with azo dyes. This presents a complex recycling problem as the separation of threads and removal of dye are challenging and costly. As a result, the majority of textile waste is sent to landfill or incinerated. This project sought to assess the potential of fungal bioremediation of textile-based dye as a step towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly means of disposal of textile waste. Successful development of an agar-independent microcosm enabled the assessment of the ability of two fungal species to grow on a range of textiles containing an increasing percentage of elastane. The white rot fungus Hypholoma fasciculare was shown to grow well on semi-synthetic textiles, and for the first time, bioremediation of dye from textiles was demonstrated. Volatile analysis enabled preliminary assessment of the safety profile of this process and showed that industrial scale-up may require consideration of volatile capture in the design process. This study is the first to address the potential of fungi as bioremediation agents for solid textile waste, and the results suggest this is an avenue worthy of further exploration.

Effect of nanoclay‐cellulose adhesive bonding and hybrid glass and flax fiber face sheets on flax fiber honeycomb panels

AbstractThis study investigated the feasibility of using natural fiber material to create honeycomb cores, as traditional cores made of aluminum, Nomex, and petroleum‐based materials are not environmentally friendly. The natural fiber honeycomb cores were formed using a 3D printed molding process and were bonded to flax and glass fiber facings to improve the durability of the structures. The addition of cellulose and nanoclay to the adhesive enhanced the flexural strength of the structures by 7.43% and 10.48%, respectively, while also absorbing 8.67% and 8.91% more impact energy than structures bonded with epoxy alone. However, the compressive strength decreased by 10.79% and 13.6% with the addition of cellulose and nanoclay to the adhesive, respectively. Tensile properties were also studied, and the tensile strength of hybrid facings was found to be 69.45% higher than those using solely flax facings. Additionally, hybrid facings effectively reduced moisture uptake, making them hydrophobic and reducing water uptake by 46.89% compared to solely flax facings. Overall, natural fiber honeycomb composite structures showed comparable performance to Nomex and aluminum honeycomb composites, offering favorable properties while being constructed using environmentally friendly materials. The efficient manufacturing process using additive manufacturing makes these structures readily customizable and scalable, leading to their implementation in numerous applications such as aerospace, automotive, and marine industries.

An overview of mechanical properties of biodegradable polymers and natural fibre materials

In this review paper, we discussed about bio-degradable polymer composition materials with low cost, less weight and eco-friendly comparing to synthetic materials. These bio-degradable materials are the answer to reducing environmental pollution and also improving soil fertility when they decompose. Most of the polymer materials are polysaccharides, poly lactic acid etc and natural fibers materials are sisal, hemp, husk etc. These materials have good mechanical properties and it is equal to the other artificial polymers and fibers. Due to their promising properties and functionality, research on these composites is expected to increase along with the implementation of new composite systems in the future. The methods of mechanical test varied widely, and the conditions under which mechanical properties degraded varied as well.

Optimization of Characteristics Polymer Composite Reinforced Kenaf and Jute Fiber Using Taguchi-Response Surface Methodology Approach

ABSTRACT The use of composite materials with natural fiber reinforcement (CMNFR) has experienced rapid development in the automotive industry to apply synthetic materials that are expensive and not environmentally friendly. Biocomposite is a composite consisting of a polymer matrix and natural fiber reinforcement. Natural fiber materials are used as a substitute for conventional non-renewable reinforcing materials. This study uses the vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) process to fabricate composites using woven kenaf and jute from natural fiber. The Taguchi experimental design method with L27 3 as an orthogonal array matrix was used in this research to obtain the optimum CMNFR fabrication parameters. Response Surface Methodology is used to obtain the optimal response value based on microstructural analysis. The factors used were NaOH treatment (4, 6, 8 wt%), water absorption test (6, 12, 24 hours), and fiber type (KF, JF, KF-JF). The study’s results found a combination of optimization of CMNFR manufacturing parameters using RSM, namely, A1B1C2 with a mean material strength of 0.241 J/mm2 (impact strength) and a combination of A1B3C1 parameters with a mean material strength of 94.8650 MPa (flexural strength). It was also found that the presence of contaminants and voids harmed the mechanical properties.

Investigating the Chemical Composition of Lanolin Waste to Improve the Production of Sustainable Natural Fibre Materials

e Natural Fibre Company process raw wool into natural fibre materials utilising several processing steps. During the manufacturing, intermittent difficulties downstream of the scouring process of raw wool were encountered. Critically, the formation of an unknown paste- like grease deposit - which lead to downstream complications. To characterise the unknown by- product, the chemical composition of different raw wool lanolin extracts routinely employed in the manufacture of fibres were compared against a sample of the unknown grease deposit using high-temperature gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Major components of the unknown grease were putatively identified as psi-cholesterol, pentadecenol, palmitic and oleic acid, and a homologous series with mass spectra consistent with glycol ethers. The identification of chemicals predominantly with high interfacial properties was indicative of a potential issue with the surfactants used in the scouring process. the high inorganic content could indicate the presence of potassium salts derived from the suint, warranting further investigation of the inorganic fraction using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy or mass spectrometry.

Experimental Study of Thermal Resistance Values of Natural Fiber Insulating Materials under Different Mean Temperatures

The purpose of this paper is to experimentally study the thermal resistance (RSI value) of building insulation materials made mainly from natural fiber. Natural fibrous materials or renewable resources and their reinforcement composites are currently being used in building and construction as a potential solution to significantly reduce thermal load and energy consumption. The RSI value is used in describing the thermal efficiency of insulating material and in an analysis of heat transfer through the structural components of a building (such as walls, roofs, and windows) under steady-state conditions. In this study, the thermal resistance values of several samples made from coir fiber, rice straw fiber, energy reed fiber, and coconut wood were calculated from the thermal conductivity which was measured at mean temperature of 20°C, using the heat flow apparatus. The lowest RSI value was recorded in the phenol-formaldehyde polymer composites reinforced by rice straw fiber (0.115 m2·K·W-1) and coir fiber (0.128 m2·K·W-1) due to the relative thinness of the tested samples (8 and 12 mm). However, these samples can be used as an additional layer in multi-layered assemblies because of their low thermal conductivity value. The highest RSI value was reported on the binderless coir fiber panel (0.909 m2·K·W-1) at the thickness of 50 mm. Another investigation examined the relationship between RSI value and mean temperature to observe the influence of variations of ambient temperature on the heat resistivity of building insulation materials. Practical data showed the decreased linear proportion between thermal resistance and specific mean temperatures increased from 0 to 40°C. It is apparent that an increase in the interior and exterior temperature of a building significantly influences the thermal resistance of its insulation materials. Based on the experimental study, once the thermal conductivity coefficient of each sample was determined, the calculated RSI value was a valuable parameter to evaluate the thermal resistant effectiveness of a multi-layered installation, which allows us to investigate practically the effect of the thickness of additional layers from different insulating materials used in building envelopes.

Recent analytical techniques, and potential eco-toxicological impacts of textile fibrous microplastics (FMPs) and associated contaminates: A review

Despite of our growing understanding of microplastic's implications, research on the effects of fibrous microplastic (FMPs) on the environment is still in its infancy. Some scientists have hypothesized the possibility of natural textile fibres, which may act as one of the emerging environmental pollutants prevalent among microplastic pollutants in the environment. Therefore, this review aims to critically evaluate the toxic effects of emerging FMPs, the presence, and sources of FMPs in the environment, identification and analytical techniques, and the potential impact or toxicity of the FMPs on the environment and human health. About175 publications (2011–2023) based on FMPs were identified and critically reviewed for transportation, analysis and ecotoxicological behaviours of FMPs in the environment. Textile industries, wastewater treatment plants, and household washing of clothes are significant sources of FMPs. In addition, various characterization techniques (e.g., FTIR, SEM, RAMAN, TGA, microscope, and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy) commonly used for the identification and analysis of FMPs are also discussed, which justifies the novelty aspects of this review. FMPs are pollutants of emerging concern due to their prevalence and persistence in the environment. FMPs are also found in the food chain, which is an alarming situation for living organisms, including effects on the nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system, and genetic alteration. This review will provide readers with a comparison of different analytical techniques, which will be helpful for researchers to select the appropriate analytical techniques for their study and enhance their knowledge about the harmful effects of FMPs.

Experimental investigation on alkali treated (NaOH) groundnut shell (Arachis hypogaea L.) and rick husk (Oryza sativa) particle epoxy hybrid composites

Natural fiber materials and recycled materials are often abundant throughout the universe. The main goal of research work is to focus on material characterization. However, these resources can be reused to modify the mechanical properties. Commonly NaOH treatment is highly expectable to enhance the chemical composition in natural fiber materials and, in conjunction with the discovery of materials, can improve the properties of compounds. The combination of groundnut shell and rice husk particles has superior characteristics and it is recommended for preparing hybrid polymer composites. The experimental setup exploits the composition of natural fiber materials Rice husk (Oryza sativa) and groundnut shell (Arachis hypogaea L.) of two different percent of the prepared material: 75E + 25GR and 80E + 20GR (E – Epoxy, G – Groundnut shell and R – Rice husk). Both alkalies, as well as the other direct and derivation-free substances, are handled. After 1 h of alkali treatment, the combination of 80E + 20GR has an appealing interfacial bonding, with a maximum hardness and tensile strength value of 79 shore-D and 2.6 MPa. Mechanical qualities are considerably diminished when a high percentage of groundnut shell and rice husk is applied. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to examine the morphology for alkali-treated (NaOH) surfaces and tensile fractured surfaces of the hybrid polymer composites.

Coating of natural fiber composite envisaging through the patent landscape: An overview

AbstractOver many years, the Earth being dug out to take the metals and their associate supplements. Digging the ground leads to the weakening of the soil layers leads to landslides is the direct effect. Indirectly affects many soil‐associated creatures and processes and restricts the water flow. Instead, trying to use an alternative material is the better‐known solution. One such material is natural fibers, which have been improved by many to acquire some characteristics like metal. It is tough to achieve, but it can replace it, at least to a small extent. One such technique adopted is coating the natural fibers to make them a viable material to overcome the hydrophilic nature of the natural fiber material. This article discusses an overview of the coating of natural fibers and envisages the growth of coating over a natural fiber.

Recent developments in artificial spider silk and functional gel fibers

AbstractIt is highly desirable to develop fiber materials with high strength and toughness while increasing fiber strength always results in a decrease in toughness. Spider silk is a natural fiber material with an excellent combination of high strength and toughness, which is produced from the spinning dope solution by gelation and drawing spinning process. This encourages people to prepare artificial fibers by mimicking the material, structure, and spinning of natural spider silk. In this review, we first summarized the preparation of artificial spider silk prepared via such a gelation process from different types of materials, including nonrecombinant proteins, recombinant proteins, polypeptides, synthetic polymers, and polymer nanocomposites. In addition, different spinning approaches for spinning artificial spider silk are also summarized. In the third section, some novel application scenarios of the artificial spider silk were summarized, such as artificial muscles, sensing, and smart fibers.