Natural Fiber Composite Materials Research Articles

Impact of nanoclay on mechanical and structural properties of treated Coccinia indica fibre reinforced epoxy composites

Natural fibre composite materials are one such capable material which replaces the conventional and synthetic materials for the practical applications where we require less weight and energy conservation. The present paper emphasizes the effect of Cloisite 30B on the newly identified Coccinia Indica fibre, which is extracted from a medicinal plant (i.e., Cucurbitaceae) by manual process. The chemically treated Coccinia Indica fibre reinforced composite is prepared by using the epoxy resin and the detailed preparation methodology is presented. In this paper, the mechanical properties and morphological characterizations of nanoclay filled chemically treated Coccinia Indica fibre reinforced epoxy composites were compared with the unfilled composite. The experimental evidence shows that the increase in weight percentage of nanoclay enhances the tensile, flexural, impact, compression properties of the treated Coccinia Indica fibre reinforced epoxy composites. These results were also confirmed by the Scanning Electron Microscopy observations of composites and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis of the chemical structure. Fibre pull-outs on the fractured specimen during physical testing of the composites were also investigated. As a results, the presence of 3wt.% nanoclay provides better interfacial adhesion between fibres and matrix, which gives the best results compare to others.

Structural analysis of natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite

The conventional structural material used in construction industries like aluminum, wood and steel are depleting now a day. In this work an attempt has been made to fabricate a hybrid natural fiber composite material reinforced with vinyl ester resin. Composite are made-up with various volume percentage of Sisal and Luffa fiber by compression molding. The mechanical behavior of composite material such as tensile, impact test and flexural test are carried out as per ASTM standard. The ANSYS analyzed result shows that the mechanical properties of the composite materials have a good agreement with the conventional structural aluminum material.

Finite element analysis of mechanical response of cellulosic fiber-reinforced composites

An investigation is carried out on natural cellulosic fibers which have gained interest in the composite field due to their superior specific properties as well as their eco-friendly environment character and biodegradability. A multi-scale finite element (FE) model of natural fiber composite materials is developed. The study is performed for multiple fibers in hexagonal packings with 10, 20, and 30% of fiber mass fractions. The mechanical behavior of the composite, processed by means of hand lay-up method and examined thanks to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is simulated at macro-scale as well as mesoscopic scale. In particular, the response to tensile and three-point bending test is studied. Linear material properties are obtained by using pure strain assumptions in the implicit analysis of the composite, while the non-linear behavior and viscoelastic parameters require the explicit dynamic analysis. Simulation is performed thanks to ABAQUS finite element software. Comparison of experimental and FEM tensile and three-point bending strength shows very good agreement. From the results, it has been found that the prepared natural fiber composite materials can be used for structural engineering applications.

Investigation of Glass Fiber influence on Mechanical characteristics and resistance to Water absorption of Natural fiber reinforced polyester composites

Abstract Composites have a greater influence in recent development of materials with high strength to weight ratio. In the present scenario an effort is on to identify the different and specific properties which are to be possessed by the same material to attain the possibility of using it in various applications. The composite materials play a major role in achieving that requirement. Most of the natural fiber composite materials possess good mechanical properties but it is now becoming necessary that it should possess other properties as well like resistance to water absorption, fire proof, etc,. Here in this investigation an attempt has been made to study mechanical properties and the resistance to water absorption in Kenaf, Aloe-vera and Sisal Fibers reinforced by addition of Glass fiber.

Investigation to Appraise the Abrasive Water Jet Response of Curaua/Basalt Hybrid Polyester Composites

The application of natural fiber composite material in structural and interior parts of the automotive system is emerging. In this article an investigation is made to understand the effect of abrasive water jet machining parameters on surface roughness and kerf angle of the Curaua and Basalt fibers hybrid reinforced polyester composites. To identify the most effective machining parameter the MOORA and Principle Component method are used. It is found that jet pressure and feed rate are the most significant factors in influencing the surface roughness and kerf angle. Further, the effect of basalt content in the Curaua composites mechanical properties of Curaua composites, perhaps, a minor influence, is found with parameter optimization of basalt content.

Natural Rubber-Whisker Alumina Fiber Composite Materials for Mechanical and Thermal Insulation Applications

Alumina fiber is a ceramic material used as a dispersed phase or filler to reinforce the mechanical and improve thermal properties of natural rubber via vulcanization process at curing temperature 150°C. The amount of alumina fiber added in natural rubber was varied from 0 to 50 phr on 100 phr of natural rubber in a sulfur curing system. Adding 10 phr alumina fiber affects to obtain the best natural rubber composite samples having good mechanical and thermal properties. Tensile strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus and thermal conductivity of adding 10 phr whisker alumina fiber encoded NR-Al-10 are equal to 14.38±1.95 MPa, 1038.4±41.45%, 545.63±25.67 MPa and 0.2376±0.0003 W/m.K, respectively, better than those of pure natural rubber compounds without adding alumina fiber. Tensile strength, elongation at break, Young’s modulus and thermal conductivity of natural rubber without adding alumina fiber are equal to 14.06±6.03 MPa, 949.41±52.15%, 496.32±8.54 MPa and 0.2500±0.0003 W/m.K, respectively.

Exploration of Local cellulosic-fiber; its Modification and Potential use by the Industry

ABSTRACTDemand for newer, stronger, stiffer, yet lighter-weight and environmental friendly (biodegradable) materials in the fields such as automobile for non-structural applications are ever increasing. The principal reasons for using natural (cellulosic) fibers is they possess several attractive properties such their economic feasibility, enhanced sustainability, good specific mechanical properties, and desirable aspect ratio for good performance after melt-processing. Natural fiber composite materials are now being rapidly utilized in automobile industries, and they have become the forefront of research and development activity. An interesting alternative for reinforcing soft polymeric matrices with short fibers is the use of cellulose fibers which show remarkable reinforcing effects in thermoplastics such as polypropylene. The current study made an attempt to investigate the suitability of sisal fibers for automobile industry for non-structural and low-strength interior applications. In this work native sisal fibers were extracted and the effect of alkali treatment on their morphological, tensile, moisture absorption and thermal properties were studied. Scanning electron micrographs indicated roughening of the surface of the fiber strands due to the removal of the hemicellulose layer on alkali treatment. The maximum weight-gain for the composite prepared from treated fibers was 2.12 %, while that for the composite prepared from untreated fiber was 4.33 %. From the thermograms, the results indicate initial degradation for the treated fiber to have improved from 174 °C to 230 °C (56 °C shift) when compared to the untreated fiber. This fiber has competitive advantages when evaluated with other natural fibers. A polymer composite was processed from the chemically modified fiber, profiled against equivalent material systems in Ashby material property charts exhibited its suitability for light, low strength and low flexure material applications which can use a potential replacement of fibres being used currently.

Mechanical Characterization and Finite Element Analysis of Jute-Epoxy Composite

Natural fiber composite materials are such an appropriate material, that replaces synthetic composite materials for many of practical applications where we need high strength and low density. Natural fiber composites combine the technological, ecological and economical aspects. This leads to discovering its vast applications in the aeronautics, automotive, marine and sporting sectors. This paper deals with the study on mechanical characterization (Tensile, Compression and Flexural) of jute/epoxy (JE) polymer composite. The flexural properties of composites are experimentally tested and are simulated in commercially available FEA software. Flexural tested results are in good agreement with FEA results. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the failed samples reveals the matrix dominated failure.

Mechanical Characterization of Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites: An Alternative for Rural House Roofing’s

The present investigation deals with mechanical characterization of natural fiber composite materials as alternative roofing for rural houses. In this study, It has been used both banana and Ensete (Ensete ventricosume) fibers for manufacturing the composite material. Tensile test, flexural test and compressive test were performed on the test samples made by various parameters i.e. thickness 4, 6, and 8mm with various fiber orientations using blend of two different matrixes. It was observed that the results obtained were fairly acceptable and closely equivalent to the existing roof material. The present study also investigated the effect of fiber orientation on mechanical properties of the composite material and seen that the mechanical properties were enhanced with developed material which serves as the best alternative for the existing house roofing material.

Impact characterization of epoxy LY556/ricinus communis L plant natural fiber composite materials

The Climate change is the main issue for world for living all creatures, because of climate change global warming will happen. The reasons behind global warming are like carbon, carbon dioxide products, and non - environmental products etc. Global warming may stop by promoting non-carbon products like natural products, solar energy; wind energy etc. Natural fibers composites are useful to replace the carbon, synthetic products. From last few decades many researchers had done research on natural fiber composites. In the present investigation composite of Epoxy/ castor oil plant cortex fiber (Ricinus Communis L) were prepared by hand layup technique. Composites with 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 volume fractions of charpy impact specimens were prepared as per ASTM D256. The impact strength (KJ/m2) of castrol oil cortex fiber composite is 5.2 times to that pure epoxy matrix.

Current advances in the fire retardancy of natural fiber and bio-based composites – A review

Natural fibers and bio-based composites are competitive to conventional materials in structural and transportation industry. Natural fibers reinforced polymer matrix composites are familiar/common materials currently. Various properties of these composites have been explored in the already available literature, and has been continuing with new developments. They have a risk of flammability in most of the applications which is undesirable. Fire retardant natural fiber and bio-based composite materials have recently gained researchers’ interest. This paper summarizes recent progress regarding flammability of natural fiber and bio-based composites. The mechanism of fire retardancy has been explained. The factors affecting flammability of such composites and characterization techniques required for evaluating fire retardancy have also been described in detail. The reported effects of fire retardant include practices on the other properties of composites.

Improvement of Natural Fiber Composite Materials by Carbon Fibers

The purpose of this work is the improvement of flax fiber-reinforced composites obtained by vacuum molding in order to encourage their insertion into industrial products. The relatively high degree of porosity in these kinds of composites, due to the lack of compatibility between epoxy matrix and flax fibers and the hydrophilicity of flax fiber, remains a major constraint to their use in the industrial world. Hence, we have used a combination of carbon fibers with those of flax in order to optimize the properties of the assembly. Several stacking sequences have been tested in order to analyze the influence of the addition of carbon fibers on the water recovery behavior and the mechanical tensile behavior according to their position inside the laminate. It has been shown that adding surface carbon plies presents a barrier effect for the water sorption by limiting the creation and the percolation of internal porosities. The same effect is observed on tensile behavior where stacking sequences with external carbon fiber plies are more resistant than stacking sequences with internal carbon plies.

Mechanical testing of epoxy bonded eco friendly natural fibre composite material

Mechanical testing of epoxy bonded eco friendly natural fibre composite material

Mechanical testing of epoxy bonded eco friendly natural fibre composite material

The development of high-performance materials made from natural resources is increasing worldwide. The greatest challenge in working with natural fibre reinforced plastic composites is their large variation in properties and characteristics. Composite's properties are influenced by a number of variables, including the fibre type, environmental conditions (where the plant fibres are sourced), processing methods, and any modification of the fibre. The need to have composite materials that are renewable has lead to materials scientists researching on natural fibres. To minimise environmental pollution, research into rice husk, saw dust and cashew nut dust has been on for a period of time now. Rice husk, cashew nut shell dust and saw dust are easily available in huge amount. We have been considering as raw material for composite production these material are renewable sources. In this work, we have to prepare three different sample composite materials with epoxy resin. As the percentage of filler content increases the mechanical properties of tensile strength, torsion test and hardness test and impact strength were checked. In general, RH/CN/SD composite could be considered as a potential source of low cost, natural fibre for composites.

Modeling and Analysis of Clutch Facing Made up of Biodegradable Coir Fibre Based Composite Material

In past hundred years almost all components of automobile have undergone improvement due to technological advancement. Automobile sector is one of the major environment polluting sectors today. It is duty of automobile engineers to provide new and better solutions to ensure environment protection and safety. Availability of new environment-friendly composite materials helps automobile engineers to give environmental friendly solutions. One of such available new material is biodegradable natural fibre composite materials particularly coconut coir fibre based composite material. Scope of using this material in automotive industry is enormous. This paper deals with feasibility of using environment friendly coconut coir based composite material as clutch facing material. This has been done by modeling and analysis of clutch facings made up of structural steel and coir based composite material using Solid Works software and ANSYS Workbench respectively. Further comparison of mechanical properties of clutch facings made up of structural steel and coir based composite material has been done.

Fatigue Life Estimation of Kenaf Reinforced Composite Materials by Non-destructive Techniques

In this study, fatigue life of natural fiber reinforced composite materials was predicted due to manufacturing defects fatigue damage modes. Kenaf bast fibers were used to fabricate natural fiber composite materials with epoxy as a binding material. The Kenaf fiber reinforced composites were manufactured using a hand lay-up process. The defects in Kenaf reinforced composite materials were determined by a non-destructive technique using Infrared (IR) thermal imager. The thermography analyses were verified by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations. Then, the Mathematical model for estimating fatigue life by IR thermal imaging technique based on damage accumulation model is proposed. This proposed model is named as S-IR thermal imaging fatigue life model. Determinations of fatigue damage has been predicted and it found that it damage has been fixed with the predicting results. S-IR model proposed that 60% kenaf epoxy with thickness 0.3 cm is recommended as the best formulation to fabricate the specimens due to a longer fatigue life recorded and the result obtained from the fatigue cyclic tension test shows that 60% kenaf epoxy with thickness 0.3 cm had the highest fatigue resistance as indicated by a highest range of stress level, 119.71-53.20 MPa.

Mechanical Behavior of Composite Multilayered Basalt/E-Glass/Epoxy Pipe under Internal Pressure

Pressurized composite pipes made of concentric fiber reinforced polymer layers have found much interest among researchers. These composite pipes possess mechanical and thermal properties that exceed those of their constituent materials. This development is motivated by the demand for corrosion resistant, lighter and high specific stiffness components. Natural fiber composite materials retain better flexural stiffness and are environmentally friendly. Unlike experimental testing, numerical investigations on the manufacture and performance of natural fiber reinforced pipes under internal pressure seem lacking. In this analysis, the mechanical behavior of multilayer composite pipes made of natural basalt and E-glass fibers under internal pressure were carried out numerically. The multilayered composite pipes were fabricated by employing filament winding technique with, basalt and E-glass fibers, with fiber orientation angles of ±45o, ±55o, ±65o, ±75o. The matrix epoxy resin was infused using vacuum infusion process (VIP). A longitudinal and hoop tensile test rig, designed and fabricated according to ASTM D2105 and D2299 respectively, was used to determine the hoop and longitudinal properties of the pipes. Numerical simulations were conducted to determine the stress and strain behaviors with the intention to find the effect of ply angle, basalt and glass properties and also to evaluate the performance of the new natural basalt fiber as an alternative to E-glass/Epoxy.

Effect of Electron Beam Radiation on Water Absorption of Hybrid Kenaf-Glass Unsaturated Polyester Composite

This paper presents the effect of electron beam radiation on water absorption of kenaf-glass (KG) mat reinforced unsaturated polyester (UPE) hybrid composite which has been compounded using sheet molding compound (SMC) process. Hybrid synthetic and natural fiber composite materials are attractive structural materials because of natural fibers resource and their lower cost making their study a relevant research area today. In the present study, the fabricated hybrid composites were subjected to a dose of electron beam radiation of 75 kGy. Furthermore, fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis was carried out on irradiated hybrid kenaf-glass reinforced UPE composite. It was found that the effect of electron beam radiation increases the impact strength and water uptake significantly.Water absorption values were found to be increased with the increasing of kenaf fiber loading for non-irradiated hybrid KG-UPE composite.

Evaluation of the Double Shear and Hardness of Abaca and Flax Reinforced Polymer Composite for Automotive Applications

Advancement in Science and technology over the past decade has made the human society to venture into using hybrid materials for variety of applications. Natural fiber composite materials are one among those new emerging engineering materials. These materials are finding increased usage due to their low cost and eco-friendly nature. This paper deals with the fabrication and characterization of abaca, flax based hybrid composite. The properties of hybrid composites are compared to the composite containing any one of the constitutional fibers of hybrid composite. The characterisation is based on behaviour of composite under various mechanical testing. The tests include double shear strength and Hardness. The inner filament brakeage and crack propagation are studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

Implementation of the expert decision system for environmental assessment in composite materials selection for automotive components

Conventional materials selection system was replaced with sophisticated software tools by rapid changing technology. The growing environmental concerns and regulations widely among the industry, especially in automobiles, force us to explore the natural fiber materials as a replacement for synthetic materials which is in common use. As a result of extensive research and development, new natural fiber reinforced composite materials are emerging and the database of materials growing exponentially. The decision of selecting optimized materials was complicated, as it involves diversified choice of materials, coupled with various influencing criteria for the selection process. To abstain from deciding inappropriate materials, the technology of expert system software tools can help us in the appropriate materials selection. The objective of this research was to explore the implementation of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) using the expert choice software tool for deciding optimum natural fiber reinforced composite materials by considering main criteria and sub-criteria in the hierarchical model. The final judgement was performed with different scenarios of sensitivity analysis, giving priority to the environmental factors and sustainability. The result shows that the natural fiber composite material hemp and polypropylene gained the higher rank in the selection process and almost compliant with the requirements of industrial product design specification and can be recommended to automotive component manufacturers to enforce green technology.