Reinforced Polyester Resin Composites Research Articles

Influence of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fibre Reinforced Polyester Resin Composites

Natural fibres, which are recyclable and environment friendly, are becoming more popular than synthetic fibres which are commonly utilized in manufacturing composite materials. Scientists have drawn attention to natural fibres because of their availability, cost-effectiveness, and biodegradability. Recently, it has been popular practice to include natural fibres in composite materials for industrial uses. The research deals with the fabrication of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) reinforced polyester composites prepared from PALF used as reinforcement with 6 wt% (weight fraction). Synthesized graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was used as filler in different weight fractions such as 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 % to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the fabricated composites. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was synthesized by one-step heating methods from scrap melamine. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was utilized to characterize g-C3N4 and ensured successful synthesis. According to the results, the composite with 0.75 wt% of g-C3N4 has a higher modulus and tensile strength. Tensile strength increases as g-C3N4 weight percentages rise, demonstrating the filler's beneficial effects. The appearance of cracks in PALF/polyester composites with g-C3N4 was captured by scanning electron microscopy, which points to the morphological changes arising after tensile testing. With the addition of g-C3N4 in several weight percentages, the thermal resistance and water repellency of composites were significantly improved. Overall, this research reveals the effect of filler weight percentage on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of PALF/polyester composite. The investigation concludes that a defined weight proportion of g-C3N4 with PALF and polyester resin produces composite materials with acceptable mechanical properties suitable for engineering applications where composites are best.

A Study on Shore D Hardness of Areca Husk Fibre Reinforced Polyester Resin Composite: Impact of Fibre Maturity

Areca husk fibre is an agro-waste natural fibre that can be used in reinforced resin composites due to its low density, low cost and higher mechanical strength. Hard composites have applications in the packing industry and automobile industries. Over the years, researchers have been trying to develop lightweight, cheaper and efficient materials for them in daily life. In the present study, the Shore-D hardness level of chemically surface-modified unripe and ripe Areca Husk Fiber (AHF) reinforced polyester resin composites have been investigated. The unripe and ripe AHF are chemically treated through mercerization, potassium permanganate treatment, benzoylation, acrylation and acetylation methodologies to change their fibre-matrix bonding ability. The composites of chemically treated unripe and ripe AHF-reinforced polyester resin composites are fabricated, polyester resin as matrix material and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO) as a hardener. The Shore-D analysis was carried out to study the hardness properties of the composites. In conclusion, The acrylation treated AHF polyester resin composite shows a better harness among the other chemically treatments. Although, the fibre maturity of AHF increases the composite hardness except for benzoylation and acetylation chemical treatments. AHF-reinforced polyester resins can be used as hard materials in various applications such as automobile sectors, the packaging industry and more.

Effect of Surface Modification on the Impact Strength and Hardness of Areca Husk Fibre Reinforced Polyester Resin Composite

Reinforced natural fibre composite materials are attracting greater attention in the area of material engineering due to their low density, low cost and higher mechanical strength. In the present study, the Areca Husk Fiber (AHF) was extracted through the retting process. The surface modification of AHF was done by chemical treatments such as mercerization, potassium permanganate treatment, benzoylation, acrylation and acetylation. The surface modification was studied through FE-SEM imaging. The composites of surface modified AHF reinforced polyester resin composites were prepared as per ASTM standards using polyester resin as matrix material and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKPO) as hardener. The Izod-Charpy impact strength, Hardness (Shore-) hardness analysis was carried out to study the mechanical behaviour of the composites. The results showed that surface modification of AHF can enhance the impact strength of the composite materials but not the hardness of the composites.

Fabrication, microstructural and mechanical properties of arecanut leaf sheath fibre reinforced polyester resin composites

Arecanut leaf sheath (ANLS) an unexplored agricultural biomass is used to recover long staple lignocellulosic fibers. A long staple lignocellulosic fiber is extracted from ANLS biomass using 8% NaOH treatment. As reinforcing material ANLS fibre properties such as fibre length, diameter, moisture content, single fibre strength and X-ray diffraction analysis were carried out. Three types of composites, 15, 20 and 25 (w/w)% fibre loading composites have been prepared in unsaturated polyester resin matrix. The tensile, flexural and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) properties and void content of these composites are studied. The tensile fracture behaviors of fibre and composites are studied with the help of scanning electron micrographs.

Development and characterization of PET flakes reinforced polyester resin composites

The need for transforming waste Poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) bottles to usable products is of primary concern due to high ratio of use of PET bottles to recycling, around the world. One of the methods of recycling waste PET bottles is by developing composites which can find application in the construction industry. PET flakes are used as reinforcing material to resin cast PET reinforced polymer composite. In this study PET flakes of different weight percentages (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) are reinforced in polyester resin matrix and mechanical properties evaluated. The surface hardness (ASTM D2240 and DIN 53505), compressive (ASTM D695-15) and tensile strength (ASTM D3039) of the developed composites are evaluated experimentally. The morphological features of the fractured samples were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The hardness of the developed composites was found to increase with increase in percentage of PET flakes up to and including 15%. The composite with 10% PET flakes exhibited maximum tensile strength and the composite with 5% PET flakes exhibited maximum compressive strength. The tensile and compressive strength follow similar trends in comparison.

Mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of pineapple leaf fibre reinforced polymer composites

ABSTRACT In the present study fabrication of pineapple leaf fibre reinforced polyester resin composites was carried out by using hand layup process. Effect of pineapple leaf fibre loading in polyester resin composites on tensile, flexural, and water absorption behaviour properties was investigated. According to the rule of mixture, tensile and flexural properties increased with increasing pineapple leaf fibre loading. In the present scenario, some of the processes require improved mechanical properties of the materials. In this research work, pineapple leaf fibre is considered a reinforced material, and polyester resin is considered as a matrix material. It was observed that in tensile test, as the fibre content increases Young’s modulus also increases up to 2490 MPa at 40% Wt. In the flexural test, the flexural modulus increases up to 30% Wt. of fibre and again decreases with 40% Wt. fibre. As fibre content increases, the impact strength also increases with 40% wt. of fibre which was found to be 41 kJ/m2. As the fibre content increases the water absorption was found to be increasing.

Physical and mechanical properties, morphological behaviour of pineapple leaf fibre reinforced polyester resin composites

ABSTRACT The article focuses on the study of the physical, mechanical, and SEM of pineapple leaf fibre reinforced polyester composites. An investigation has been carried out in this relation to allow better use of PALF to manufacture value-added goods. Normal composites made from fibre are under intensive research because of their environmentally friendly nature and peculiar character. Their continuous supply is beneficial for natural fibres, simple to handle and naturally biodegradable. In this research, the hand lay up process was used to manufacture composites. SEM was used to clarify the topography of fibre, matrix adhesion, fibre breakage, and failure. Related with additional regular fibre composites based on cellulose, the PALF polyester composites have greater mechanical properties. It was also experiential that as the fibre content increase young’s modulus and tensile strength also increases and it was found to be 2545 MPa and 66 MPa, respectively, at 40 Wt. %. Even compression strength & hardness values also increase with an increase in the fibre content at 40 Wt. %. The compression strength of 23 MPa and hardness of 83 was recorded. This was observed with SEM where fibres and matrix have exposed well miscibility at 40 wt. % of PALF.

Effect of calcium carbonate filler and alkali treatment on physical and elastic properties of jute mat reinforced polyester resin composites

Polyester resin-jute mat reinforced composites with different wt% of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) filler were fabricated using a simple cold press molding method. The effects of CaCO3 filler and alkali (NaOH) treatment on various physical and elastic properties were evaluated. Water absorption (WA) increases with the increase of soaking time and load. The maximum WA was observed for 5 wt% addition of CaCO3 and for more CaCO3, WA decreases. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and flexural strength (FS) decreases with the addition of CaCO3 for 0.5 wt% NaOH treated composites but for 5 wt% NaOH treated composites UTS and FS increases with the addition of CaCO3 filler. The optimum filler addition is about 5 wt% CaCO3. With the addition of CaCO3, tangent modulus increases for 0.5 wt% NaOH treated composites and for 5 wt% NaOH treated composites it increases up to a maximum value and then decreases. The effect of load on tensile and flexural properties is also discussed.
 Bangladesh Journal of Physics, 26(2), 61-68, December 2019

Synthesis, characterization, biocompatibility, thermal and mechanical performances of sawdust reinforced composite

The work outlines the synthesis of a new and easy technique to develop sustainable composites of sawdusts reinforced polyester resin composites. For shaping a new approach we have found very rare approach for developing composites with sawdusts of Mahagoni wood (Swietenia mahagoni) reinforced polyester resin composites in open literatures. Due to this gap, a plan made to develop untreated and treated sawdusts (very common in Bangladesh and many other countries of the world) reinforced strong and durable composites with unsaturated polyester resins along with their biodegradability, thermal and mechnical properties where the material properties were revealed and corelations were elaborated in the subsequent sections. Specifically, the tensile strengths of virgin resin (VR), untreated sawdust reinforced composite (UTSDC) and 4% caustic soda treated sawdust reinforced composite (4TSDC) are 10.77, 15.83 and 21.64 N/mm2, respectively. That means the observed reinforcement property for UTSDC and 4TSDC increased ~47% and 101%, respectively. Moreover, the binding phenomena were explained with the own schamatic presentation. The composite phenomena was explained sequentially by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, etc. Between the developed composites 4TSDC was strong (25% as compared from tensile strength) and durable (8% as observed in biodegradability results) than the UTSDC of unsaturated polyester resin. The pattern of water uptake follows usual Fickian diffusion behavior. The observed properties of the developed convincible composites indicate that they can be considered for indoor to outdoor applications especially for using the fence, roof, furniture items like chair, table, park benches, etc.

Study on Tensile Strengths of Randomly Oriented Coir/Plantain Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polyester (CPFRP) Composites

This study focuses on determining the optimum tensile strengths of randomly oriented coir/plantain hybrid fiber reinforced polyester resin composites. The control factors of volume fraction, coupling agent and coir/plantain fiber ratio were used in forming the samples. Tensile test was conducted on the samples of Coir/plantain empty fruit bunch (CEFB) hybrid fibers and coir/plantain pseudo stem (CPS) hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites respectively for the optimum tensile strengths. An OKH-600 Digital Display universal Testing Machine was used for conducting tensile tests in order to establish the control factor levels quality characteristics needed to optimize the mechanical properties being investigated. The highest signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) for the quality characteristics was investigated by applying Taguchi robust design technique for the greater-the-better. The optimum values of the control factors were established for CEFB and CPS hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites. The CEFB hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites has the optimum tensile strength of while CPS hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites has the optimum tensile strength of . The control factors contributed greatly to the tensile strength; and the CEFB hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites are less in tension than that of CPS hybrid fiber.

A Study on Tensile Strengths of Randomly Oriented Coir/Plantain Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polyester (CPFRP) Composites

This study focuses on determining the optimum tensile strengths of randomly oriented coir/plantain hybrid fiber reinforced polyester resin composites. The control factors of volume fraction, coupling agent and coir/plantain fiber ratio were used in forming the samples. Tensile test was conducted on the samples of Coir/plantain empty fruit bunch (CEFB) hybrid fibers and coir/plantain pseudo stem (CPS) hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites respectively for the optimum tensile strengths. An OKH-600 Digital Display universal Testing Machine was used for conducting tensile tests in order to establish the control factor levels quality characteristics needed to optimize the mechanical properties being investigated. The highest signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) for the quality characteristics was investigated by applying Taguchi robust design technique for the greater-the-better. The optimum values of the control factors were established for CEFB and CPS hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites. The CEFB hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites has the optimum tensile strength of while CPS hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites has the optimum tensile strength of . The control factors contributed greatly to the tensile strength; and the CEFB hybrid fibers reinforced polyester resin composites are less in tension than that of CPS hybrid fiber.

Post Impact Tensile and Single Edge Notch Bending Test of Kenaf Hybrid Composite

The improvement of elite building items produced using regular assets is expanding around the world due to renewable and ecological issues. Among the wide range of characteristic assets, kenaf plants have been broadly abused in the course of recent years. The aim of this research is to develop long kenaf composites and long kenaf with woven glass reinforced polyester resin composites. Tensile test helps to determine how the material will react to forces being applied in tension. The test that was conducted included Post Impact Tensile test and Single Edge Notch Bend. Tensile test determines strain-stress while single edge notch bend determines the fracture of the specimen. The experiment was conducted using Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to find the mechanical properties. The experiment considered ASTM D3039 for tensile test and ASTM D5045 for single edge notch bending. From there, the damage area of the composites could be predicted. Meanwhile, it showed the best configuration for the newly developed material in impact test. So, these hybrid composites are viable to be extended into a newly developed material for further investigation.

Electrical and Mechanical Performance of Hybrid and Non-hybrid Composites

This paper investigated the moisture absorption, mechanical behavior and the dielectric performance of hybrid and non-hybrid polymeric composites. Hand lay-up technique was used for processing carbon; glass reinforced polyester resin composites (non-hybrid) and carbon-glass/polyester hybrid composites with various fiber configurations. The maximum resistance of water absorption was obtained for the hybrid composites with combinations [2C-2G], where the water absorption ratio reached to 1%. In addition, the maximum tensile, flexural strengths and ILSS of this combination were 123 MPa, 1397 MPa, and 22.35 MPa, respectively. This is due to the higher tensile strength of polyester matrix and good adhesion between the glass and carbon fabrics with the polyester matrix. The dielectric constant of non-hybrid composite with codes [C] is higher than non-hybrid composite with codes [G] and dielectric constant for all hybrid composites lies between non-hybrid composites.

Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Marble Powder and Kenaf Fibre Reinforced Polyester Resin Composites

Kenaf fibre is one of the strongest natural fibres in the world today. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to create a new composite of Kenaf fibres combined with marble waste powder. The incorporation of marble powders and Kenaf fibres using a matrix of a polyester resin type has never been done. Thus, this study aims to create and test various composite material composites (mixture of matrix, marble powder and Kenaf fibre) which will produce different mechanical properties and obtain good tensile strength in test specimens with several composition variations. Preparation of test specimens was carried out with 4 (four) compositions of matrix mix and marble powder; 50:50, 60:40, 70:30 and 80:20 with the weight of Kenaf fibre is fixed 2 gram. The largest tensile test value is 63,407 MPa, obtained from 80:20 composition with the largest E value 3,03GPa. The largest compression test value is 33.49, obtained from the composition of 60:40 with the largest E value of 2,35GPa. The largest bending test value is 19.80 MPa, obtained from the composition of 80:20 with the largest E value of 36,55GPa. From the research results of tensile test, compression test, and bending test which possess good value is between 60:40 and 70:30 of composition ratio.

In-and-out-of plane mechanical properties of hand lay-up vegetal fiber reinforced polyester resin composites

In-and-out-of plane mechanical properties of hand lay-up vegetal fiber reinforced polyester resin composites

In-and-out-of plane mechanical properties of hand lay-up vegetal fiber reinforced polyester resin composites

The results presented in this paper belong to the mechanical characterization of vegetal woven fabric reinforced composites with polyester resin as the matrix and fabrics made of cotton, jute and flax fibers. Test specimens were manufactured using a simple hand lay-up molding process. A group of test specimens was reinforced with the woven fabrics as delivered by the supplier, while another group was reinforced with woven fabrics that were chemically treated with Sodium hydroxide NaOH at 6% w/v for 48 hours. The fabrics were then neutralized and dried in an oven. Mechanical characterizations were performed using traction, compression, in-plane shear and interlaminar (out of plane) shear tests. Results show that the untreated flax fiber composite has the best specific properties among the three vegetal composites.

Utilization of Flyash as Filler Material in Hybrid Polyester Composites for Improved Thermo-Mechanical and Erosion Wear Behavior

The present work was carried out for the utilization of major quantities of flyash as filler material in the short fiber reinforced polyester resin composites in various engineering and structural applications. The incorporation of flyash modifies the hardness, tensile, flexural, impact and damping behavior of the composites. It is observed that hardness, flexural modulus and impact strength of flyash filled composites increases with increase in the flyash filler contents. Whereas, with the addition of flyash contents it is observed that there is decrease in tensile strength and flexural strength. But beyond the 10 wt.-% flyash filler addition in the composite the flexural strength increases. At the end, the erosion wear behavior of all the composites has been studied by Taguchi experimental design. It is found that unfilled glass polyester composite suffers greater erosion loss as compare to particulate filled glass polyester composites. The eroded surface morphology is examined by SEM and the related erosion wear mechanism is discussed in detail.

Thermal properties of porcelain reinforced polyester resin composites

Porcelain reinforced polyester resin composites (PPCs) having different compositions have been prepared by compression molding. Thermal properties of PPCs were studied by means of TG-DTA and TMA. The influence of porcelain content on thermal properties of PPCs was studied in detail. Thermal conductivities of PPCs decreased from 0.00068 cal/cm sec°C to 0.00030 cal/cm sec°C by the addition of porcelain from 10 to 60%. The results of this study reveal their good thermal stabilities. The 50% degradation temperature of pure Polyester resin was 401.5°C, but that of the PPC-1, PPC-2 and PPC-4 were 406.3°C, 407.8°C, and 417.3°C respectively. The morphology of the composites was studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 52(2), 147-152, 2017

Evaluation and Optimization of Tensile Strength Responses of Coir Fibres Reinforced Polyester Matrix Composites (CFRP) Using Taguchi Robust Design

In this study, control factors which included aspect ratio of fibres, volume fraction of fibres and fibres orientation were the focus for determining the optimum tensile strengths of coir fibres reinforced polyester resin composites. After using Archimedes principle to determine the volume fraction of fibres, tensile test was conducted on the samples of treated and untreated coir fibres reinforced polyester resin composites, respectively. For the optimum properties to be obtained, a Universal Testing Machine-TUE-C-100 was used for the conducted tensile tests which established the levels of control factors settings for quality characteristics needed to optimize the mechanical properties being investigated. Applying Taguchi robust design technique for the greater-the-better, the highest signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) for the quality characteristics being investigated was obtained employing Minitab 16 software. The optimum values of the control factors were established for treated coir fibres reinforced polyester resin composites and untreated coir fibres reinforced polyester resin composites. The treated coir fibres reinforced polyester matrix composite has the optimum tensile strength of 42.7 N/mm2 while the untreated coir fibres reinforced matrix composite has the optimum tensile strength of 21.9 N/mm2. The reinforcement combinations of control factors contribute greatly to the tensile properties, and the treated coir fibres reinforced polyester composites are stronger in tension than the untreated coir fibres reinforced polyester composites.

Structural, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of carbon black reinforced polyester resin composites

ABSTRACTCarbon black (CB) reinforced polyester resin (PR) composites (CPC) have been fabricated from mechanical mixtures of liquid PR and CB powder having 0–50 wt% CB contents and cured with 1% of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide at room temperature under a pressure of 50 MPa. The samples have been examined by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical test, micromechanical test, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and electrical test. FTIR spectra confirm the physical and chemical bond formations between CB and PR. XRD shows a very partial crystalline structure in cured PR and hexagonal structure in CB particles. SEM exhibits a clear dispersion of CB particles in PR matrix at lower loading and aggregates at higher loading. With the increase of fillers, while the tensile and flexural strengths of CPCs decrease, the Young's and tangent modulii increase by 80 and 100%, respectively. These increments are found consistent with the theoretical values. The degree of physical crosslinking between CB and PR as well as the aspect ratio of CB in CPCs are found to increase with the increase of filler. A remarkable increase in microhardness of about 61% at 50 wt% CB content is observed. The TGA represents that the thermal degradation temperature for pure PR is 373°C and that for CPC is 393°C. The dielectric constant of CPCs decreases with increasing frequency, whereas the ac‐ and dc‐ conductivities of CPC are found to increase with CB content. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40421.