Fabric-reinforced Composites Research Articles

Experimental Investigation and Analysis of Hybrid Laminates

Hybrid composites have gained significant attention from researchers due to their potential as reinforcement materials for composites. This is primarily because of the numerous advantages they offer, including low density, low cost, renewability, biodegradability, and environmental safety, along with mechanical properties that are comparable to those of synthetic fiber composites. In this study, hybrid composites made from natural fibers and glass fibers were fabricated using epoxy resin and a combination of the hand lay-up method and the cold press method. Specimens were cut from the fabricated laminate according to ASTM standards for various tests, including tensile, flexural, and impact tests. The woven fiberglass hybrid composites demonstrated a notable improvement in tensile strength. Consequently, these high-performance hybrid composites display enhanced mechanical characteristics and have wide-ranging engineering applications in industries such as transportation, aeronautics, naval, and automotive.

Microstructure, XRD characteristics and tribological behavior of SiC–graphite reinforced Cu-matrix hybrid composites

Abstract This study’s main goal is to investigate how the properties of pure copper are impacted by the addition of silicon carbide–graphite reinforcement. Here in this research a powder metallurgy procedure is used to make copper matrix composites with different amounts of silicon carbide–graphite reinforcement (2 %, 5 %, 8 %, and 10 %) by weight. The microstructure, phases present, wear analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis were all thoroughly examined, while scanning electron microscopy was used for imaging the microstructure of materials. The absence of any intermediate phases between the reinforcing materials and the copper matrix, according to X-ray diffraction data, suggests a strong interfacial interaction between them. A microstructural analysis of the copper matrix indicated a consistent dispersion of silicon carbide–graphite. The amount of reinforcement employed was found to have an impact on the wear characteristics of these copper matrix composites. Notably, the softness of graphite caused the hardness to drop when it was added. The 5 % reinforcement composite material outperformed the other evaluated composite materials in terms of wear rate, which was calculated in term of specific wear rate by using a pin-on-disc testing machine. This implies that this specific composite could be useful for tribological applications.

Effect of water retting on the physical and mechanical properties of lignocellulosic fiber from Mariscus ligularis plant.

The effect of water retting on the physical, morphological, thermal, mechanical, and chemical characteristics of retted Mariscus ligularis fibers (RMLF) compared to non-retted MLF has been studied. Removing pectin and non-cellulosic substances decreased the diameter from 243.6μm to 183.01μm, with a very low density of 245.30kg/cm3. Atomic force microscopy analysis reveals a clean and relatively smooth surface topography. The cellulose content increased from 58.32% to 75.3%, signifying a 29% increase. Ash and moisture contents reduced from 11.47% to 1.86% and 14.46% to 7.75%, respectively. The lignin, wax, and pectin levels reduced slightly, but the crystallinity index (CI) increased by 34.43% to 97.1%. The thermal stability of RMLF increased from 258°C to 290.89°C. RMLF's Young's modulus, tensile strength, and microfibril angle (MFA) were measured to be 3.9-5.21±0.0768GPa, 96-168±3.594MPa, and 12.55-20.91°, respectively. The Weibull distribution confirms strain, tensile strength, and Young's modulus of RMLF. Energy dispersive spectroscopy reveals carbon and oxygen as major peaks, enhancing RMLF's properties and making it a superior composite reinforcement material. These findings demonstrate that the fiber extraction method directly affects the quality attributes of ML fibers.

Potential Use of Silk Waste in Sustainable Thermoplastic Composite Material Applications: A Review

Global warming and climate change demand rapid and swift action in terms of reducing resource consumption, gas emissions, and waste generation. The textile industry is responsible for a large share of global pollution; therefore, to define a route to tackle part of the issue, a literature review on the current state of research in the field of recycling silk waste was conducted. The methods used to recover, process, and characterize silk waste fibers were summarized. The aim of this work was to investigate the possible applications of recycled silk waste in the field of composite materials for load bearing applications. In this sense, some prominent studies in the field of silk-based composites were reported, favoring thermoplastic materials for sustainability reasons. Studies on nonwoven silk waste fabrics were covered as well, finding an abundance of results but no applications as a reinforcement for composite materials. In a circular economy approach, we believe that the combination of nonwoven silk waste fabrics, thermoplastic polymers, and possibly hybridization with other fibers from sustainable sources could be beneficial and could lead to green and high-performance products. The aim of this work was to summarize the information available so far and help define a route in that direction.

Characteristics of naturally woven Waru bark fiber for eco-friendly composite reinforcement.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Waru bark fiber (WBF) as a reinforcement material for composites. To achieve this aim, WBF was extracted using a conventional process, to ensure its purity, and then characterized for physical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Microstructure analysis was performed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to show uniform and exceptional fiber sheets with naturally woven fiber shapes. A high value of 152.77MPa was found for fiber's tensile strength in the mechanical test. Following this discussion, the fiber's crystallinity index (CI) was 56.54%, and the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) test showed a composition ratio of O=48.63% and C=36.74%. Thermal analysis using Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermogravimetric Analysis (DTA-TGA) showed that the cellulose fiber could withstand temperatures stability up to 312°C. Finally, this study offered a sustainable solution to reduce the reliance on synthetic fiber in various industries by suggesting the use of reliable WBF as reinforcement.

Optimization of the second phase morphology and content effect to impact resistance of epoxy resin composite

The increasingly widespread use of composite materials for structural materials forces composite materials to have superior mechanical properties, one of which is impact strength. The material’s impact strength was determined by calculating the impact energy obtained from the impact test. Many things impact the strength of composite materials. Many studies have been conducted on the mechanical properties of composite materials. However, the above research has not investigated the influence of the morphology of the second phase on the mechanical properties of resin composite materials. The morphology of the second phase used as reinforcement in composite materials can be particles, short fibers, or continuous fibers. The shape (morphology) of the second phase affects the impact strength of the composite material. Therefore, this study was intended to examine the effect of the morphology of Coir Coconut fiber as the second phase (reinforcement) combined with the percentage of its content in epoxy resin matrix composite on the impact strength, as well as to determine the optimum morphology and the percentage of the second phase. The study was designed using the full factorial. Furthermore, the data on the impact strength of the specimens were analyzed to obtain a regression model for the relationship between the morphology of the second phase and the percentage of the content of the second phase on the impact strength. With this regression model, it is possible to predict the impact strength of various morphological forms of the second phase and optimize the optimum content of the second phase.

Comparative study of fibers extracted from the stems and roots of the Cameroonian pennissetum purpureum for their applications in compressed earth brick reinforcement and textile engineering

This work focuses on the extraction and experimental characterization of pennisetum purpureum fibers extracted from stems and roots, harvested in the Batié Kingdom, in the West Region of Cameroon. After extracting fibers using the boiling water technique, they are chemically treated to improve their properties and performance and to facilitate their incorporation into various composite materials. For the physical characterizations, it is measured: the absolute and apparent densities, the linear mass, the water absorption rate, and the diameter via the microscope. The mean values of the diameters and the measure of their frequency distributions are calculated, followed by the statistical analysis using the maximum entropy principle, in order to find the most probable diameter necessary for technological applications. For the mechanical properties, only the tensile tests are performed, with the determination of the young modulus of both the stems and roots. The results thus obtained showed that the fibers of the stems have an absolute density of (1.35 g/cm3), a linear mass of (54.6 tex), an apparent density of (0.45 g/cm3), a water content of (12.73%), an absorption rate of (142.46%), a porosity of (65.91%), a mean diameter of (7 mm), an elastic modulus of (3.98 GPa), a tensile strength of value of (1186.59 MPa) and an elongation of 16.17%, while the root fibers have an absolute density of (1.34 g/cm3), a linear mass (16.76 tex), an apparent density of (0.37845 g/cm3), a water content of (12.25%), an absorption rate of (193.16%), a porosity of (71.92%), a diameter of (4 mm), an elastic modulus of (1.55 GPa), a tensile strength of a value of (1960.35 MPa) and an elongation of 60.6%. Thus, the fibers of the stems have good mechanical properties, which make them an appropriate material in several applications, such as the reinforcement of composite materials.

LINEAR DENSITY CHRONICLES: INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF E-GLASS THERMOSET AND THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES

This comprehensive investigation delves into the mechanical characteristics of E-glass reinforcement at varying linear densities in two-dimensional (2D) woven fabric-reinforced composites employing both thermoplastic and thermoset matrices. By scrutinizing tensile strength, flexural strength, edge-wise impact resistance and out-of-plane impact properties, the study optimizes composite materials and sheds light on the influence of linear density on the mechanical properties of thermoset and thermoplastic composites. Key insights underscore the superior in-plane load-bearing capacity of thermoset composites under quasi-static conditions, contrasting with the exceptional edge-wise and out-of-plane impact resistance exhibited by thermoplastic composites. Furthermore, the study reveals that thermoset composites outperform their thermoplastic counterparts in tensile and flexural properties, with discernible deviations in quasi-static mechanical properties with increasing linear density. In both thermoplastic and thermoset composites, specimens that had lower linear density reinforcement demonstrated enhanced mechanical performance under quasi-static circumstances. Nevertheless, when subjected to dynamic conditions, thermoplastic composites exhibited this pattern, whereas thermoset composites demonstrated divergent characteristics. In the context of low-velocity impact events, it was shown that Thermoplastic 600 Tex Glass Fabric Reinforced Composite (TP6G2DFRC) exhibited greater performance compared to all other specimens, even those with higher linear density. Conversely, in thermoset composites, Thermoplastic 1200 Tex Glass Fabric Reinforced Composite (TS12G2DFRC) demonstrated notable superiority over Thermoplastic 600 Tex Glass Fabric Reinforced Composite (TS6G2DFRC), despite possessing a higher linear density

Hybrid Composite Materials from Crotalaria and Borassus Fibers: Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties

Agricultural waste is one of the major concerns in present society. The present work investigates the possibility of agricultural waste materials, Crotalaria and Borassus short fibers, as hybrid reinforcement in composite materials. The study examines a novel approach by investigating the combined effect of hybridization and random fiber orientation on the mechanical and water absorption properties of untreated Crotalaria Juncea (CJ) and Borassus Flabellifier (BF) fibre reinforced hybrid polyester resin composites. The outcomes provide awareness into the possibility of utilizing agricultural waste for sustainable and eco-friendly hybrid composite materials. Hybrid composites were developed through the hand lay-up method, incorporating two distinct short fibres. These composites were then evaluated for their mechanical properties and water absorption characteristics, following the guidelines set by ASTM standards. A hybrid composite (HC20CJ30BF) composed of 20g of CJ and 30g of BF exhibits the highest tensile strength of 22.59 MPa, which is a notable improvement of 96.26% compared to single reinforced composites. An enhanced flexural strength of 47.46% was achieved, surpassing the performance of the single reinforced composite materials. The water absorption resistance of the hybrid composite, HC20CJ30BF, is demonstrated by its least absorption rate of 1.65% after 24 h of immersion. The fractographic analysis exposed fiber pull-out as well as rough surfaces in tensile tests, and fiber bending with matrix cracks during flexural loads, emphasizing the significant role of fiber orientation in enhancing composite performance. Such work provides valuable insight into the fabrication of highly efficient and durable hybrid composite materials employing natural fibers.

Effect of Fibre Type and Fabric Structure on Composite Materials Under Ballistic Shock Impact

This study analysed the effect of fibre type and fabric structure on the behaviour of aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) composite plates under ballistic shock loading. A specific test system that simulates a ballistic shock wave was prepared in this context. Aramid composite plates are reinforced with three types of fabric structure, while UHMW PE composite plates are reinforced with a single fabric structure. The plates were cured in an autoclave. The ballistic explosion behaviour of composite plates was evaluated in terms of trauma depth, trauma diameter and absorbed energy at the ballistic limit. The results of the ballistics tests showed that GS3000-reinforced composites demonstrated the highest energy absorption. In contrast, UHMW PE composite plates exhibited higher ballistic energy absorption on a unit-weight basis than other plates. UHMW PE fabric-reinforced composites showed approximately 30% higher energy absorption per unit area density than other composites. Biaxial aramid fabric composite plates exhibited 10% higher energy absorption per unit area density than woven aramid fabric composite plates. Additionally, UD-aramid GS3000 reinforced composite demonstrated the lowest trauma depth of all tested composites, showing 90% less trauma depth than UHMW PE fabric-reinforced composites.

Surface modification of basalt fiber using to reinforce polycarbonate composites and its mechanical performance

AbstractBasalt fibers (BF) are often used as reinforcement of composite materials owing to their high strength, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance. The surface‐interface interaction between the fibers and the matrix material plays a key role in determining the mechanical properties of the composite. In this work, BF‐polycarbonate (PC) composites were prepared using melt blending and extrusion molding. BF was modified with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550) to enhance surface roughness and improve interfacial bonding, resulting in modified fibers (KBF). The bending strength of KBF‐PC was increased 28.8% compared with unmodified BF‐PC. Further modification of BF using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and KH550 to obtain PKBF, resulting in a 42.26% increase in bending strength. To further enhance the mechanical properties of the composites, PKBF was modified with nano‐alumina, resulting in a 48.41% increase in bending strength. The relationship between fiber content and composite mechanical properties was studied using theoretical models such as Halpin‐Tsai, Kelly‐Tyson, and ROM. The mechanisms by which different modified fibers enhance the mechanical strength of composites were explored. The interfacial compatibility between the matrix material and BF would be significantly improved through surface modification, resulting in enhanced mechanical performance of the composite.Highlights PEG‐KH550 treatment of basalt fibers to enhance interfacial adhesion. Al2O3 modified basalt fibers to enhance the bending strength of the composite. Treated fibers exhibit improved tensile and bending properties of composite. The mathematical model shows the reliability of the experimental data.

Fabrication and Characterization of Acetic Acid-Treated Salago Fiber–Epoxy Composite: Enhancing Mechanical and Thermal Properties

In this paper, an experimental investigation of the effect of acetic acid treatment on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of salago fiber composites is conducted. Salago fibers are natural fibers derived from a shrub native to the Philippines and other tropical countries. They have potential applications in the manufacturing industry as reinforcement materials for polymer composites, owing to their low cost, environmental friendliness, and lightweight. However, they also have some limitations, such as poor adhesion to the matrix and low resistance to biological degradation. To address these challenges, the salago fibers were pretreated with four different concentrations of acetic acid solution (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) and then neutralized with sodium hydroxide. The treated fibers were then combined with epoxy resin and fabricated into composite specimens. The specimens were tested for their tensile, flexural, impact, and thermal properties. The morphology and fracture behavior of the specimens were also examined using scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the optimal concentration of acetic acid treatment was 5%, which enhanced the fiber-matrix interface and improved the strength, stiffness, and thermal stability of the composite. The 5% acetic acid-treated fiber composites also exhibited better performance than the untreated fiber composites. The paper concludes that acetic acid treatment is a promising technique to improve the properties of salago fiber composites for various industrial applications.

Results of computational studies of reinforced concrete structures using an external reinforcement system based on composite materials

Introduction. In the course of the study, a calculated justification of the strength of a reinforced concrete beam reinforced with composite materials was performed. At the first stage, an elastic finite element model was developed to analyze the stress distribution and calculate the required reinforcement area. At the second stage, a nonlinear deformation model of concrete is included, the cracking process is taken into account. Iterative calculations have shown the achievement of the limiting state of the structure. At the third stage, a model with external composite reinforcement was created. The reinforcement reduced the deflection from 7.36 to 6.47 mm, reduced the stresses in the reinforcement by 17.46 % and increased the bearing capacity by 32 %. Experimental studies are planned, including consideration of dynamic effects and temperature and humidity factors. Aim. The main aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of fiber-reinforced polymer-based composite materials for reinforced concrete structures strengthening. The stress-strain states of reinforced and unreinforced structures were also compared. Materials and methods. Computational studies of reinforced concrete structures were performed using the finite element method with nonlinear models in the ANSYS software package. Results. The analysis of the stress-strain state of the reinforced concrete structure with and without external composite reinforcement was carried out, allowing for an assessment of the effectiveness of composite reinforcement for improving the strength and durability of the structure. The study models and analyzes the stress-strain state of such structures when using external reinforcement and evaluates the impact of composite materials on stress and deflection reducing, and load-bearing capacity of the structure increasing. Conclusions. The study results indicate that using of composite materials for external reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures effectively reduces reinforcement stresses, decreases deflection, and prevents crack formation under composite covering. Maximum tensile stresses in the reinforcement were reduced by 17.46 %, and the load-bearing capacity of the structure increased by 32 % (from 126.75 to 167.31 kN).

The toughness of polymer reinforced pineapple-leaf fibers for the electric car body application

Abstract Pineapple-leaf fiber (PALF) belongs to the plant-based fiber group that has been highly abundant recently. However, PALF was no longer used and thrown away as agricultural waste. In fact, PALF can be used as alternative reinforcement for composite materials due to its properties. Composite materials have been used in the aircraft, automotive and household furniture industries. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact properties of epoxy resin matrix reinforced with glass fiber and PALF. The ASTM D256-23 standard was carried out when performing the impact test. The result showed that the composite material consists of PALF had higher impact strength compared to the composite reinforced by glass fiber. The compatibilities of fiber and matrix became main factor that affect significantly the value. This was confirmed by the porosities test results. Therefore, PALF was proven its reliability to substitute the synthetic one such as glass fiber to strengthening the composite materials for electric vehicle body application.

Mechanical response of glass/kevlar hybrid composite jackets for steel containers carrying hazardous materials to enhance safety

Fiber reinforced (FRP) composite materials have high strength-to-weight ratios and excellent corrosion resistance. Cost reduction manufacturing through methods like Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) is impressive. This paper deals with composite materials reinforcement of railway tank cars via VARTM to enhance safety, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce adverse environmental impact during derailments aligning with industry goals for safer, sustainable solutions in relation to new railway tank car safety standards. This study investigates different performance aspects of various fiber/fabric configurations (glass, aramid) used as reinforcement with vinyl ester or epoxy. Additionally, core materials like polyurethane and polypropylene have been researched to enhance energy absorption. Effects of through-thickness stitching on mechanical integrity are evaluated for improved puncture resistance. Testing revealed that Kevlar fibers increased energy absorption by increasing strain to failure. Epoxy resin lowered maximum tensile strength by 22% compared to vinyl ester and increased the total energy absorption by 8%. Through-thickness stitching (z-direction) increased tensile strength by 13% and improved interlaminar shear strength.

An experimental investigation on the influence of weave architectures on out-of-plane and in-plane impact properties of 3D woven fabric-reinforced composites

An experimental investigation on the influence of weave architectures on out-of-plane and in-plane impact properties of 3D woven fabric-reinforced composites

Colombian natural fibers: Potential applications in sustainable natural fiber reinforced composites materials

Colombian natural fibers: Potential applications in sustainable natural fiber reinforced composites materials

Effect of Natural Fiber and Biomass on Acoustic Performance of 3D Hybrid Fabric-Reinforced Composite Panels.

This research investigated the sound insulation performance of 3D woven hybrid fabric-reinforced composites using natural fibers, such as jute, along with E-glass and biomass derived from agro-waste, e.g., coffee husk and waste palm fiber. The composites made from pure E-glass, pure jute, and hybrid glass-jute configurations were tested for sound absorbance at frequencies of 1000 Hz and 10,000 Hz. A sound insulation chamber was used for measuring the sound reduction levels. Results show that the sound insulation performance of the panels was remarkably enhanced with composites containing natural fiber reinforcements. The jute-based composites provided the maximum insulation of sound, with waste palm fiber fillers in particular. At a frequency of 10,000 Hz, a noise reduction reaching 44.9 dB was observed. The highest sound absorption was observed in the 3D woven jute composites with the additive of waste palm fiber, which outperformed the other samples. When comparing the effect of coffee husk and palm fiber as biomass fillers, both exhibited notable improvements in sound insulation, but the palm fiber generally performed better across different samples. Although panels containing palm fiber additives appeared to reduce sound more than those containing coffee husk, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the two, indicating that both are efficient and eco-friendly fillers for soundproofing applications. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed the significance of the effect of reinforcing structures and biofillers on acoustic performance. This study demonstrated the possibility of using sustainable green materials for soundproofing applications within various industries.

Comparative study of fibers extracted from the stems and roots of the Cameroonian pennissetum purpureum for their applications in compressed earth brick reinforcement and textile engineering

This work focuses on the extraction and experimental characterization of pennisetum purpureum fibers extracted from stems and roots, harvested in the Batié Kingdom, in the West Region of Cameroon. After extracting fibers using the boiling water technique, they are chemically treated to improve their properties and performance and to facilitate their incorporation into various composite materials. For the physical characterizations, it is measured: the absolute and apparent densities, the linear mass, the water absorption rate, and the diameter via the microscope. The mean values of the diameters and the measure of their frequency distributions are calculated, followed by the statistical analysis using the maximum entropy principle, in order to find the most probable diameter necessary for technological applications. For the mechanical properties, only the tensile tests are performed, with the determination of the young modulus of both the stems and roots. The results thus obtained showed that the fibers of the stems have an absolute density of (1.35 g/cm3), a linear mass of (54.6 tex), an apparent density of (0.45 g/cm3), a water content of (12.73%), an absorption rate of (142.46%), a porosity of (65.91%), a mean diameter of (7 mm), an elastic modulus of (3.98 GPa), a tensile strength of value of (1186.59 MPa) and an elongation of 16.17%, while the root fibers have an absolute density of (1.34 g/cm3), a linear mass (16.76 tex), an apparent density of (0.37845 g/cm3), a water content of (12.25%), an absorption rate of (193.16%), a porosity of (71.92%), a diameter of (4 mm), an elastic modulus of (1.55 GPa), a tensile strength of a value of (1960.35 MPa) and an elongation of 60.6%. Thus, the fibers of the stems have good mechanical properties, which make them an appropriate material in several applications, such as the reinforcement of composite materials.

Free vibration of sandwich beams with graphene nanoplatelets reinforced piezoelectric face sheets

Owing to its exceptional physical properties, graphene is considered as an excellent reinforcement for composite materials. However, the existing higher-order models encounter significant hurdles when attempting to accurately predict the natural frequencies of sandwich beams with graphene nanoplatelets reinforced composite (GNPRC) piezoelectric face sheets. If transverse shear deformations are not accurately modeled, the dynamic behavior of piezoelectric sandwich beams will be noticeably influenced by the disparities of material properties at the interfaces of adjacent layers, as well as the inherent electromechanical coupling characteristic. To overcome these challenges, an advanced electro-mechanical coupling theory will be introduced for the vibration analysis of sandwich beams featuring GNPRC piezoelectric face sheets. Compared to previous higher-order models, the proposed beam model introduces an enhanced interlaminar shear stress field incorporating electromechanical properties. This improved stress field can be involved in the equations of motion based on the Hamilton principle, significantly enhancing the precision in analyzing the free vibration behavior of piezoelectric sandwich beams. Furthermore, a simplification of finite element implementation can be achieved by removing the second-order derivatives of in-plane displacements from the transverse shear stress field. Consequently, a C0-type three-node beam element is constructed for the dynamic analysis of sandwich beams with GNPRC piezoelectric face sheets. To validate the performance of the proposed theory, the 3D elasticity solutions and results obtained from alternative theoretical frameworks are used. Numerical results demonstrate that the present model offers superior accuracy over the existing higher-order theories. Additionally, a comprehensive parametric investigation is conducted to explore the influence of key parameters on the free vibration characteristics of piezoelectric sandwich beams.