Sisal Fiber Research Articles

Influences of silicon carbide nanoparticles on graphite reinforced sisal (agave sisalana) fiber hybrid composite: behaviour study

Influences of silicon carbide nanoparticles on graphite reinforced sisal (agave sisalana) fiber hybrid composite: behaviour study

Exploring the impact of hybridization on green composites: pineapple leaf and sisal fiber reinforcement using poly(furfuryl alcohol) bioresin

Abstract This study aimed to examine the mechanical and physical characteristics of hybrid composite prepared using bio-epoxy reinforced with natural fibers extracted from pineapple leaf (PLF) and sisal (SF). The hand lay-up technique was utilized to fabricate the hybridized composite from bi-directional pineapple leaf fiber and sisal fibers using various stacking sequences. In order to understand the impact of hybridization on these composites, physical properties including density, percentage volume of fiber (PVF), and water absorption capacity were ascertained for hybrid composite. In addition, the mechanical characteristics like the tensile, fracture toughness, flexural, and interlaminar shear (ILSS) tests were investigated. Poly(furfuryl alcohol) was prepared and used as bioresin and it was apparent that the addition of more PLF in terms of PVF into hybridized composites, the properties flexural, tensile, and ILSS of the bio-epoxy composites were notably improved. The mechanical properties of hybridized composites were markedly impacted by the stacking order. Inference revealed that the composite attained the maximal tensile strength of 70.8 MPa for alternative sequence of SF and PLF. The composite which contained SF on the outside, had outperformed compared to other hybrid composites in terms of fracture toughness (3302.3 J/m2) and interlaminar shear strength (16.1 MPa).

Examining Mechanical Property Differences in Concrete with Natural and Synthetic Fiber Additives

The rapid growth of Natural Fiber Laminate (NFL) innovation is a direct response to environmental challenges, positioning these materials as superior alternatives to synthetic fiber composites. This paper delved into the outcomes of an extensive experimental study investigating the influence of sisal fiber (SLF), banana fiber (BF), and glass fiber (GF) on the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of concrete. The water absorption curves were established for sisal fiber concrete (SLFC), banana fiber concrete (BFC), and glass fiber concrete (GFC). Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations were conducted to perform microanalysis and failure analysis of the tested specimens. The results revealed significant improvements in the concrete containing fibers compared to its counterpart in fiber-free concrete. For mixtures with a water-to-binder (W/B) ratio of 0.3, the most optimal mix (GF-30-135) showed improvements in compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strengths by 4.13%, 8.93%, and 10.10%, respectively. On the other hand, for W/B of 0.4, mix GF-30-135 showed improvements of 5.05%, 8.55%, and 11.60%, respectively. Furthermore, as the fiber content increased, microscopic analyses revealed a weakening of the bond between the fibers and the rest of the matrix, contributing to the deterioration of the mechanical properties.

Silane treatment for sisal fibers to improve the degradation resistance and interface with cement matrix

In order to improve the degradation resistance of sisal fibers in the alkaline cement matrix and enhance the fiber-matrix interface adhesion, silane treatment on fiber was studied. Four kinds of commonly used silane coupling agents were selected to modify the sisal fibers via the simple dip-coating method. Contact angle, water retention, and semi-immersion tests were performed on the sisal fibers to determine the influence of silane treatment on their hydrophilicity and barrier property. The interfacial bonding between the sisal fibers and cement matrix was studied by a self-designed fiber pull-out test. Furthermore, the degradation of sisal fibers embedded in cement matrix and sisal fiber reinforced cementitious composites (SFRCC) was evaluated based on the changes of mechanical properties with accelerated aging. The results indicate that silane treatment is an efficient approach to mitigate the degradation of SFRCC.

Investigational Study on the Influence of Sisal Fiber and Rice Husk Ash in the Stabilisation of Clayey Soil

The process of improving and enhancing the engineering qualities of soil so that it can support large loads without failing is known as "soil stabilization" in the realm of civil engineering. The behavior of the soil was examined in the current work at various proportions following the addition of Rice Husk Ash (fixed at 15%) and sisal fiber (varying at 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%; length 40 mm). Various soil properties, such as OMC, MDD, CBR value, and UCS values, were then quantified. Utilizing Sisal Fiber and Rice Husk Ash together can enhance the diverse engineering features of soil, according to the conclusion of this experimental research project. Laboratory tests such Atterberg's Limits, Specific Gravity, Particle Size Distribution, Standard Proctor test, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) were carried out to examine the engineering qualities of the soil and its mixtures. The results showed that the engineering qualities of clayey soil were significantly enhanced by the addition of Sisal Fiber and Rice Husk Ash. As a result, Sisal Fiber and Rice Husk Ash may act as soil stabilizing agents, making clayey soil a better choice for building foundations. All testing were carried out in accordance with Indian standards regulations. Key Words: Compaction test, CBR, UCS, Rice Husk Ash, Sisal Fiber

IMPROVING THE ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF CLAYEY SOIL USING SILICA FUME AND SISAL FIBER

Building on soft soils continues to be a challenge for civil engineers in the modern world, despite the rapid development of infrastructure projects and advancements in construction technology. They exhibit a large volumetric change upon contact with water, which is the cause of their limited bearing capacity. Various stabilization strategies can be used to handle the soft clay's shear strength issue. In this experiment, sisal fibers and silica fumes were added in different amounts to the clay soil in order to determine the ideal moisture content and strength parameters for reaching the maximum dry density of the soil. By adjusting the amount of sisal fiber for each amount of silica fume, the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) test has been used to examine the strength of both natural clay and clay modified with silica fume (6%, 12%, 18%) and sisal fibers (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%) separately, as well as the combination of all the materials. Using a small compaction device, standard proctor test was used to determine the ideal moisture content and maximum dry density. According to the test results, the maximum dry density falls with increasing silica fume content likewise, the maximum dry density increases with increasing sisal fiber content. The addition of 12% silica fume and 2.0% sisal fiber to the clay sample results in a maximum strength when taking the strength parameter into account. Key Words: Compaction test, CBR, UCS, Silica fume, Sisal Fiber

Opening and out‐of‐plane shear fracture performance of steel and natural sisal hybrid fiber reinforced concrete

AbstractThe key objective in developing sustainable concrete is enhancing performance by mitigating adverse environmental effects simultaneously. Using short and discrete steel fibers to reinforce the concrete matrices is a widely accepted approach to improve the ductility of concrete. Although the utilization of traditional steel fibers enhances the strength of the concrete, it simultaneously leads to an increase in its weight. Also, the production of steel fibers is an energy‐intensive and carbon‐emitting process. To attain sustainability, it is imperative to reduce the use of steel fibers by including a suitable alternative through the hybridization of fiber reinforcements. The concrete developed in this study was composed of a ternary blended binder containing Ordinary Portland Cement, Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag and Microsilica. Fibers were hybridized by partially replacing 25%, 50%, and 75% of steel fibers with natural sisal fibers. Mixes reinforced with 100% steel fibers and 100% sisal fibers were also assessed for better understanding. Basic properties such as workability, compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength were assessed. Fracture performance of the prepared mixes under pure and mixed, opening, and tearing modes of loading was also assessed by conducting disc bending tests. It can be observed from the results that, steel fibers can be replaced with sisal fibers up to 25% of the total fiber volume without greatly compromising the workability, strength and fracture performance of concrete. Hence, hybridizing steel fibers with sisal fibers can be considered a viable option to reduce the overall weight of the structural components, which can further help reduce the environmental impacts and overall cost of concrete production.

Investigation of sisal fiber cords impact to improve the mechanical properties of plaster-based composites

Investigation of sisal fiber cords impact to improve the mechanical properties of plaster-based composites

Effect of hollow natural fiber (HNF) content on the CO2 diffusion, carbonation, and strength development of reactive magnesium cement (RMC)-based composites

Reactive magnesia cement (RMC) is an emerging class of green cement that hardens by sequestering CO2. However, CO2 diffusion into RMC is restricted to a few millimeters by the carbonation-induced dense microstructure on the outer layer, which severely slows down the strength growth and CO2 sequestration. To address this issue, this work employed hollow natural fibers (HNFs) to facilitate CO2 diffusion into the deep regions of RMC. The effects of HNFs contents on the mechanical strength development, holistic porosity, CO2 sequestration, CO2 diffusivity, and microstructure of RMC were investigated through different techniques. The findings revealed that the compressive strength could be more than doubled with the addition of adequate sisal fiber. Moreover, the CO2 sequestration and diffusivity could be continuously enhanced with the increasing HNFs content. However, overdosage of HNFs could induce a higher porosity and additional defects, which slightly compromises the mechanical strength. Finally, the durability of HNFs in simulated RMC and Portland cement (PC) environment was compared by accelerated aging test, showing that the alkaline-induced deterioration of HNFs could be almost eliminated in RMC. Therefore, this preliminary study reinforces the function of RMC as a carbon reservoir and lays the foundation for the large-scale utilization of HNFs in RMC.

Application of sisal fiber powder in ultra-high performance concrete: A renewable material for mitigating autogenous shrinkage

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has high autogenous shrinkage, greatly raising the risk of cracking. This study innovatively proposed the use of sisal fiber powder (SFP) to mitigate the autogenous shrinkage of UHPC. The influence of SFP on the fresh properties, heat of hydration, autogenous shrinkage, internal relative humidity, mechanical properties, and microstructure of UHPC were investigated and discussed. The results showed that the yield stress and plastic viscosity of fresh UHPC were increased by 33.5∼291.1% and 17.7∼31.6% after adding 1–3 vol% SFP and adding SFP significantly reduced the hydration heat release rate of UHPC. The 7 d autogenous shrinkage was decreased by 59.0% after incorporating 3.0 vol% SFP. Moreover, adding SFP significantly increased the porosity of UHPC, hence the compressive and flexural strength was reduced by 4.2∼15.0% and 8.2∼17.0% respectively. However, the internal curing effect induced by SFP enhanced the late hydration and the average length of C-S-H. Finally, the nanoindentation results indicated that the elastic modulus of the UHPC matrix around SFP was improved. The results of this study verify the feasibility of SFP as an internal curing material to reduce the autogenous shrinkage of UHPC and provide a theoretical basis for the future practical engineering application of SFP in UHPC.

Enhancement of Flexural Strength in Fiber–Cement Composites through Modification of Sisal Fiber with Natural Rubber Latex and Expanded Perlite

This study presents a novel approach in enhancing the flexural strength of sisal fiber cement composites by employing a dual coating technique with natural rubber latex and expanded perlite to the sisal fibers. The effects of different fiber content (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5 wt%) and fiber length (1, 2, and 3 cm) on the physical and mechanical properties of sisal fiber cement were also studied. The physical properties, including bulk density and water absorption, were evaluated via the Archimedes method. Flexural strength was measured using the 3-point bending method, and microstructure was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical microscope (OM). As the fiber content and length increase, the bulk density of the sisal fiber cement decreases. However, composites utilizing coated fibers consistently exhibit a higher bulk density than those utilizing uncoated fibers, attributed to enhanced adhesion and reduced porosity. The water absorption of sisal fiber cement increases with fiber content, but it is mitigated by the natural rubber latex coating, which prevents fiber–water absorption, and by expanded perlite, which reduces voids in the matrix. Composites containing coated fibers consistently exhibit superior flexural strength compared to those with uncoated fibers. The highest flexural strength values of 5.58 MPa were observed in composites utilizing 3 cm of coated fiber with 0.25 wt% fiber content. Microstructure analysis reveals a well-bonded interface in coated fibers, emphasizing the positive impact of coating on mechanical performance. The incorporation of coated sisal fibers effectively improves adhesion, water resistance, and flexural strength, offering sustainable and durable construction materials. The achieved results can serve as the guidelines for the development of a high-performance bio-based construction materials with improved durability and reduced environmental impact.

Study the Tensile and Flexural Strength of Sisal fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic polyurethane based composite

Study the Tensile and Flexural Strength of Sisal fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic polyurethane based composite

Failure Analysis and Fatigue Behavior of Natural Fibers Reinforced Composite Materials under Cyclic Loading

This research investigates the failure analysis and fatigue behavior of composite materials reinforced with a combination of glass fiber, sisal fiber under cyclic loading conditions. The study aims to elucidate the synergistic effects of these diverse natural fibers in enhancing the mechanical properties and fatigue resistance of the composite materials. Experimental methods, including mechanical testing and microscopic analysis, are employed to discern the individual contributions of each fiber type and their combined influence on failure modes and fatigue life. The project seeks to provide valuable insights into the optimal integration of glass, sisal to achieve a balanced composite material that exhibits superior durability and performance. The outcomes of this research contribute not only to the advancement of natural fibers composites but also offer practical guidelines for designing resilient materials for various engineering applications.

Morphology, Crystallinity and Thermal Properties of Nanocrystalline Cellulose Isolated of Sisal Fiber by Acid Hydrolysis-Ultrasonication

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from natural Agave sisalana (Sisal) fibers were isolated using a combination of chemical and mechanical processes. The chemical treatment begins with soaking the fiber in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution with a concentration of 5 wt.% at a temperature of 90°C for 60 minutes. Then following by bleaching (fiber refining) using a hydrogen peroxide solution (H2O2) with a concentration of 3 wt.% (weight), at a temperature of 60°C, and pH of 10 for 30 minutes. It aims to eliminate the presence of hemicellulose and lignin contained in the fiber. Fibrillation Micro into nano Sisal fibers using sulfuric acid (hydrolysis process). Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) with 55 wt.% at temperature 60°C for 30 minutes produced NCC with a diameter of 5±1 nm (D) and a length of 260±10 nm (L), as seen using a TEM (transmission electron microscope). The web-like network structured shape of NCC results in a high aspect ratio (L/D) value is 52. The acid hydrolysis-ultrasonication process produced a high crystallinity index of 78.82% through the XRD (x-ray diffraction) test. The crystallinity and aspect ratio of NCC show that Sisal fiber is a suitable material as a filler for bio-nanocomposite materials. The maximum temperature (Tmax) of NCC decreased by 10°C due to sulfate ions attached to the cellulose structure, causing the thermal stability to drop from 348°C to 338°C.

Theoretical study of the effect of orientations and fibre volume on the thermal insulation capability of reinforced polymer composites

Abstract In industry, synthetic fibre reinforcements are popular due to their cost-effectiveness and lightweight nature. However, the non-reusability and non-degradability have raised environmental concerns and prompted scientists to explore more environmentally friendly alternatives. Natural fibres are being investigated as potential replacements to address these issues and promote sustainability. This study investigated the effect of fibre loading and orientation on the heat conductivity of polymer resins using a finite element-based numerical model developed in our previous research. The numerical analysis was conducted in ANSYS® modelling and simulation using glass and sisal fibres in combination with three distinct matrix materials (epoxy, polyester, and vinyl ester). Different orientations (parallel, perpendicular, 45°, and normal) and volume of fibre fractions (20–35%) were used for the analysis. The properties of the materials were incorporated into the ANSYS Engineering database, and the composite model was divided into five segments to analyse the heat transfer. The thermal boundary condition was implemented by keeping one side of the cylinder at 120°C. The results showed that the thermal conductivity of the composites decreased as the volume fraction of natural fibres increased. Epoxy-based composites exhibited better insulation performance than polyester and vinyl ester-based composites. This study demonstrated the potential of using natural fibres to improve the thermal insulation properties of composites.

Behaviour of glass and sisal incorporated gypsum based composite panels under axial compression–experimental and numerical study

Gypsum based composite (GBC) Wall panels are being used in precast concrete industry as the panels are low cost, energy consumption, good habitability, and good fire resistance. This paper presents the studies related to gypsum based composite panels incorporated with glass and sisal fibers. The main objective of the research is to investigate the capacity of gypsum based composite wall panel subjected to axial compression with and without eccentricity. The panels were loaded in axial compression with and without eccentricity. Gypsum, white cement, fibres (glass fibers or sisal fibers) are used to prepare composite panels of size 1000 (length) × 500 (width) × 125 (thickness) mm. Total four panels (two with glass fibers and two with sisal fibers) were tested under axial compression (two panels without eccentricity and two panels with eccentricity) were tested under load control. From the tests, it was observed that the eccentric load application on the panels is very significant compared to normal load application. Significant decrease in the ultimate load is observed for the case of panels subjected to eccentric loading. Nonlinear finite element analysis for the fibre incorporated (E-glass and sisal) gypsum based composite panels under axial compression has been carried out by using the general purpose finite element software.

Influence of fiber treatment methods on the mechanical properties of high strength concrete reinforced with sisal fibers

The science of adding natural fibers to concrete results in an engineering material that is environmentally friendly and has the potential of promoting sustainable development in the construction industry. However, the challenge in adding natural fibers to concrete is that, they are hydrophilic in nature and this affects the bonding between the fibers and the concrete. To avert this problem three different fiber treatment methods namely, chemical, thermal and hybrid treatment methods were conducted on the sisal fibers to investigate the effect of the fiber treatment methods on the mechanical properties of sisal fiber reinforced concrete. The treated fibers were mixed with concrete with percentage fiber content of 0.5 %, 1.0 %, 1.5 % and 2 % and their compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength were tested. The experimental results showed that all the treatment methods considered led to an improvement in the tensile strength of the sisal fiber reinforced concrete. The compressive strength was also improved by the thermal and hybrid treatment methods, however, the chemical treatment method led to a reduction in the compressive strength. With regard to the flexural strength, all the treatment methods considered led to a reduction in the flexural strength when compared to the concrete without fibers.

Experimental investigation on natural fiber material for pesticide spraying mobile robot structure

Natural fibers has recently become one of the most crucial material available in the environment. Natural fiber has gained popularity due to its light weight, greater specific stiffness, low cost, easily available, and longer fatigue life. It has high-specific properties such as impact resistance, low density, flexibility, biodegradability, and economy are exhibited by these natural fibers. The other material used in robot include issues like temperature sensitivity in plastic, weight, and corrosion in iron metal, and composites. The main aim of this paper is to test how natural fiber material is best suitable to use for building a chassis of pesticide spraying robot. This work focuses on test specimens made by hand layup technique from a mixture of natural fibers from sisal wood and epoxy resin production procedure. Tests conducted on a 50/50 fraction of these materials show encouraging results 40.13 Mpa for tensile strength, 24.26 N/mm2 for compression strength, and 0.0384 for the Izod Impact test result. Additionally, a 30–70 percentage shows an Izod Impact test result of 0.0239, a tensile strength of 65.66 Mpa, and a compression strength of 21.86 N/mm2. The result showed that natural fiber is the most appropriate material used in pesticide spraying robot structure. Sisal natural fiber material has potential for use in a variety of robotic applications, especially in fields that require materials that are ecologically benign, biodegradable, and lightweight. By including more possible natural fibers, altering the fiber's composition and orientation, and analyzing its mechanical and machining properties, the experiments can be expanded.

Sandwich structures of aluminium skins and egg-box-shaped cores made with biobased foam and composites

Sandwich panels composed of aluminium skins and egg-box-shaped cores made with natural fibre composites are tested in three-point bending and evaluated statistically and through failure analysis. The corrugated cores are assessed with filled bio-based foam. In order to produce these sandwich panels, preliminary investigations on natural fibre composites, and their use as egg-box-shaped structures are conducted. A full factorial design is performed to assess the effects of fibre reinforcement (sisal or coir) and polymer matrix types (epoxy or castor oil) on the physical-mechanical properties of flat composite laminates. These composites are also used to manufacture the egg-box shaped structures in different sizes, which are characterized under compression testing. A new analytical approach called RJS Method is used to determine the flexural and shear modulus of the proposed sandwich panels and estimate the shear contribution. The results reveal that flat laminated composites and their corresponding egg-box shaped cores, composed of sisal fibres and epoxy polymer, achieve higher absolute and specific mechanical properties. The corrugated core also leads to sandwich panels with higher mechanical properties, increasing the skin and core shear stresses by up to 60 and 76%, respectively, compared to the coir fibre castor-oil cores. The failure modes of the sandwich panels are limited to the core and are chronologically established through foam tearing, foam-egg-box shaped composite debonding, and final egg-box cell-wall flattening. The findings demonstrate that the sandwich panel based on egg-box shaped core made from natural resources is feasible for scaling up in different structural applications.

Investigation and chemical processing effect of sisal fiber epoxy composite characteristic enhancement with nano-SiC via injection mold

Investigation and chemical processing effect of sisal fiber epoxy composite characteristic enhancement with nano-SiC via injection mold