Synthetic Fibers Research Articles

Mechanical properties of seaweed/banana fiber/hBN filled epoxy composites using Box–Behnken method

Natural particulate reinforced polymer (NPRP) composites are developed to replace synthetic fibers, aiming to reduce costs and environmental impact. Industries such as automotive, electronics, construction and aerospace are turning to filler-reinforced polymer composites and natural bio-fibers to enhance structural properties and develop eco-friendly products. This article presents research on epoxy-based composites fortified with natural and ceramic micro-sized fillers, including seaweed filler (SF), banana fiber (BF) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), fabricated using the hand layup technique. Through experiments, the effect of filler loading on the enhancement of mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), toughness (T), Young's modulus (YM), resilience (R) and yield strength (YS) of multiphase hybrid composites is investigated. Incorporating mixtures of ceramic filler and natural fillers into the epoxy matrix improves mechanical properties. The results demonstrated that the interlaced composites achieved optimum mechanical properties for S6 sample, including a TS of 24.85 MPa, T of 25.47 MJ/m3, YM of 7.15 GPa, R of 0.698 MJ/m3 and YS of 3.34 MPa. In comparison with S11 samples, the mechanical properties such as TS, T, YM, R and YS of the S6 composite sample are increased by 110.95%, 57.8%, 450%, 501.7% and 292.9%, respectively. The tensile fracture's scanning electron images reveal a homogenous surface with the formation of a fractured surface and defects. Statistical analysis at a 96% confidence level revealed the significance of the interaction between natural and ceramic micro particulate on the TS of the developed interlaced composite material, with a p-value of 0.007.

Mechanical Properties and Flammability Analysis of Wood Fiber Filled Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composites Using Additive Manufacturing

ABSTRACT Natural fibers, such as wood fibers, can substitute for synthetic fibers in various applications due to their low environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and outstanding mechanical properties as rapid-growing materials and renewable resources. This paper aims to investigate the mechanical properties of 20% wood fiber as a reinforcement material in polylactic acid (PLA) using an additive manufacturing approach. The samples were fabricated using 3D printing techniques. The relevant parameters included the orientation of printing in X, Y, and Z directions, with the percentage of infill set to be 100%. The findings indicated that bio-composites and their adopted printing orientations confirmed the significant effects on the mechanical properties. Pure PLA possessed superior properties in all directions compared to wood/PLA. The highest values were 50.33 MPa for tensile strength and 94.36 MPa for flexural strength, both achieved in Y orientations. However, composites showed an improvement in tensile and flexural moduli in X orientation with 1395.40 MPa, and 2937.72 MPa for Young and flexural modulus, respectively. In the flammability test, wood/PLA bio-composites were ignited easily with reduced smoke production compared to the neat PLA. Wood/PLA bio-composites exhibited high stiffness, and their mechanical properties were influenced by many factors, such as percentage of weight fraction, wood type, and printing orientations.

Damage and failure assessment of banana/ramie/epoxy composites using acoustic emission monitoring

In recent years, Composite materials that include natural fibers have played a significant role in aerospace, automotive industries, and other engineering applications. Due to its enhancing properties, the usage of composites has owing to an increase in day-to-day life. This research aims to develop a sustainable alternative material pronounced for environmental sustainability for surpassing synthetic fibers. Therefore, real-time monitoring and detection of the damage mechanisms in natural fiber composites are indispensable. In this regard, the acoustic emission (AE) technique lends itself to identifying the microscopic damage mechanisms in composite materials. Compression tests were performed in banana/ramie/epoxy composite specimens, and following consequences, the AE parameters (frequency, amplitude, counts, duration, energy rise time, etc.) were recorded. The novelty of this article is to detect the damage evolution and failure mechanisms of banana/ramie/epoxy composites under quasi-static compression with AE signal analysis for the first time. Findings showed that the stacking of hybrid reinforcing banana and ramie fiber improves the stress distribution, leading to enhanced load-carrying capacity (30.56 %), energy absorption (26.78 %), and stiffness (35.24 the compressive strength reached the maximum strength of the banana/ramie/epoxy composites%).This increase represents a substantial 30 % increase in AE energy absorption prior to failure, suggesting that the composite specimens experienced significant damage or extensive failure mechanisms Further, the AE parameters also showed that the AE energy under compression is relatively low and that frequency disperses between 70 and 150 kHz.

Optimizing dielectric constant of noncommercial biobased fibres - Acacia Nilotica, Acacia Leucophloea and Prosopis juliflora - For composite applications with selected fillers

In recent decades, most electrical/electronic products possess non – biodegradable components. The expanding consumption of these goods and their eventual disposal pose a serious environmental threat. To cope up with this issue, biodegradable electrical/electronic components using biobased fibres can be an alternative option. The novel exploration of this research work is the usage of underutilized biobased fibres, such as Acacia Nilotica, Acacia Leucophloea and Prosopis Juliflora, as sustainable alternatives to traditional synthetic fibres in natural fibre-reinforced epoxy composites. The novelty lies in the combination of these natural fibres with ceramic fillers like Silicon Carbide, Boron Nitride and Aluminium Oxide, aiming to enhance the composite properties. The objective of the study is to optimize the type of fibre, fibre content (2 wt%, 4 wt% and 6 wt%) and types of fillers (1 wt%) combinations using the Box-Behnken Design to improve the dielectric properties of these composites. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is used to evaluate the relevance of each parameter on dielectric constant of the biobased fibre reinforced epoxy composite. The significant outcome is identified that Prosopis Juliflora (6 wt%) combined with Boron Nitride (1 wt%) yields an optimal dielectric constant of 1.11, highlighting the potential of these biobased fibres to serve as effective substitutes for conventional glass and carbon fibres for electrical insulating materials used in switchboards and socket pins to prevent electrical conduction and ensure safety. This research not only contributes to the field of sustainable materials but also addresses critical environmental concerns associated with electric/electronic waste.

Bacterial Cellulose Production within a Circular Economy Framework: Utilizing Organic Waste.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a sustainable biomaterial with diverse industrial applications. This paper examines BC production through a circular economy framework, focusing on organic waste as a primary feedstock. It compares static and agitated cultivation methods for BC production, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Static cultivation using Gluconacetobacter xylinum yields high-quality cellulose films but is constrained by lower yields and longer incubation times. Agitated cultivation accelerates production but may affect fiber uniformity. This paper emphasizes sustainability by exploring organic waste materials such as coffee grounds, tea leaves, and food scraps as cost-effective nitrogen and carbon sources. These materials not only lower production costs but also support circular economy principles by converting waste into valuable products. BC produced from these waste sources retains key properties, making it suitable for applications in the textile and other industries. In addition, BC production can align with vegan principles, provided that all additives and processing methods are free of animal-derived components. The paper discusses BC's potential to replace synthetic fibers in textiles and reduce environmental impact. Case studies show successful BC integration into textile products. In conclusion, this paper calls for more research to optimize BC production processes and explore new industrial applications. Using organic waste in BC production can help industries adopt sustainable practices, reduce environmental footprints, and create high-value materials.

Exploring mechanical properties of eco-friendly hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with sisal, hemp, and glass fibers

It is now widely accepted that various subsets of hybrid fiber composites reinforced with combined natural and synthetic fibers can significantly expand the applicability of composite-based materials in design and technology practice. The already existing unnatural circumstances on the planet put natural fibers far ahead of traditions in the field of materials thanks to their biodegradability characteristics, availability and over-term endurance and corrosion resistance. At the same time, composites are rapidly taking their place in many industries and sectors of the economy as metals in as much as it is economically and energetically justified. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of hybrid composites reinforced with glass, hemp, and sisal fibers. Using a hand lay-up method with epoxy resin, composite laminates were fabricated and tested for tensile, flexural, impact strengths and hardness test in accordance with ASTM standards. The experimental results revealed that glass-sisal fiber composites achieved the highest tensile strength of 69.1 MPa, while glass-hemp-sisal fiber composites exhibited superior flexural strength of 15.22 MPa and impact strength of 137.45 kJ/m2 while best hardness value was 24.73 HV for glass-sisal fibre composite. These findings underscore the potential of glass-sisal-hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composites as viable alternatives to traditional synthetic fiber-reinforced materials in automotive industry where there are no structural loadings i.e. automobile interiors; offering enhanced mechanical performance and sustainability.

Mechanical Properties and Chloride Penetration Resistance of Concrete Combined with Ground Granulate Blast Furnace Slag and Macro Synthetic Fiber

Concrete with good mechanical properties and durability has always been a necessity in engineering. The addition of fibers and supplementary cementitious materials to concrete can enhance its mechanical and durability performance through a series of chemical and physical interactions. This study aims to investigate the effects of key parameters on the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and chloride penetration resistance of concrete combined with ground granulate blast furnace slag (GGBS) and macro polypropylene synthetic fiber (MSF). Based on the Taguchi method, a total of eighteen mixtures were evaluated, considering the effects of GGBS content, MSF content, water-to-binder (w/b) ratio, and chloride solution concentration on concrete properties. The results showed that the w/b ratio has a significant impact on the properties of concrete, which are enhanced by a decrease in w/b ratio. The GGBS content had little effect on the 28-day strength of concrete, which even decreased with a large GGBS content, but GGBS had a positive effect on the long-term strength of concrete. Moreover, the chloride penetration resistance of concrete was enhanced by an increase in the GGBS content. The MSF content had no obvious effects on the compressive strength and chloride penetration resistance of concrete, but it could enhance the splitting tensile strength to some extent, and this enhancement was more obvious over time. The chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete changed with the concentration of chloride solution, and the two increased simultaneously.

Pretreatment and dyeability analysis of cotton and novel Bauhinia vahlii fiber

The textile industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards sustainable materials, prompting the exploration of novel natural fibers as alternatives to synthetic fibers to meet environmental standards and address the growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products. Different natural fibers possess varied properties and are suitable for numerous applications in conventional and technical textiles. The coloration of these textile materials is an important aspect of conventional textiles, which starts with the pretreatment of the material. This study introduces a novel blend of cotton and Bauhinia vahlii fiber, a lesser-known natural cellulosic fiber with promising textile properties, and evaluates its pretreatment outcomes and dyeability characteristics. The study employs a systematic approach to pretreat the cotton and Bauhinia vahlii fiber blend (cotton: Bauhinia vahlii fiber 70:30) in a single bath using a conventional combined scouring bleaching process. The pretreatment process is carried out two times with varied sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations for different processing times at 90 °C to assess the component fibers’ whiteness index, union bleaching balance, and weight loss percentage under diverse pretreatment conditions. Each time, 50% of the chemicals were used and continued for half of the processing time. The dyeability of the treated fibers is analyzed by dyeing the same in a single bath using amron bright red HF2R bifunctional reactive dye in varied shade depths (1%, 3%, and 5%) and fiber blend ratios (cotton: Bauhinia vahlii fiber 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 0:100) to assess the color strength, union dyeing balance, and fastness properties. The maximum whiteness was achieved with 6 g per liter (gpl) of NaOH and H2O2 and at a processing time of 150 min with a whiteness index of 80.46 and 54.34 of cotton and Bauhinia vahlii fiber, respectively, with a union bleaching balance of 1.48. The dyed fibers’ colorimetric results confirm that Bauhinia vahlii fiber gives higher color strength than cotton fiber, irrespective of shade depth and blend ratio. The union dyeing balance of 1.2 was achieved at 5% shade depth with a 70:30 cotton Bauhinia vahlii fiber blend. This research contributes to the conventional textile field by introducing a sustainable fiber blend that reduces reliance on synthetic fiber and opens new avenues for utilizing Bauhinia vahlii fiber in conventional textile manufacturing.

A review on sustainability challenges of flame retardants for textiles

Purpose A review of sustainability challenges of flame retardants (FRs) for textiles has been conducted. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to identify and recommend solutions to sustainability challenges emanating from the raw material, processing technology and performance of the FRs used for textiles. Design/methodology/approach The approach used in preparing this paper was based on the review of various scholarly databases about the subject matter. The review approach is designed to inform the readers about the sustainability challenges of FRs for textiles. The science of burning and FRs for synthetic and cellulosic fibres were reviewed. Both synthetic and natural biodegradable FRs for textiles has been identified. The obtained literature was then synthesised to get information about sustainable challenges of non-halogenated FRs both synthetic and natural biodegradable. Finally, possible approaches for mitigating the identified challenges have been recommended. Findings The sustainability challenges of the FRs in terms of raw material, processing, affordability and performance have been identified. Synthetic FRs suffer from sustainability challenges in terms of raw materials, processing and non-renewability. Despite the environmental friendliness and sustainability in terms of being renewability, processability and biodegradability, natural biodegradable FRs have poor performance compared to synthetic ones. Moreover, natural biodegradable FRs depend on geographical condition and lack economic variability data. Potentially, the challenges of FRs can be mitigated through eco-friendly synthesis, chemical modification and sustainable methods of applications. Because of its renewability and environmental friendliness, biodegradable FRs have a potential to becoming sustainable if researched more. Originality/value In this review, a collection of literature about sustainability challenges of FRs and the approaches to overcome the challenges has been provided. The collected information was analysed and synthesised to bring understanding of the science of burning, types and application of FRs for textiles and biodegradable FRs. Sustainability challenges have been identified, and mitigation approaches are provided.

The Influence of Hemp Fibers (Cannabis sativa L.) on the Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Gypsum Boards Reinforcing the Gypsum Matrix.

The modern construction industry is looking for new ecological materials (available, cheap, recyclable) that can successfully replace materials that are not environmentally friendly. Fibers of natural origin are materials that can improve the properties of gypsum composites. This is an important issue because synthetic fibers (hardly biodegradable-glass or polypropylene fibers) are commonly used to reinforce gypsum boards. Increasing the state of knowledge regarding the possibility of replacing synthetic fibers with natural fibers is another step towards creating more environmentally friendly building materials and determining their characteristics. This paper investigates the possibility of manufacturing fiber-gypsum composites based on natural gypsum (building gypsum) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibers grown in Poland. The effect of introducing hemp fibers of different lengths and with varying proportions of mass (mass of gypsum to mass of fibers) into the gypsum matrix was investigated. The experimental data obtained indicate that adding hemp fibers to the gypsum matrix increases the static bending strength of the composites manufactured. The highest mechanical strength, at 4.19 N/mm2, was observed in fiber-gypsum composites with 4% hemp fiber content at 50 mm in length. A similar trend of increased strength was observed in longitudinal tension. Again, the composite variant with 4% fiber content within the gypsum matrix had the highest mechanical strength. Manufacturing fibers-gypsum composites with more than 4% hemp fiber content negatively affected the composites' strength. Mixing long (50 mm) hemp fibers with the gypsum matrix is technologically problematic, but tests have shown a positive effect on the mechanical properties of the refined composites. The article indicates the length and quantity limitations of hemp fibers on the basis of which fiber-gypsum composites were produced.

Enhancement of mechanical and structural characteristics through the hybridization of carbon fiber with Cordia‐dichotoma/polyester composite

AbstractSingle fiber polymer composites containing either natural or artificial fibers may not deliver the desired characteristics. The current study used the hand‐layup technique to make a hybrid composite by incorporating the natural fiber, Cordia‐dichotoma (CD) and artificial fiber, carbon fibers (CF) in a polyester matrix and compressing the mixture for the desired size. The current study investigates the influence of carbon fiber loading (0, 5, 10, and 15 wt%) on the mechanical, structural, and crystalline properties of CD/polyester composites keeping the total fiber loading at 20 wt%. Mechanical properties are investigated with a universal testing machine, and impact strength using Izod impact apparatus. Better mechanical properties (tensile strength‐457.38 MPa; flexural strength‐290.09 MPa and impact strength‐346.46 J/m) were obtained for the pure carbon fiber composite arranged in four layers (CF/CF/CF/CF), followed by hybrid composite (CF/CD/CD/CF) (tensile strength‐319.24 MPa; flexural strength‐253.03 MPa and impact strength‐291.34 J/m) whereas pure CD fiber (CD/CD/CD/CD) composite yielded the lowest values (tensile strength‐117.96 MPa; flexural strength‐164.99 MPa and impact strength‐118.11 J/m). Composites undergo hybridization, which improves their mechanical properties, lowers their cost, and makes them more environmentally friendly. The characteristics of the specimens were examined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). According to findings, crystallinity index is increased from 77.94% for CD/CD/CD/CD composite and increased to 78.21% for CF/CD/CD/CF composite. Highest crystallinity index of 82.46% was obtained for CF/CF/CF/CF composite. These hybrid composites may be used for applications involving medium loads.Highlights In this study, Cordia‐dichotoma natural fibers are extracted and treated with alkali (NaOH) to reduce the biodegradability. To lower the cost and enhance mechanical and biodegradable properties Carbon and cordia‐dichotoma fibers have been hybridized. Mechanical Properties such as tensile, flexural and impact properties are evaluated for the prepared hybrid composites. Hybrid composites were analyzed using FTIR, AFM, XRD, and SEM to assess their suitability to various applications.

Nanofilament organization in highly tough fibers based on lamin proteins

The escalating plastic pollution crisis necessitates sustainable alternatives, and one promising solution involves replacing petroleum-based polymers with fibrous proteins. This study focused on the recombinant production of intracellular fibrous proteins, specifically Caenorhabditis elegans lamin (Ce-lamin). Ce-lamins spontaneously organize within the cell nucleus, forming a network of nanofilaments. This intricate structure serves as an active layer that responds dynamically to mechanical strain and stress. Herein, we investigated the arrangement of nanofilaments into nanofibrils within wet-spun Ce-lamin fibers using alcoholic solutions as coagulants. Our goal was to understand their structural and mechanical properties, particularly in comparison with those produced with solutions containing Ca+2 ions, which typically result in the formation of nanofibrils with a collagen-like pattern. The introduction of ethanol solutions significantly altered this pattern, likely through rearrangement of the nanofilaments. Nevertheless, the resulting fibers exhibited superior toughness and strain, outperforming various synthetic fibers. The significance of the nanofilament structure in enhancing fiber toughness was emphasized through both the secondary structure transition during stretching and the influence of the Q159K point mutation. This study improves our understanding of the structural and mechanical aspects of Ce-lamin fibers, paving the way for the development of eco-friendly and high-quality fibers suitable for various applications, including medical implants and composite materials.

Bridging Behavior of Palm Fiber in Cementitious Composite

This study addresses the growing need for sustainable construction materials by investigating the mechanical properties and behavior of palm fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (FRCC), a potential eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fiber reinforcements. Despite the promise of natural fibers in enhancing the mechanical performance of composites, challenges remain in optimizing fiber distribution, fiber–composite bonding mechanism, and its balance to matrix strength. To address these challenges, this study conducted extensive experimental programs using palm fiber as reinforcement, focusing on understanding the fiber–matrix interaction, determining the pullout load–slip relationship, and modeling fiber bridging behavior. The experimental program included density calculations and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis to examine the surface morphology and diameter of the fibers. Single fiber pullout tests were performed under varying conditions to assess the pullout load, slip behavior, and failure modes of the palm fiber, and a relationship between the pullout load and slip with the embedded length of the palm fiber was constructed. A trilinear model was developed to describe the pullout load–slip behavior of single fibers, and a corresponding palm-FRCC bridging model was constructed using the results from these tests. Section analysis was conducted to assess the adaptability of the modeled bridging law calculations, and the analysis result of the bending moment–curvature relationship shows a good agreement with the experimental results obtained from the four-point bending test of palm-FRCC. These findings demonstrate the potential of palm fibers in improving the mechanical performance of FRCC and contribute to the broader understanding of natural fiber reinforcement in cementitious composites.

Tensile Properties of Open Hole and Unhole Sugar Palm ‘Ijuk’ (SPI) Fibre Composite Treated with Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

This study evaluates the effects of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment on tensile properties of sugar palm 'ijuk' (SPI) fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, with and without an open hole that acts as a stress concentrator. The NaOH treatment is aimed to improve the interfacial adhesion between SPI fibres and polymer matrix. Composite specimens were prepared using the hand lay-up method, incorporating SPI fibres in various orientations, and featuring a 6 mm diameter hole. Tensile tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance of SPI FRP composite, including ultimate tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break. The research also compared the properties of SPI to those of synthetic glass fibre in fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The results showed that NaOH treatment significantly improves the fibre-matrix adhesion with 26% increase in tensile strength, leading to enhanced tensile properties in both samples, regardless of hole presence. The 0° orientation provides the highest strength and stiffness when the load is applied in the direction of the fibres. While for the 90° orientation, strength reduces by 14%. The impact of the hole on stress concentration and the subsequent mechanical behaviour of the open-hole specimens is substantial. The findings of this study offer insightful perspectives on the potential use ofNaOH-treated SPI fibre in structural and other applications, demonstrating its ability to withstand tensile stresses, even with geometric discontinuities like holes.

The effect of nanocellulose and silica filler on the mechanical properties of natural fiber polymer matrix composites

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites recently got great attention in biomedical applications due to their inherent characteristics such as biocompatibility, lightweight, and biodegradability. However, natural fiber composites suffer from poor mechanical properties and weak interfacial adhesion. It is well documented that the addition of nanofiller has improved the mechanical properties of different synthetic fibers such as glass and carbon composites. The main objective of this paper is to study nanofillers' effect on the mechanical properties of unidirectional false banana fibers reinforced polymer composites. The filler materials, crystalline nanocellulose fibrils, and crystalline nanosilica particles were extracted from sugarcane bagasse and its byproducts. The composite samples were fabricated by adding the nanofillers in unidirectional natural fibers arranged in four fiber orientations (0°, 0o/90o ±45o, and quasi-isotropic), and their tensile, flexural, compression strength, thermal stability, and void content were measured following ASTM standards. The results revealed that adding nanofillers increased the tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths by 16 % (98.83 Mpa), 11 % (161.60 Mpa), and 23 % (114.62 Mpa), respectively. Similarly, at 0° orientation, the addition of nanoparticles enhances the tensile, bending, and compressive modulus by 30 % (15.43 Gpa), 12 % (13.52 Gpa), and 60 % (42.6 Gpa), respectively. On the other hand, the void content was reduced with the addition of nanofillers. The results also revealed that composites with crystalline nanosilica particle fillers had superior thermal stability compared to crystalline nanocellulose fibril fillers. The overall results of this research give the confidence that nano particle-filled natural fiber composites can be used for bio-based engineering applications, such as prosthetic sockets.

Evaluation of a binary amphiphile/solvent mixture for the formulation of an ecological detergent as an alternative for removing fat from natural fiber surfaces

The application of a binary amphiphile/solvent blend composed of a natural surfactant (alkyl polyglucoside) and the green solvent ethyl lactate (EL) as an active component in the formulation of a new ecological detergent has improved the washing process conditions. Foaming properties of the detergent were optimal, with foam stability (R5) values of 76.17% and 78.61% for the best formulations. It is common practice to add substances that can regulate the pH to 9 to enhance the washing efficiency. This was reflected in the results of this study, where pH and the interaction between pH and surfactant type significantly influenced the percentage of residual fat. Currently, commercial detergents recommend a 1% dilution. However, studies have evaluated a 0.5% dilution. Therefore, it opted to evaluate new concentrations of 0.4% and 0.3%. Optimization of the factorial design resulted in dirt removal rates exceeding 91%, while the lowest percentage of residual fat (< 0.37%) was achieved at 25 °C, pH 9, and 0.3% detergent doses without lipase. Furthermore, illustrations of the surface morphology of the washed fibers demonstrated that the samples were not adversely affected by the formulated detergent or the washing process conditions. The alkyl polyglucoside/ethyl lactate binary blend was shown for the first time to exhibit strong interactions, possessing excellent residual fat and soil removal properties, suggesting its potential use in the formulation of green detergents for washing natural and synthetic textile fibers as a replacement for detergents based on ethoxylated fatty alcohols.

Assessing the contribution of sewing threads to microfiber release during domestic laundering

Environmental science studies from the past decade have emphasized that microplastics in aquatic environments are mostly caused by domestic laundering of synthetic textiles. Although many studies have explored the microfiber release behavior of fabrics washed in laundry, attempts to witness microfiber release from sewing threads, which are an inevitable part of any finished garment, are meager. With this research gap, this study attempted to analyze the potential of sewing threads to release microfibers during washing and the extent to which they can contribute to the overall microfiber release during domestic laundering. The study's findings revealed an average release of 2.65 ± 0.70 (n = 33) microfibers/m from the sewing thread sewn on the fabric during laundering. The sewing process was noted to cause damage to the sewing thread, which led to a comparatively higher microfiber release (∼114%) compared with the sewing threads that were washed before sewing. Among the selected sewing threads, higher microfiber emissions were reported with spun threads, followed by twistless filaments, and twisted filament threads. The results showed that coarser sewing threads with higher Tex values released more microfibers than finer Tex threads. Compared to the 20 Tex spun thread, the 80 Tex spun thread showed a 22–150% increase in microfiber release. In the case of filament sewing thread, a similar impact was noted, whereas the role of twist was found to be efficient in reducing microfiber emission. Compared to the untwisted filaments, the ply twisted filaments exhibited approximately 76% lower microfiber emissions. The findings of this study showed that sewing thread contributed approximately 1.09% of the total microfiber emissions from apparel during laundry.

Influence of synthetic fibers on the performance of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) at elevated temperatures

Adding synthetic fibers to ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is an effective method for improving its resistance to high temperatures. This study examined the impact of different synthetic fibers on high-temperature spalling and corresponding residual mechanical performance of UHPC, including compressive strength, elastic modulus, and flexural strength. This study conducted high-temperature tests on UHPC with different synthetic fibers (PET, PP, NY, PVA, PAN fibers) and analyzed their microscopic morphology after exposure to 200 °C using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings revealed that conventional steel fiber UHPC (without synthetic fibers) experienced severe spalling only after 400 °C. To some degree, synthetic fibers enhanced the resistance of UHPC to high-temperature spalling, but significant differences were observed among the different fibers. PP fibers provided the most significant improvement in high-temperature resistance, followed by NY fibers, while other fibers were less effective. Although the contributions of different synthetic fibers to high-temperature resistance varied, the differences in compressive strength and elastic modulus of UHPC with different synthetic fibers after high-temperature exposure were not substantial. NY fibers, despite being slightly less effective than PP fibers, provided superior flexural performance at both room and high temperatures compared to PP fibers. Both PP fibers and NY fibers inhibited high-temperature spalling of UHPC and maintained its mechanical performance. Even at 1050 °C, UHPC that did not spall retained residual mechanical performance, with compressive strength, elastic modulus, and flexural strength after exposure to 1050 °C being 24.4 %, 29 %, and 26.8 % of their respective values at room temperature.

Response of circular type sandwich panel using JUCO-glass fiber with PU foam under three-point bending loading

In this study, a circular type honeycomb sandwich panel using natural JUCO and synthetic woven glass fiber was fabricated, and the bending properties like bending strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were evaluated. Polyurethane (PU) foam was injected into the core structure to improve the bending strength. The orientation of jute and cotton fiber was varied to investigate the best stiffness and strength. In addition, twill-type JUCO fiber mat and synthetic woven glass fiber were also used to fabricate the circular type honeycomb sandwich panel. Finite element modeling was undertaken to validate the experimental results. Prior to the finite element analysis, a tensile test was carried out to determine the boundary conditions. Injecting polyurethane foam into the honeycomb core does not show any significant impact on bending properties. However, the deformation rate increased considerably by adding PU foam in the core structure. According to the results, honeycomb sandwich panels made of woven glass fiber with PU foam exhibited more homogenous deflection and bending compliance compared with others.

Tasar silk fiber waste reinforced polylactic acid composite: Physical, mechanical, and sliding wear characterization

Incorporating natural industrial waste as a reinforcement for the development of sustainable composite is now being extensively practiced to eliminate harmful synthetic fiber. This study exhaustively evaluated the potential of tasar silk fiber waste (TSFW) as a reinforcing agent in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix to optimize the physical, mechanical, and wear properties. Therefore, PLA-based biocomposites with varying TSFW proportions (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 by weight) are manufactured and then evaluated for physical (density, voids, water absorption), mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness), and sliding wear properties. Results suggested that water uptake of PLA composites increases with the addition of TSFW and becomes saturated after nine days of immersion. The TSFW reinforcement at 8 wt% in PLA yields 32 % and 22 % improvement in tensile strength (66.2 MPa) and flexural strength (103.2 MPa), respectively. A remarkable improvement was observed in the impact strength at similar reinforcement (8 wt%) of TSFW with the observed value of 27.90 kJ/m2. A continuous increase in hardness was obtained by including TSFW in PLA, with the highest value of 86 Shore D recorded for 10 wt% TSFW added biocomposite. The specific wear rate of all samples increased, but the incorporation of TSFW significantly reduced the same. Microscopic examination suggests that microploughing, microcutting and groove formations were the main mechanism of material removal. After examining the results, it is recommended that TSFW be used in bidirectional mat form for further enhancement of mechanical properties and improved bonding between fiber and matrix.