Fiber Tensile Test Research Articles

Effect of hybrid sizings on the surface morphology, mechanical behavior of basalt fibers, and fiber/epoxy composite properties

AbstractIn the present study, the basalt fibers (BFs) were treated with hybrid sizings consisting silane coupling agent (3‐Glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SNPs). Using acetone washing and heat treatment, the commercial sizing previously on the BFs was removed. Next, the fibers were dip‐coated, and silanes condensed on the surface of the fibers. Fiber samples were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test findings demonstrate that acetone extraction was an effective way to remove sizings. The AFM analysis and SEM micrographs demonstrate that SNP and silane particles were dispersed uniformly across the fiber surface. The single fiber tensile testing results indicated that the deposition of hybrid sizings enhanced the fibers strength. Because of the better adhesion between the fiber and epoxy, the hybrid sizings also improved the flexural strength by 22.28% and the interlaminar shear strength by 20.75%.Highlights Hybrid sizings (silanes and nano‐particles) on the basalt fiber surface. Characterization of the sizings and understanding of surface morphology. Hybrid sizings resulted in better tensile strength. Failure mechanisms of the fibers were observed using fractography. The effect of hybrid sizing on ILSS and flexural properties was observed.

Practicability and fundamental performance of alkali treated raw bamboo fiber reinforced high performance seawater sea sand concrete

In pursuit of sustainable development, there has been an increasing amount of research on plant fiber reinforced concrete and seawater sea sand concrete in recent years. In this study, a new type of alkali treated raw bamboo fiber reinforced high performance seawater sea sand concrete (ABFRHPSSC) was suggested, with its practicability evaluated and its fundamental performance investigated. The practicability was evaluated through fiber tensile test, water absorption test, single fiber pull-out test, and degraded fiber characterization test. The fundamental performance, including flowability, mechanical performance, pore volume distribution and three-dimensional distribution of pores and raw bamboo fibers, were then investigated when fiber content and length were used as two parameters. The results showed that the alkali treatment of raw bamboo fibers could increase their tensile strength and elastic modulus, reduce their water absorption, improve their bond performance, and ensure their degradation stability. The fiber content and length had significant effects on the fundamental performance. A fiber content of 0.5 % and a fiber length of 12 mm resulted in relatively optimal mechanical performance while ensuring satisfactory flowability and uniform fiber distribution. At this point, compared with plain high performance seawater sea sand concrete (HPSSC), the compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths increased by 20.1 %, 33.2 %, and 33.6 %, respectively, and the pores were refined. Therefore, ABFRHPSSC has a promising future as a new environmentally friendly material.

A round-robin study on the tensile characterization of single fibres: A multifactorial analysis and recommendations for more reliable results

In this benchmark, the tensile properties of three types of organic fibres – flax, hemp and aramid − were determined using single-fibre tensile tests performed by nine research groups. Flax and hemp were chosen due to their prevalence among European fibre plants. Aramid was selected for its synthetic nature and comparable dimensional properties. Due to the morphological complexity and variability of plant fibres, the scatter in the apparent tangent modulus and strength is more pronounced for flax and hemp compared to aramid. The primary source of scatter in the tensile properties results from human factors and experimental procedures, particularly regarding the fibre selection, the measurement of the fibre cross-sectional area and of the tensile strain. The post-processing procedure also turns out to be a key factor. Finally, recommendations and guidelines for best practices are proposed to reduce the main sources of dispersion associated with the reproducibility of single fibre tensile tests.

Porous Melt Blown Poly(butylene terephthalate) Fibers with High Ductility and High-Temperature Structural Stability.

In this study, porous poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers were produced by melt blowing cocontinuous blends of PBT and polystyrene (PS) and selectively extracting the interconnected PS domains. Small amounts of hydroxyl terminated PS additives that can undergo transesterification with the ester units in PBT were added to stabilize the cocontinuous structure during melt processing. The resulting fibers are highly ductile and display fine porous structural features, which persist at temperatures over 150 °C. Single fiber tensile testing and electron microscopy are presented to demonstrate the role of rapid quenching and drawing of the melt blowing process in defining the fiber properties. The templated highly aligned pore structure, which is not easily produced in solvent-based fiber spinning methods, leads to remarkable mechanical properties of the porous fibers and overcomes the notoriously poor tensile properties common to other cellular materials like foams.

Study on the interfacial bonding properties between alkali-treated bamboo fibers and high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete

In this paper, the interfacial bonding properties between alkali-treated bamboo fibers and the matrix in fiber-reinforced high-performance seawater sea-sand concrete (HPSSC) materials were investigated. The natural bamboo fibers were modified with NaOH solution, and the cellulose crystallinity, chemical composition, and microstructure of the bamboo fibers before and after modification were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of alkali treatment on the water absorption and mechanical properties of bamboo fibers were evaluated by water absorption test and single fiber tensile test. In addition, the influences of NaOH concentration, treatment time, and embedded length on the interfacial bonding properties were analyzed by pull-out test. Subsequently, the bonding mechanism between the fibers and the matrix was revealed based on the SEM scans of the extracted fiber surfaces. The experimental results indicate that appropriate alkali treatment could significantly eliminate the non-structural substances on the surface of bamboo fibers, reduce the water absorption, and increase the cellulose crystallinity. This process made the bamboo fibers exhibit better stability and bonding performance while ensuring the initial mechanical properties. Moreover, various fiber embedded lengths have a significant impact on the pull-out behavior of bamboo fibers. The maximum pull-out force of bamboo fibers increased with the increase of embedded length, while the fiber-matrix interfacial shear strength decreased. Based on the experimental results, a theoretical model for the pull-out behavior of bamboo fibers was proposed, and the predicted results showed a strong correlation with the experimental results.

Adhesive interaction in hybrid polymer composites. Energy characteristics of phases at the air interface

Introduction: The study of the adhesive strength formation mechanisms in polymer composites involves the deliberate selection of components to facilitate their joint action in transferring stresses from the fibers to the binder through the phase interface. The strength of the adhesive interaction between components can be expressed through their energy characteristics, provided technological and other factors are ensured. Purpose of the study: The study aims to investigate the energy characteristics of hybrid polymer composite phases at the air interface. Methods: The optical method was used to capture micrographs of wetting fibers of different nature by liquids, based on which contact angles were determined. Tensile tests of fibers were conducted, and thermal analysis of fibers was performed using a synchronous thermal analyzer. The surface tension of epoxy resin and the epoxy resin / hardener system was determined using a tensiometer. Results: The method for determining surface energies of solids was upgraded. The upgraded method makes it possible to determine the free surface energy of fibers of different nature and the surface tension of the binder. The effect of oiling compositions (finishing agents) was quantitatively evaluated.

Experimental Study on Single Fiber Tensile Properties of Sisal Fibers Using a Digital Image Correlation Method as a Strain Measurement

ABSTRACT The development of natural fibers in engineering applications requires an accurate measurement of their dimensional characteristics and mechanical properties. Fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) obtained from lateral dimensional measurements should consider the specific cross-sectional shape (CSS) of the fibers and their wide lengthwise variations. In this study, the dimensional measurements of water-retted and unretted sisal fibers were conducted by laser scanning microscopy (LSM) and calculation-based methods. Single fiber tensile tests were performed using the digital image correlation (DIC) method. Results show that the diameters of water-retted and unretted fibers measured by LSM were 233 ± 45 µm and 236 ± 42 µm, respectively. The diameters of water-retted and unretted fibers obtained by calculation were 192 ± 17 µm and 178 ± 20 µm, respectively. The tensile strengths of water-retted and unretted fibers were 679 ± 118 MPa and 718 ± 106 MPa, respectively. The strain at failure and elastic modulus of water-retted and unretted fibers were 2.0 ± 0.6% and 34 ± 8 GPa, as well as 1.5 ± 0.2% and 48 ± 6 GPa, respectively. Water retting seems to predominantly influence the strain at failure and elastic modulus of sisal fibers, as confirmed by the ANOVA analysis.

Improvement of tensile strength and toughness in aramid/epoxy composites by sequential air plasma and (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane treatments

This work explores sequential surface treatments involving atmospheric-air plasma and (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GLYMO) to enhance the tensile properties of aramid/epoxy composites. To prove the technical advantages of this approach, aramid fibers received individual (atmospheric-air plasma or GLYMO) or sequential (plasma followed by GLYMO, and vice versa) surface treatments. Single fiber tensile tests (SFT) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize changes in aramid fibers upon the surface modifications. SFT revealed that none of the surface treatments compromised their tensile strength (σ max ). Applying GLYMO, whether individually or in sequence (GLYMO followed by plasma and plasma followed by GLYMO), led to a significant enhancement in the fibers’ elastic modulus (E). Composites with plasma-treated fibers displayed a 5% increase in E and an 8.5% increase in σ max , with no changes in toughness. However, the most notable improvements were achieved through sequential plasma followed by GLYMO treatments, resulting in a ~ 10% increase in σ max and a remarkable ~ 40% improvement in toughness. Plasma introduces oxygen-containing groups to the fiber surface, facilitating GLYMO grafting. Subsequent crosslinking of GLYMO with the epoxy resin strengthens the fiber-matrix interface. This sequential surface modification offers an alternative pathway for fabricating composites with superior toughness and σ max .

Exploring the potential of sustainable natural cellulosic fiber from Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum vulgare var. technicus) stem for textile and composite applications

AbstractIn the present research, the usability of cellulosic-based fibers obtained from the Sorghum bicolor plant stem as reinforcing fibers in composites and textiles was investigated. The fibers were obtained from a Sorghum bicolor plant growing wild in the Adana region in the South of Turkey. Density, chemical structure analysis, FTIR, XRD, TGA, XPS SEM, and single fiber tensile tests characterized Sorghum bicolor fiber (SBF). SBF contains cellulose (73.6%), hemicellulose (13.3%), and lignin (12.1%). The oxygen/carbon ratio of 0.43 found as a result of XPS analysis indicates that fibers have a hydrophilic character. SBF has a 59.34% crystallinity index, 284.6 MPa tensile strength, 4.71% GPa tensile modulus, and 21.44% elongation at break. The maximum degradation temperature of the fibers was determined as 364.22 °C. Sorghum bicolor fiber, through detailed characterization, emerges as potential promising reinforcement for the composite industry with relatively good strength and high cellulose content for the textile industry.

Extrusion and characterization of eggshell-based composite filaments for sustainable development in additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an extending manufacturing method which has many advantages such as minimalistic material wastage, less fabrication time and so on, over other manufacturing technologies such as subtractive, moulding, casting, etc. Strength enhancement of additively fabricated structures is an active area of study and much research was evolved in terms of developing innovative feedstock for AM. Polymers and their composites gain great attention in the research community. Even though many composites available commercially were observed with enhanced properties, most of them are not sustainable and recyclable in nature. Eggshell is a naturally available calcium carbonate, which gets wasted in a huge amount. Such eggshells were synthesized and transformed into nanosized for inclusion of filler in polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. PLA is a bio-degradable polymer with numerous applications and is one of the popular feedstocks for fused deposition modelling. This study explains the proper procedure to extrude commercial-grade eggshell-based composite filaments and qualities of such composites would be elaborately discussed with the help of single fibre tensile test, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Totally five filaments such as PLA, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt % of eggshell in composites were extruded by following proper sonication and suitable filament extrusion process. 15 wt % composite seems to be the best among all filaments and possesses better characteristics than all other filaments.

Influence of optimal alkali treated Areca catechu L. peduncle fiber for light weight polymer composites applications

AbstractThe chemical, physico‐mechanical, morphological, and thermal characteristics of alkali treated natural cellulosic sustainable eco‐friendly fiber from peduncle of Areca Catechu tree were investigated. Areca Catechu fruit peduncle fiber (ACFPF) treated with 5% (w/v) NaOH solution for 60 min is found as optimally alkali treated ACFPF (OAACFPF) witnessed an increase in cellulose content by 17%. Single fiber tensile test perceived that OAACFPF enhanced tensile strength by 12.9% and x‐ray diffraction analysis depicts crystallinity index of OAACFPF improved by 14.2% compared with ACFPF. Also, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis endorsed partial removal of amorphous contents from fibers due to alkali treatment. In addition, alkali treatment has enhanced thermal stability of OAACFPF from 226°C to 235°C verified through Thermogravimetric analysis. Likewise, Differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed improvement in thermal degradation temperature of OAACFPF after alkali treatment. Moreover, the rougher surface of OAACFPF confirmed through scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy is due to partial removal of amorphous contents thus ensuing in good interfacial bonding characteristics with the matrix during reinforcement for bio‐composite fabrication. The above findings validated OAACFPF as a worthy substitute to harmful synthetic fibers for development of eco‐friendly and sustainable bio‐composites.

The impact of thermal treatment parameters on the preservation of carbon fiber mechanical properties after reclamation

Carbon fiber, despite its exceptional properties, remains underutilized due to monetary and environmental concerns. Concurrently, the imminent challenge associated with rising quantities of End-of-Life CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) demands the further development of recycling strategies. This study focuses on optimizing the recycling process parameters of pyrolysis and oxidation thermal treatment to maximize the retention of mechanical properties in the recycled fibers in the shortest process time. To assess the result of the pyrolysis, single fiber tensile tests were executed to measure strength and stiffness. Additionally, microscopy and spectroscopy studies were carried out to evaluate fiber geometry as well as surface quality. At the laboratory scale, experiments demonstrated that the combination of pyrolysis and oxidation yields clean, reusable fibers with mechanical properties suitable for secondary applications. The influence of various treatment parameters on the strength and stiffness of the recycled fibers was explored, establishing a clear correlation. The outcome is a set of optimized parameters that contribute to mechanical property retention, including a novel recycling method that allows for reduced processing times, as short as 10 min. This work paves the way for a more eco-friendly and cost-effective approach to harnessing the potential of carbon fiber in a wide range of applications while mitigating environmental concerns associated with landfill disposal.

Effect of Fiber Sizing Levels on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Composites.

Fiber sizing is one of the most important components in manufacturing composites by affecting mechanical properties, including strength and stiffness. The sizing of manmade fibers offers many advantages, such as improving fiber/matrix adhesion and bonding properties, protecting fiber surfaces from damage during the processing and weaving stages, and enhancing the surface wettability of polymer matrices. In this work, the influence of fiber sizing levels on carbon fibers' (CFs) mechanical properties is reported at room temperature using single fiber tensile testing (Favimat+), single fiber pullout testing (SFPO), and interfacial elemental analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Standard modulus CFs (7 ± 0.2 μm in diameter) were sized using two commercially available Michelman sizing formulations. The average solid content for each sizing formulation was 26.3 ± 0.2% and 34.1 ± 0.2%, respectively. HEXION RIMR 135 with curing agent RIMH 137 was used as a model thermoset epoxy matrix during SFPO measurements. A predictive engineering fiber sizing methodology was also developed. Sizing amounts of 0.5, 1, and 2 wt.% on the fiber surface were achieved for both sizing formulations. For each fiber size level, 50 single-fiber tensile testing experiments and 20 single-fiber pull-out tests were conducted. The ultimate tensile strength (σult) of the carbon fibers and the interfacial shear strength (τapp) of the single fiber composite were analyzed. The sizing levels' effect on interfacial shear stress and the O/C (Oxygen/Carbon) surface composition ratio was investigated. Based on our experimental findings, an increase of 6% in fiber performance was recorded for ultimate tensile and interfacial shear strengths. As a result, generalized fiber sizing and characterization methods were established. These developed methods can be used to characterize the strength and interfacial shear strength of manmade fibers with different sizing formulations and solid contents irrespective of the matrix, i.e., thermoset or thermoplastic.

Enhancing properties and sustainability: Surface modified Cymbopogon flexuosus stem fiber for green composite materials

AbstractThe lignocellulosic fiber has distinct capacities and properties from diverse perspectives. As there is a crucial need for the development of green products, many industries are racing to identify potential fibers for their products. This work focuses first on the property enhancement using chemical modification techniques for Cymbopogon flexuosus stem fiber (CFS), which is extracted from the waste residue of an oil industry. The chemically treated fibers resulted in higher cellulose (77.35%) and lower hemicellulose‐lignin contents (8.36% and 14.5%), which favors composite manufacturing. Morphological analysis on the fiber surface through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) evidenced the surface was rough, and a single fiber tensile test reveals an average tensile strength of 635 ± 4.5 MPa. Further x‐ray diffraction examination verified the existence of semi‐crystalline cellulose with a size of 14.32 nm and a higher crystallinity index of 55.17%. Secondly, to explore fiber prospective qualities against the commercially available bio‐composite, epoxy resin‐based composites were prepared by varying the weight and length of fiber reinforced. The surface‐modified CFS epoxy composite has the highest tensile strength (77.71 MPa), tensile modulus (5.26 Gpa), flexural strength (87.4 MPa), flexural modulus (1.85 GPa), hardness (64 HRRW), and impact strength (9.31 J/cm2). The thermogravimetric analyses were evaluated to assess their weight loss under heat influence. Tensile fractography was also investigated to establish the structure–property relationship between the composite and fiber. Thus, unique fiber was identified as an ecologically benign and economically viable raw material to build lightweight green materials for industrial applications.Highlights Studies explores the potential of CFSF, which is typically an industrial waste. Chemical modification reveals the enhancement of properties. Identifies optimum parameters that enhance composite properties. This aligns with the broader trend of sustainable and green manufacturing.

Extraction and characterization of a novel cellulosic fiber derived from the bark of Rosa hybrida plant

The current investigation aims to choose an alternate potential replacement for the nonbiodegradable synthetic fibers used in polymer composites. This goal motivated the thorough characterization of Rosa hybrida bark (RHB) fibers. The research explored fiber characterization such as morphological, mechanical, thermal, and physical properties. The suggested fiber features a percentage of cellulose, hemicellulose molecules, and lignin of 52.99 wt%, 18.49 wt%, and 17.34 wt%, respectively according to chemical composition studies, which improves its mechanical properties. It is suitable for lightweight applications due to its decreased density (1.194 gcm−3). The purpose of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscope was to observe and record how various chemical groups were distributed throughout the surface of the fiber. The presence of 1.41 nm-sized crystalline cellulose and further XRD analysis showed a crystallinity index of 75.48 %. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed that RHB fibers have a rough surface. According to a single fiber tensile test, for gauge length (GL) 40 mm, Young's modulus and tensile strength of RHB fibers were 6.57 GPa and 352.01 MPa, respectively, and for GL 50 mm, 9.02 GPa and 311 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, thermo-gravimetric examination revealed that the isolated fibers were thermally stable up to 290 °C and the kinetic activation energy was found to be 75.32 kJ/mol. The fibers taken from the Rosa hybrida flower plants' bark exhibit qualities similar to those of currently used natural fibers, making them a highly promising replacement for synthetic fibers in polymer matrix composites.

Mechanical properties of cement mortar with gamma-irradiated recycled plastic powder, pellet, and fiber

This study aimed to investigate the impact of gamma irradiated recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellets, powder, and fibers on the mechanical performance and ductility of cementitious mortar. The sensitivity to gamma irradiation was explored by varying the irradiation rate and total dose. The recycled PET additives employed in this experiment consisted of pellets and their different application forms: powder and fiber, containing 30 % recycled raw materials polymerized through a chemically recycled method. For comparison, plain mortar composite and virgin PET mortar composite were used as controls. When PET pellets partially replaced the aggregate, the compressive strength of the composite decreased significantly as the volume fraction of pellets increased. Conversely, specimens partially replaced by PET powder showed an overall increase in compressive strength compared to the control specimens, regardless of the volume fraction of powder, gamma irradiation rate, or total dose, with no change in ductility. To assess changes in tensile strength and ductility of the recycled PET fibers under different gamma irradiation rates and total doses, direct fiber tensile tests were conducted. The gamma-irradiated fiber specimens exhibited a slight increase in strength and ductility. This information allowed for the calibration of the tensile material constitutive relationship of PET fibers, which was subsequently used in nonlinear finite element analysis. The study also investigated the variation in direct tensile, compressive, and flexural strengths with different volume fractions of fiber. The results indicated that the strength enhancement was minimal, but the direct tensile and flexural tensile analyses predicted an enhancement.

Study on Properties of New Biodegradable Plant Fiber (Agave Decipiens) for Polymer Reinforcement

<p>The article involves in the process of study on novel plant fiber from agave plant species known as agave decipiens. The fiber was mechanically extracted from their leaves and fiber was chemically treated using sodium hydroxide by 5% (w/v). Using various analyses, the fiber was characterized and its properties were obtained. From chemical constituent analysis it was confirmed that hemicellulose, amorphous lignin, and other impurities were removed to some extent, and using x-ray diffraction (XRD), an improvement in crystallinity index was observed (i.e. from 47.99% to 52.29%). Increased crystallinity provides better tensile stress from 479.302 MPa to 494.172 MPa, which was confirmed by single fiber tensile test. A change in physical diameter was observed using a digital microscope, the outer diameter was reduced to 117.66µm from 121.84µm. Change in chemical components was identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Alkaline-treated (AT) fiber sustains a temperature of about 240oC during thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Study on surface morphology was conducted with help of scanning electron microscope (SEM). Concluding that alkaline treatment made some impact on fiber characteristics and made it suitable for reinforcement.</p>

Effect of enzyme retting conditions on bast bundle differentiation and mechanical properties of flax technical fibers

Compared to conventional dew retting, enzymatic retting has the potential to control fiber extraction process and produce high quality plant fibers for industrial scale composite applications where low Family videovariation in properties are desired. While most studies depend upon retting duration and fiber fineness as measures for effective retting degree, in this study we report the effect of enzyme concentration and enzyme retting duration on the flax bast-woody core bond strength and resulting technical fiber fineness. Fiber peel tests and microscopy coupled with statistical analysis showed that while only retting duration has significantly effect on fiber fineness, the bond strength between the bast-woody core interphase is significantly affected by both enzyme concentration and time. Single fiber tensile tests were conducted on flax fibers from different retting conditions at 10 mm and 30 mm gauge lengths. Fibers extracted from a high degree of enzymatic retting performed well at 10 mm gauge length but showed lower tensile strength at 30 mm gauge length, indicating over-retting. These findings can guide optimizing the enzyme retting process conditions at industrial scale for improved fiber properties with reduced variability.

Physiochemical investigation of untreated and alkali treated agave plant fiber

Plant fiber-reinforced composites occupied an important role in the production of bio-degradable goods. Polymer composites with synthetic fiber as reinforcement produce adverse effects on the environment because of their higher decomposition rate. In most cases, natural fiber reinforced composites were used in the automotive industry to make body door parts, interior panels, bumpers, dashboard units, two-wheeler mudguards, doom parts, etc. During the reinforcement of fiber with matrix there are a lot of factors say moisture absorption, interfacial bonding, etc., involes in affecting the composite. So in order to reduce those risk factors, natural fiber has to be pre-treated before involving it in reinforcement. Chemical treatment was useful in the removal of impurities, wax, and other unwanted substances on the outer surface of the fiber. This paper deals with the novel study in identifying the optimum concentration of alkali solution for suitability in making the two-wheeler mudguard. Pre-treatment involves soaking of agave fiber at different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution say 2, 4, 6, and 8%(w/v) for about 3 h. The impact on different concentrations of NaOH treatment was confirmed with the change in the diameter of the fiber using a digital microscope, chemical composition analysis was performed, a single fiber tensile test, and a scanning electron microscope was also conducted. From the test results, it was noted that sodium hydroxide treatment removes unwanted substances present on the fiber surface. Meanwhile, when the concentration of the sodium hydroxide was increased the fiber got damaged due to the abrasion of cellulosic constituents that reduces the property of fiber, making it unsuitable for reinforcement. At the end of this study, 4% of NaOH-treated fiber showed better results from all tests and that was used for making a mudguard.

Comparative analysis of natural fibres characteristics as composite reinforcement

Due to environmental concerns, natural fibre development is essential, and its utilization has recently attracted more attention. The use of jute, hemp, linen, sisal, and banana fibres in textile production is widespread around the world. Additionally, these fibres are widely accessible in many countries, including Pakistan, India, China, Turkey, and the United States. The objective of this study is to compare the physio-mechanical characteristics of the aforementioned natural fibres. All of these fibres were obtained locally. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the surface morphology of these natural fibres, and the results revealed that banana and sisal fibres are hollow in comparison to other fibres. A single fibre tensile testing apparatus was used to evaluate the mechanical characteristics. Banana and sisal fibres demonstrated the highest breaking strength and elongation, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the functional groups of these natural fibres. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to investigate their thermal behaviour. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis and Raman analysis were also carried out to ascertain the chemical composition.