Use Of Vegetable Fibers Research Articles

Statistical analysis of the substitution of inorganic fibers and fillers with vegetable fibers and fillers in polystyrene composites

AbstractThermoplastic composites exhibit improved mechanical performance compared to pure matrices, and the fiber is usually the most influential component of the composite. Recently, studies related to the use of vegetable fibers have grown significantly, but few works report the direct comparative between inorganic and vegetable fibers and fillers as reinforcements. In this work, composites were produced with polystyrene (PS) matrix, reinforced with inorganic fibers (glass), vegetal fibers (kapok), particulate inorganic (CaCO3), and vegetal (wood) fillers. The composites were mixed by a twin‐screw co‐rotating extruder and after processed in an injection‐molding machine. Statistical analyses of density, tensile and flexural strength abrasion resistance were made, along with analyzes of thermal deflection temperature, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed on the composites. The main results indicate that all reinforcing agents (vegetal and inorganic fibers and fillers) show a regular trend of increasing the mechanical properties proven by statistical comparison, presenting p < 0.01 that proves a significant increase. By dynamic mechanical analysis, vegetable reinforcements showed a higher coefficient of effectiveness when compared to composites produced with inorganic reinforcements.

Strengthening non-engineered building using vegetal FRCM retrofitting: A numerical modeling approach for seismic assessment

The concept of developing alternative rehabilitation techniques to enhance the performance of structures with low seismic resistance has come to light in recent years. Substantial research and methods have been devoted to evolving strengthening techniques worldwide for structures with economic value, with the ultimate goal of enhancing seismic resilience in them. Among these, Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) stands out as a reliable alternative to conventional retrofitting approaches due to its high strength-to-density ratio and negligible mass increment. However, the inadequacy of full-scale modeling and the application of FRCM in building components persist in the research domain. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a numerical model for the full-scale application of vegetal FRCM composites in retrofitting a representative non-engineered building. The full-scale application of the four vegetal FRCM materials (hemp, cotton, flax, and sisal) in 1-ply and 2-ply configurations was undertaken to strengthen a non-engineered building. The results of pushover analysis show that buildings retrofitted with 2-ply hemp and 2-ply flax FRCM exhibited the most significant improvement in base shear strength, with increments of about 30% and 28.5% respectively, compared to the peak base shear of the bare frame. Additionally, the retrofitted models demonstrated an increase in their ductility. A subsequent fragility analysis highlighted a reduction in the seismic hazard vulnerability of the building for the relevant earthquake spectrums. Finally, the results from the numerical analysis confirm that the use of vegetal fibers as cementitious matrix can have significant potential to be an effective and sustainable strengthening technique for seismically deficient buildings.

Influence of the addition of sisal fibers on the physical and mechanical properties of mortars

The construction industry has sought to use sustainable materials that have less impact on the environment. The use of vegetable fibers, mainly those from sisal, in cementitious composites has stood out among the others due to the great availability of this material, its tensile strength, and the social and economic issues involved in its production. This research aimed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of sisal fiber mortars and propose the application of this material in the manufacture of cisterns located in rural regions, close to the production sites of the sisal fibers themselves. Regarding compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity, mixtures containing sisal fibers showed a reduction in these properties when compared to mortars without fibers. However, there was a gain in the damping ratio of mortars with fibers, showing the influence of the fiber on the internal structure of the composite, distributing tensions, absorbing energy, and delaying the rupture of the material.

APPLICATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR THE USE OF FIBERS VIA MACHINE LEARNING ASSISTED DATA MINING - part II

The use of vegetable fibers in place of synthetic fibers has been valued due to the wide applicability of these materials in the automotive, textile, packaging and construction industries This is due to the fact that they have properties such as: biodegradation, less abrasive, low density and excellent thermal, mechanical and acoustic properties. Thus, this document discusses the use of plant fibers as additives in polymeric matrices from a prospective analysis, via data mining, specific on the use of nanoparticles as additives in plant fibers and their characterizations and applications in the last 10 years (2011 to 2021) based on 3,000 articles made available in the SCOPUS and SCIENCE DIRECT databases. For this, an artificial intelligence algorithm, based on machine learning, implemented in the Vosviewer software was used. With it, it was observed the advance of the use of fibers of synthetic and vegetable origin, in recent years, focused on the field of health.

Use of Vegetable Fibers as a Substitute for Animal Fats in the Manufacture of Burgers and the Study of its Qualitative Characteristics

There is a relationship between the quantity and quality of fat consumed and common diseases such as heart disease, atherosclerosis and obesity. Therefore, the consumer’s interest in foods that contain a low percentage of fat, especially meat products, has increased. Therefore, the study aimed to know the effect of molecular substitution of some vegetable sources, namely oat flour and chia flour, instead of beef fat. To manufacture a low-fat, low-calorie burger and to compare the factory burger with the commercial burger available in the market. The beef burger had been manufactured from 80 % veal annotation and 20 % beef fat, which is the control burger. The fat was replaced with oat flour by 50 % and chia flour by 50 % for the beef burger. The study also included identifying the characteristics of the beef burger in terms of chemical composition, physical characteristics, and sensory characteristics. They were stored by freezing at a temperature of (-18 ± 2 C) during the storage period for 60 days, and their characteristics were monitored during the storage period by (1, 30, and 60) days. The results also showed a clear and remarkable improvement for all the technological characteristics under study. Therefore, the study recommends the use of oatmeal and chia flour as a substitute for beef fat in the manufacture of burgers.

Vegetable Cellulose Fibers in Natural Rubber Composites.

In the last decade, natural fibers have had a significant impact on the research and development of innovative composites made with natural rubber, improving their properties over those of their counterparts that incorporate polluting synthetic fibers. In recent years, this fact has stimulated the research into several modified natural rubber composites reinforced with vegetable fibers. This paper reviews the scientific literature published in the last decade about the properties and characteristics of natural vegetable fibers and natural rubber used in composites. Nowadays the use of alternative materials has become necessary, considering that synthetic materials have caused irreversible damage to the environment, being associated with global warming, for this reason research and development with materials that print a lower carbon footprint during the manufacturing process and subsequent product manufacturing. This review is an invitation to the use of vegetable fibers, as well as vegetable-type matrices, in this case natural rubber as a binder system, it is fantastic to know the different works carried out by other scientists and engineers, in this way to project new compounds linked to innovation in processes that reduce the carbon footprint and its negative impact on our planet.

Impact of the loading of date palm fibers on the performances of mortars

The development of eco-friendly composites as insulating materials in buildings offers practical solutions to reduce energy consumption, which is why scientists have started in recent decades to search for more sustainable and eco-friendly materials. It is well known that building materials are among the most commonly used materials and have an obvious negative impact on the environment. Therefore, this article presents a study on the use of a new bio-composite material, composed of natural fibers of date palm, cement, and sand. The objective of this study is to assess the thermal insulation properties, as well as the water absorption and mechanical performance of this material for the construction of buildings. The percentage by weight of date palm fiber in the test samples varied from 0% to 30% for a mixture of two fiber sizes equal to 3 mm and 7 mm. The characteristics of these samples were determined experimentally in terms of compressive strength, as well as thermal conductivity. The results show that the introduction of date palm fibers in mortars causes a decrease in compressive strength and thermal conductivity. This study affirmed that the use of vegetable fibers in cementitious composites has a positive effect on the properties of insulations and on the costs.

Suitability of Surface-Treated Flax and Hemp Fibers for Concrete Reinforcement

The use of vegetable fibres as a sustainable alternative to non-natural sources of fibres applied for concrete reinforcement has been studied for over three decades. The main issues about plant-based fibres pointed out by other authors are the variability in their properties and concerns about potential high biodegradability in the alkaline pH of the concrete matrix. Aiming to minimise the variability of flax and hemp fibres, this research compares a range of chemical surface treatments, analysing their effects on the behaviour of the fibres and the effects of their addition to concrete. Corroborating what has been found by other authors, the treatment using NaOH 10% for 24 h was able to enhance the properties of hemp fibre-reinforced concrete and reduce the degradability in alkaline solution. For flax fibres, a novel alternative stood out: treatment using 1% of stearic acid in ethanol for 4 h. Treatment using this solution increased the tensile by 101%, causing a minor effect on the elastic modulus. Concrete mixes reinforced with the treated flax fibres presented reduced thermal conductivity and elastic modulus and increased residual tensile strength and fracture energy.

Патофизиологическая ассоциация функционального запора и метаболических нарушений. Перспективы фармакокоррекции нарушений пищеварительной системы растительными волокнами на примереиспользования плодов Сливы домашней (Prunus domestica)

Актуальность. Поиск прокинетиков привлекает внимание врачей-исследователей в течение нескольких веков, поскольку нарушения моторики лежат в основе патогенеза многих заболеваний, таких как гастроэзофагальная рефлюксная болезнь, гепатиты, язва желудка, синдром раздраженного кишечника, рак и др. Цель исследования: углубленное изучение корреляционных механизмов запора и других патологий пищеварительной системы, а также пути реализации фармакокорекции указанных нарушений при использовании растительных волокон на примере плодов Сливы домашней. Материалы и методы. Авторами были использованы следующие методы исследования информационно-аналитический, библиосемантичний, системного подхода, структурно-логического анализа и сравнительного контент-анализа. Результаты. Представлен анализ касательно больных функциональным запором, сформулирована актуальность проблемы нарушений моторно-эвакуаторной функции кишечника и необходимость поиска новых фитообъектов для фармакокоррекции указанной патологии. Согласно анализу литературных источников было описано важное направление научных разработок, направленных на изучение патофизиологической ассоциации хронического запора и метаболических нарушений. Приведенные этиологические факторы возникновения функциональных запоров на фоне поражения печеночной паренхимы и тканей поджелудочной железы. Представлены некоторые возможные механизмы корреляции нарушений ЖКТ, печени, поджелудочной железы и кожи. Проведенный анализ фармацевтического рынка Украины о наличии лекарственных средств на основе сливы показал ограниченный выбор комбинированных препаратов и отсутствие монокомпонентных средств со слабительним действием, которые содержат исследуемое растительное сырье. Приведены факты из литературных источников по экспериментальным исследованиям Сливы домашней у пациентов с хроническим запором, а также результаты исследований на моделях поражения печени. Представлены литературные данные фитохимической характеристики плодов Сливы домашней и взаимосвязь некоторых биологически активных соединений с фармакологическими свойствами. На основании проведенного анализа литературных источников установлено, что Слива домашняя широко распространена и адаптирована к условиям произростания на территории Украины и свидетельствует о достаточной сырьевой базе, а также возможностью использования плодов в медицинской и фармацевтической практике. Выводы. Согласно с данными эпидемиологических исследований и анализа литературных источников установлена достаточно четкая корреляция между хронической функциональной обстипацией и рядом метаболических патологий, среди которых наиболее частыми являются поражения печени и поджелудочной железы. Представлены некоторые возможные механизмы корреляции нарушений со стороны ЖКТ и печени. Приведены факты из литературных источников по экспериментальным исследованиям Сливы домашней у пациентов с хроническим запором и поражением печени. Представлены литературные данные о перспективах использования указанного сырья в разработке новых слабительных лекарственных средств с гепатозащитными свойствами.

Natural-Fibrous Lime-Based Mortar for the Rapid Retrofitting of Heritage Masonry Buildings

The present work aims to define the mechanical behavior of a new composite material for the preservation and enhancement of the vast historical and architectural heritage particularly vulnerable to environmental and seismic actions. The new composite represents a novelty in the landscape of the fibrous mortars and consists of natural hydraulic lime (NHL)-based mortar, strengthened by Sisal short fibers randomly oriented in the mortar matrix. The developed mortar ensures the chemical-physical compatibility with the original features of the historical masonry structures (especially in stone and clay) aiming to pursue the effectiveness and durability of the intervention. The use of vegetal fibers (i.e., the Sisal one) is an exciting challenge for the construction industry considering that they require a lower level of industrialization for their processing, and therefore, their costs are considerably lower, as compared to the most common synthetic/metal fibers. Samples of Sisal-composite are tested in three-point bending, aiming to estimate both their bending stress and fracture energy. Tensile and compressive tests were also performed on the composite samples, while water retention and slump test were performed on the fresh mix. At last, the tensile tests on the Sisal strand were performed to evaluate the tensile stress of both strand and wire. An original mechanical interpretation is proposed to explain two interesting phenomena that arose from the analysis of experimental data. The comparison among the performances of unreinforced and reinforced mortar suggests that the use of short fibers is recommendable as coating in the retrofitting interventions alternatively to the long uni or bi-directional fiber strands adopted in the classic fibrous reinforcement (i.e., FRCM). The proposed composite also ensures mix-independent great workability, excellent ductility, and strength, and it can be considered a promising alternative to the classic fiber-reinforcing systems. As final remarks, the use of fiber F1 (length of 24 mm) with respect to fiber F2 (length of 13 mm) is more recommendable in the retrofitting interventions of historical buildings, ensuring higher strength and/or ductility for the composite.

Mechanical properties and sustainability aspects of coconut fiber modified concrete

Coir fiber has been examined for their suitability as reinforcement of concrete. Mechanical properties and sustainability aspects of concrete composites were estimated after 7. 14, and 28 days of curing. Natural reinforcement of 0.46 and 0.62% by weight of coir fiber was added. Fibers were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM). Besides, an Eco-audit tool has been used to estimate energy and carbon emission of material, manufacturing, transportation, and disposal phases. It was found that fibers additions lowered the compressive strength compared to plain concrete. However, failures of the composites exhibited good post-cracking behavior. The use of vegetable fibers affects positively the life cycle of the material. Eco-audit results indicate that there is a potential to reduce between 9.15% and 13.35% of embodied energy and between 9.61% and 13.94% of CO2 during the material production phase. These suggest that coir fibers could be useful from the environmental view, although more studies regarding their durability are needed.

THE STUDY OF ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKED SAUSAGES WITH THE USE OF DIFFERENT DIETARY FIBER

Vegetable fibers from fruits and cereals are increasingly used in the food industry. Dietary fiber has the characteristic of insoluble fiber components that are technologically and nutritionally effective.
 This paper reflects the use of vegetable fibers in raw smoked sausages, describes possible changes in the properties of the product and assesses the feasibility of using fibers. It was found that wheat
 fiber in comparison with oat fiber, peach fiber, Apple fiber, orange fiber, carrot fiber, tiger nut fiber – allows you to produce fiber-rich products that taste, smell and texture do not differ from standard products, and also helps to increase the
 moisture-binding capacity, reduce losses and increase the yield of the finished product. The product is characterized by a more dense and elastic consistency.

Cyclic hygrothermal ageing of flax fibers’ bundles and unidirectional flax/epoxy composite. Are bio-based reinforced composites so sensitive?

The use of vegetal fibers to reinforce polymeric matrix composites is challenging and goes with questions of durability issues, especially when exposed to damp conditions. The aim of this study is to quantify, up to 1 year, the impact of humidification/drying cycles, i.e. 3.5 days at 90% HR and 3.5 days at 40% HR, both at 55 °C, on the longitudinal mechanical properties of a unidirectional flax/epoxy composite. Then, by a multi-scale analysis, the objective is to identify the causes of mechanical properties evolutions. According to the results of this study, a cyclic hygrothermal ageing induces irreversible degradations of fibers (matrix-embedded or not) and interfaces within the composite. Indeed fiber/fiber and fiber/matrix debondings have been observed by morphological analyses and a loss of fibers hydrophilic components has been highlighted by chemical and microstructural characterizations. A plasticization of flax fibers has also been shown during this kind of ageing. All these modifications induce a drop of composite’s moduli after the first cycles of exposure and a decrease of ultimate tensile stress and strain after long time exposure. But these mechanical properties evolutions are much lower than the values found in the literature. Decreases of about -10% for the modulus and about -14% for the ultimate tensile stress have been recorded after 1 year of exposure and 52 cycles of ageing. Thus, this study highlighted that a well manufactured flax/epoxy composite is resistant to a cyclic hygrothermal ageing. These results are therefore promising for the development of this type of bio-based materials on a larger scale.

Impact of content and length of curauá fibers on mechanical behavior of extruded cementitious composites: Analysis of variance

The use of composite materials in construction has grown considerably in recent years, such as cementitious matrices and concrete reinforced with fibers. The vegetable fibers have become an alternative due to its abundance, low cost and low energy consumption for its production, and appropriate properties mechanical. Curauá fiber is a plant native from Amazonas harvested manually in commercial farming and it is used in the manufacture of ropes and baskets or as reinforcement in composite with organic matrix of components for cars, buses and trucks. On the other hand, the extrusion process can produce composites with high-density matrix with fibers, low permeability and good interface between fiber and matrix. This process is also compatible with the use of vegetable fibers as raw materials in the production of cost-effective construction elements such as ceiling panels and drywalls. The objective of this research was use the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for evaluating with rigor mathematical the influence of content and length of curauá fibers on the mechanical behavior of the extruded cementitious composites. Composites without fibers and reinforced with 1% and 2% by mass of fibers as well as 6 mm and 10 mm of length these curauá fibers were evaluated. The composites with fibers of 10 mm have showed better mechanical results. Besides, the composites with fibers curauá after 200 accelerated aging cycles were better than one non-aging.

Effect of Temperature and Sisal Fiber Content on the Properties of Plaster of Paris

Recent developments in the production of ecologically friendly building composites have led to a renewed interest in the use of vegetable fibers as a reinforcement element. Traditional pure Plaster of Paris (POP) can suffer from the development of micro-cracks due to thermal expansion. Therefore, sisal fiber was studied for its potential as an ecological element to restrict and delay the development of micro-cracks in POP. Different sisal proportions of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt. % of POP were used to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of POP at the ambient temperature. Then, the effects of temperatures of 25, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500  were investigated. Results proved that the composite of 10% sisal fiber had the best mechanical properties. Also, when the fiber content was increased, the composite’s performance was enhanced, becoming better able to resist elevated temperatures. However, raising the temperature to 300 or above had a negative effect on the mechanical properties, which were significantly decreased due to the degradation of the sisal fiber.Â

Effect of vegetable and synthetic fibers on mechanical performance and durability of Metakaolin-based mortars

The use of vegetable fibers has regained interest in different fields. In fact, fibers may represent an alternative to traditional fibers incorporated in building materials, such as polypropylene fibers. Sustainable development requires the adoption of ecofriendly and natural materials. In this approach, using vegetable fibers as reinforcement for cementitious materials represents an interesting option for concrete industry. Thus, this article studies mechanical performances and transfer properties of cementitious mortars reinforced with vegetable fibers. The used fibers were Dis (DS), Alfa (AF), Date palm (DP) and Hemp (HE). They were subjected to prior treatment with calcium hydroxide. The results show that reinforced mortars with vegetable fibers represent a better deformation capacity than the control mortar without fibers; the best bending strength was recorded for hemp and date palm mortars; the addition of vegetable fibers leads to thermal conductivity decrease by 15% for a content of 0.1%. However, greater carbonation depths were recorded for vegetable fibers based mixes. These findings, for us, are promising for the use of vegetable fibers in cementitious materials.

Vegetable Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Fundamentals, Mechanical Properties and Applications

This chapter provides information in the area of vegetable fiber-reinforced polymer composites. It includes discussion about definition and classification of the composites and their constituents, composite manufacturing process and current application in different industrial sectors. Factors affecting the fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion and physic-chemical and mechanical properties of vegetable fiber-reinforced polymer composites are also revealed. The aim is to show for both academy and industry the viability on the use of vegetable fibers as reinforcement in polymer materials, because it offers many advantages and high potential in terms of unlimited availability, lightweight, reasonable cost, acceptable mechanical properties, and socio-economic and environmental benefits.

Use of Vegetable Fibers for PRB to Remove Heavy Metals from Contaminated Aquifers-Comparisons among Cabuya Fibers, Broom Fibers and ZVI.

The Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) is the material most commonly used for permeable reactive barriers (PRB). For technical and economic reasons, hoter reactive substances usable in alternative to ZVI are investigated. The present study takes into account a vegetable fibers, the cabuya, investigating its capacity to retain heavy metals. The capacity of the cabuya fibers to adsorb heavy metals was verified in laboratory, by batch and column tests. The batch tests were carried out with cabuya and ZVI, using copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The results obtained by the cabuya fibers showed a very high adsorption capacity of heavy metals and resulted very similar to those obtained for the broom fibers in a previous study. The high value of the absorption capacity of the cabuya fibers was also confirmed by the analogous comparison made with the results of the batch tests carried out with ZVI. Column tests, using copper, zinc and cadmium, allowed to determine for the cabuya fibers the maximum removal percentage of the heavy metals considered, the corresponding times and the time ranges of the release phase. For each metal considered, for a given length and three different times, the constant of degradation of cabuya fibers was determined, obtaining values very close to those reported for broom fibers. The scalar behavior of heavy metal removal percentage was verified. An electron microscope analysis allowed to compare, by SEM images, the characteristics of the cabuya and broom fibers. Finally, to investigate the chemical structure of cabuya and broom fibers, the FTIR technique was used, obtaining their respective infrared spectra.

Use of Vegetable Fibers as Reinforcement in the Structure of Compressed Ground Bricks: Influence of Sawdust on the Rheological Properties of Compressed Clay Brick

The present study aims at understanding the rheological behavior of Compressed Ground Bricks (CGB). It thus uses as raw materials the clay and the sawdust which are an industrial waste with the multiple consequences on the environment. The composites elaborate clay-sawdust of wood are bricks intended to be used like fill material of the walls. Their mechanical properties were studied in order to place at the disposal of the users, of competitive materials; but a particular stress was laid on their behavior at the rupture. Thus, the study shows that the CGB containing clay only have flexural strength and compressive strength respectively of 1.3 MPa and 2.6 MPA. When one adds the sawdust to it, these resistances grow to reach optimal values, before decreasing. For the flexural strength, optimal resistance is of 1.4 MPa, for a content of sawdust of 20%. For the compressive strength, the optimum is reached to sawdust 15% with a resistance of 4.4 MPa. The study of the relations stress-strain shows that the curve of the CGB without sawdust has only one pace rectilinear before the rupture (elastic range); these bricks thus have a fragile behavior. The addition of the sawdust to clay confers on the CGB a quasi ductile behavior characterized by curves which present initially a rectilinear part (elastic range), followed by a curvilinear part (plastic range). One can also note that the addition of the sawdust cause a drop in the dry density of bricks.

Characterization of vegetable fiber and its use in chicken burger formulation.

Vegetable fibers have been used lately as ingredients in popular meat products in order to increase its nutritional value. The objective of this study was the physical-chemical characterization of six vegetable fibers in order to apply them in chicken burger formulations as animal fat substitutes. The studied fibers showed moisture content below 14%, low content of fat, protein and ash, and high levels of carbohydrates. The oat, wheat and bamboo fibers showed the highest content of total dietary fiber. All fibers presented good results of technological characterization, but bamboo, pea and wheat fibers showed the best hygroscopic property results, good emulsifying stability, and color compatible for application in meat products. The use of vegetable fibers in chicken burgers resulted in lower or equal hardness values when the experiments were compared to the control sample. Most samples showed elasticity, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and chewiness values significantly equal to the control sample. The sensory analysis results indicated that all samples had good acceptability. The use of vegetable fibers in chicken burgers proved to be a promising alternative for food manufacturers to combine products deemed unhealthy with functional ingredients that are more appealing for consumers.