Weight Of Polymer Matrix Research Articles

Synthesis and novel development of electroless Ni-P coating on bamboo fibre

This work aims to develop a natural fibre reinforced by epoxy composite with improved mechanical properties using the technique of compression moulding. The use of electroless Ni-P coating process made a new approach to natural fibre substrates. Increase the coating thickness of electroless Ni-P coating on the bamboo fibre substrate by varying fibre length. The amplitude of the coating thickness is between 1.24 and 8.52 µm for 10, 20, 30 and 60 min. This new moderation of fibre will lead to better mechanical properties by coating electroless Ni-P on bamboo fibre. In this study, a scanning electron microscope identified the surface characteristics and cross-sectional area images of redesigned coated bamboo fibres. Electroless Ni-P coated bamboo fibres reinforced on the epoxy polymer matrix. This composite material enhances the bonding of the interfacial between the electroless Ni-P coated bamboo fibre and the matrix material. The samples were made from compression moulding and subjected to mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and impact test. The sample is prepared by 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mm varying fibre length as 14% weight Ni-P coating bamboo fibre and 86% polymer matrix weight. The better tensile, flexural and impact strength of 48.9 MN/m2, 70.7 MN/m2 and 60.2 kJ/m2 were observed in coated fibre composites. The result shows that the Ni-P coated bamboo fibre plays a significant role in enhancing mechanical properties.

Ultra-light polymer-based nano-composite for structural applications

Reduced cost and mass scale production of nano-composites in the future can provide economic feasibility for realizing their applications. In this work the effect of both synthetic filler graphene (GA) and organic filler henquen fiber (HF) infused in polymer matrix to study mainly the strength aspects for intended structural applications is carried out. This work also aims at determining the effect of nano and micro level reinforcement offered by graphene and HF as individual and combination in modifying the strength aspects for intended structural application. The addition of HF in the control beams was varied from 0.5 to 1% by weight of polymer matrix keeping graphene proportion constant. Dispersion of graphene was carried out by ultrasonic energy. Modified beams were subjected to tensile test to determine the efficacy of the reinforcement. These outcomes were then compared with the plain polymer beams. This study also aims at determining the best combination between these two fillers that leads to optimized mechanical performance. In order to enhance strength of the modified beams an effort was also made to treat natural fibers with alkaline and potassium permanganate treatment as individual and combination. Among the surfactant coatings made the fibers treated with both alkaline and permanganate treatment has shown enhanced results. An increase in the ultimate strength of the composite with a value of 27.13 N/mm2 for 0.5% natural fiber by weight of epoxy resin was noted. An increase in ultimate strength by 74% for graphene filler reinforcement when compared to plane epoxy was recorded. Similarly an increase in strength by 67% was observed when optimized proportions of HF and Graphene were used as reinforcements in holding matrix when compared to plain epoxy samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy was conducted to study the dispersion of these micro and nano fillers in the holding matrix at different proportions.

Studies on the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube–reinforced polymer-based nano-composites using finite element analysis software tool

This article confirms experimental results by finite element analysis. The study includes meshing the specimen of size 40 × 12 × 6 mm3. The model is constructed in DesignModeler (ANSYS Workbench). Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are aligned in different angles to correlate the experimental results. The modelling method employed for analysis is based on weight ratio. The proportion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes is 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% by weight of polymer matrix (epoxy resin) for different specimens. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are dispersed in epoxy matrix using ultrasonic energy. Composite beams were tested under flexure in order to evaluate their mechanical property such as load–deflection criteria by three-point bending test. Finite element method results were in close agreement with the experimental outcomes with different orientation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes into the matrix considered.

Effect of macro-RAFT agent on the morphology of polymer dispersed liquid crystals

In this study, macro-(RAFT) reversible additional fragmental chain transfer agent prepared by reversible additional fragmental chain transfer polymerisation has been incorporated into polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). The effects of concentration, molecular weight and glass transition temperature of macro-RAFT agent were studied in terms of morphology, polymerisation kinetics, molecular weight of polymer matrix and electro-optical properties of the films. It was found that the key factor influencing morphology was the mobility of macro-RAFT agent chain rather than polymerisation rate and molecular weight of polymer matrix. Furthermore, the decrease in the mobility of macro-RAFT agent chain caused less liquid crystal nematic fraction, smaller liquid crystal domain size and greater driving voltage.

Controlled delivery of paracetamol and protein at different stages from core–shell biodegradable microspheres

The core–shell biodegradable microspheres loading human serum albumin (HSA) and paracetamol were fabricated with a hydrophilic alginic acid (ALG) shell and a hydrophobic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core. The two model drugs, HSA and paracetamol, were entrapped in the shell and core, respectively. Theses microspheres were characterized in terms of morphology, mean size and size distribution, drug loading efficiency, in vitro degradation and drugs release. The optical microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) photos revealed directly that the microspheres possessed core–shell structure. The degradation results showed that there were quick drop phases in weight of polymer matrix and in pH of degradation medium after 2weeks. In vitro release profiles showed that within the initial 20h, only HSA was almost released from the shell layers, whereas only another drug, paracetamol, was almost released from the cores in the following period.

A novel polymer dispersed liquid crystal film prepared by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Polymer as an important component of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) has a great influence on electro-optical properties. In this letter, the effect of molecular weight of polymer matrix on the electro-optical properties of PDLC films was investigated with reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. It was found that the saturation voltage and memory effect were apparently influenced by molecular weight of polymer which can be regulated efficiently by irradiation time, while the morphology of liquid crystal droplets kept unaltered. It was estimated that the increase of molecular weight of polymer enhanced entanglement between polymer and liquid crystal, which induced the different surface interaction and electro-optical properties.