Coir Fibres （CF） and Pineapple Leaf Fibres （PALF） are valuable natural fibres which are abundantly available in Malaysia as agricultural wastes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alkali （6%）...Coir Fibres （CF） and Pineapple Leaf Fibres （PALF） are valuable natural fibres which are abundantly available in Malaysia as agricultural wastes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alkali （6%）, silane （2%）, and calcium hydroxide （6%） on tensile, morphological, thermal, and structural properties of CF and PALF to improve their interfacial bonding with Polylactic Acid （PLA） matrix. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to observe the effectiveness of the chemical treat- ments in the removal of impurities. Alkali treated fibres yield the lowest fibre diameter and the highest Interfacial Stress Strength （IFSS）. Thermogravimetric Analysis （TGA） shows improved thermal stability in silane treated CF and alkali treated PALF. It is assumed that fibre treatments can help to develop biodegradable CF and PALF reinforced PLA biocomposites for industrial applications.展开更多
This paper is a review of the past researcher of feasibility of the usage of natural fibre composites in various civil engineering applications and also the advantages and limitations of natural fibres reinforced comp...This paper is a review of the past researcher of feasibility of the usage of natural fibre composites in various civil engineering applications and also the advantages and limitations of natural fibres reinforced composites. As the world is gathering attention towards the renewable resources for environmental purposes, studies of natural fibre have been increasing further due to the application of natural fibre throughout various industries such as aerospace, automobiles and construction sectors. This paper is started with brief information regarding the natural fibre composite materials, the natural fibre composite for structural and infrastructure applications, its advantages and also its limitations. With their unique and wide range of variability, natural fibre composites could emerge as a new alternative engineering material that can substitute the use of synthetic fibre composites.展开更多
In this study, the residual strength of sisal textile reinforced vinyl ester resin is studied using specimens with a central hole. Two kinds of chemicals, silane and permanganate, are used to treat sisal fibre surface...In this study, the residual strength of sisal textile reinforced vinyl ester resin is studied using specimens with a central hole. Two kinds of chemicals, silane and permanganate, are used to treat sisal fibre surfaces. The effects of fibre surface treatments on the residual strength of sisal fibre reinforced composites with different central hole sizes are analysed. Optical microscopy （OM） surveys provide sound evidence for the relationship between residual strength properties and fracture morphologies of sisal textile reinforced vinyl ester. Several theoretical models used to predict the residual strength of laminated composites are briefly reviewed. Point stress criterion （PSC） and average stress criterion （ASC） models are used to analyze the mechanical properties of sisal textile reinforced polymers with a central hole in this research. Material constant, characteristic length （d0 or lc）, is obtained and used to analyze the mechanical behavior of the composites. The residual strength of the composites predicted by PSC and ASC models is in good agreement with the experimental results..展开更多
Mechanical properties of ukam, banana, sisal, coconut, hemp and e-glass fibre reinforced laminates were evaluated to assess the possibility of using it as new material in engineering applications. Samples were fabrica...Mechanical properties of ukam, banana, sisal, coconut, hemp and e-glass fibre reinforced laminates were evaluated to assess the possibility of using it as new material in engineering applications. Samples were fabricated by the hand lay-up process (30:70 fibre and matrix ratio by weight) and the properties evaluated using the INSTRON material testing system. The mechanical properties were tested and showed that glass laminate has the maximum tensile strength of 63 MPa, bending strength of 0.5 MPa, compressive strength of 37.75 MPa and the impact strength of 17.82 J/m2. The ukam plant fibre laminate has the maximum tensile strength of 16.25 MPa and the impact strength of 9.8J/m among the natural fibres;the sisal laminate has the maximum compressive strength of 42 MPa and maximum bending strength of 0.0036 MPa among the natural fibres. Results indicated that natural fibres are of interest for low-cost engineering applications and can compete with artificial glass fibres (E-glass fibre) when a high stiffness per unit weight is desirable. Results also indicated that future research towards significant improvements in tensile and impact strength of these types of composites should focus on the optimisation of fibre strength rather than interfacial bond strength.展开更多
The use of maleic anhydride (MA) coupling agent in polypropylene (PP) matrix system is promising technique to enhance the fibre-matrix interface in composite applications. However, most of the previous studies are foc...The use of maleic anhydride (MA) coupling agent in polypropylene (PP) matrix system is promising technique to enhance the fibre-matrix interface in composite applications. However, most of the previous studies are focused on either treatment of the natural fibres or the PP matrix with this coupling agent, which are not commercially viable. In this work, a cost-effective technique “hybrid yarns” was used to manufacture commingled reinforcing flax fibres and MA-grafted PP matrix fibres. Two types of twist-less flax/PP and flax/MAPP hybrid yarns were produced containing 40% flax and 60% matrix fibres by volume. Both PP and MAPP fibres were thermally and rheologically characterised using DSC, MFI, TGA, DTA and capillary rheometer. It is found that the composites manufactured from flax/MAPP blends exhibited 15% higher strength and 25% higher modulus compared to those made of flax/PP. This was due to the improved flax/matrix interface, the higher melt flow rate and lower share viscosity behaviour of the MAPP matrix fibres compared to the standard PP fibres used.展开更多
Functionalized copper nanoparticles (FCuNPs) have been synthesized by chemical reduction method and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) performed as a stabilizer in that medium. Analysis observed that the average size of the synt...Functionalized copper nanoparticles (FCuNPs) have been synthesized by chemical reduction method and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) performed as a stabilizer in that medium. Analysis observed that the average size of the synthesized FCuNPs was 3.5 nm. The obtained FCuNPs were loaded in the oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) natural fibre. Before the loading of FCuNPs in EFB fibres, the surface of the fibres is tailored by the cationic agent CHPTAC since they have a natural tendency to exhibit negatively charged surface owing to the presence of large amount of hydroxyl groups. Thereafter, different types of composite were developed and their properties were studied. The composites were developed by using the untreated empty fruit bunch (UEFB) fibres and FCuNPs loaded EFB (NP-CAEFB) fibres with commercially available unsaturated polyester resin (UPER). The synthesized composites were characterized through FTIR, FESEM, XRD, DSC, tensile strength tests, etc. The obtained biodegradation results indicated that significant weight loss was not observed for neat PER and PER/FNP-CAEFB nanocomposite, whereas, the UEFB/VUPER composite showed ca. 21.4% weight loss at 90 days, which was considered rationally due to the preferential degradation of the fibre.展开更多
文摘Coir Fibres （CF） and Pineapple Leaf Fibres （PALF） are valuable natural fibres which are abundantly available in Malaysia as agricultural wastes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alkali （6%）, silane （2%）, and calcium hydroxide （6%） on tensile, morphological, thermal, and structural properties of CF and PALF to improve their interfacial bonding with Polylactic Acid （PLA） matrix. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to observe the effectiveness of the chemical treat- ments in the removal of impurities. Alkali treated fibres yield the lowest fibre diameter and the highest Interfacial Stress Strength （IFSS）. Thermogravimetric Analysis （TGA） shows improved thermal stability in silane treated CF and alkali treated PALF. It is assumed that fibre treatments can help to develop biodegradable CF and PALF reinforced PLA biocomposites for industrial applications.
文摘This paper is a review of the past researcher of feasibility of the usage of natural fibre composites in various civil engineering applications and also the advantages and limitations of natural fibres reinforced composites. As the world is gathering attention towards the renewable resources for environmental purposes, studies of natural fibre have been increasing further due to the application of natural fibre throughout various industries such as aerospace, automobiles and construction sectors. This paper is started with brief information regarding the natural fibre composite materials, the natural fibre composite for structural and infrastructure applications, its advantages and also its limitations. With their unique and wide range of variability, natural fibre composites could emerge as a new alternative engineering material that can substitute the use of synthetic fibre composites.
基金Project supported by Australian Government Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship (OPRS) and International Postgraduate Awards (IPA) by the University of Sydney the foundation of Technology Development in Science of Tongji University.
文摘In this study, the residual strength of sisal textile reinforced vinyl ester resin is studied using specimens with a central hole. Two kinds of chemicals, silane and permanganate, are used to treat sisal fibre surfaces. The effects of fibre surface treatments on the residual strength of sisal fibre reinforced composites with different central hole sizes are analysed. Optical microscopy （OM） surveys provide sound evidence for the relationship between residual strength properties and fracture morphologies of sisal textile reinforced vinyl ester. Several theoretical models used to predict the residual strength of laminated composites are briefly reviewed. Point stress criterion （PSC） and average stress criterion （ASC） models are used to analyze the mechanical properties of sisal textile reinforced polymers with a central hole in this research. Material constant, characteristic length （d0 or lc）, is obtained and used to analyze the mechanical behavior of the composites. The residual strength of the composites predicted by PSC and ASC models is in good agreement with the experimental results..
文摘Mechanical properties of ukam, banana, sisal, coconut, hemp and e-glass fibre reinforced laminates were evaluated to assess the possibility of using it as new material in engineering applications. Samples were fabricated by the hand lay-up process (30:70 fibre and matrix ratio by weight) and the properties evaluated using the INSTRON material testing system. The mechanical properties were tested and showed that glass laminate has the maximum tensile strength of 63 MPa, bending strength of 0.5 MPa, compressive strength of 37.75 MPa and the impact strength of 17.82 J/m2. The ukam plant fibre laminate has the maximum tensile strength of 16.25 MPa and the impact strength of 9.8J/m among the natural fibres;the sisal laminate has the maximum compressive strength of 42 MPa and maximum bending strength of 0.0036 MPa among the natural fibres. Results indicated that natural fibres are of interest for low-cost engineering applications and can compete with artificial glass fibres (E-glass fibre) when a high stiffness per unit weight is desirable. Results also indicated that future research towards significant improvements in tensile and impact strength of these types of composites should focus on the optimisation of fibre strength rather than interfacial bond strength.
文摘The use of maleic anhydride (MA) coupling agent in polypropylene (PP) matrix system is promising technique to enhance the fibre-matrix interface in composite applications. However, most of the previous studies are focused on either treatment of the natural fibres or the PP matrix with this coupling agent, which are not commercially viable. In this work, a cost-effective technique “hybrid yarns” was used to manufacture commingled reinforcing flax fibres and MA-grafted PP matrix fibres. Two types of twist-less flax/PP and flax/MAPP hybrid yarns were produced containing 40% flax and 60% matrix fibres by volume. Both PP and MAPP fibres were thermally and rheologically characterised using DSC, MFI, TGA, DTA and capillary rheometer. It is found that the composites manufactured from flax/MAPP blends exhibited 15% higher strength and 25% higher modulus compared to those made of flax/PP. This was due to the improved flax/matrix interface, the higher melt flow rate and lower share viscosity behaviour of the MAPP matrix fibres compared to the standard PP fibres used.
文摘Functionalized copper nanoparticles (FCuNPs) have been synthesized by chemical reduction method and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) performed as a stabilizer in that medium. Analysis observed that the average size of the synthesized FCuNPs was 3.5 nm. The obtained FCuNPs were loaded in the oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) natural fibre. Before the loading of FCuNPs in EFB fibres, the surface of the fibres is tailored by the cationic agent CHPTAC since they have a natural tendency to exhibit negatively charged surface owing to the presence of large amount of hydroxyl groups. Thereafter, different types of composite were developed and their properties were studied. The composites were developed by using the untreated empty fruit bunch (UEFB) fibres and FCuNPs loaded EFB (NP-CAEFB) fibres with commercially available unsaturated polyester resin (UPER). The synthesized composites were characterized through FTIR, FESEM, XRD, DSC, tensile strength tests, etc. The obtained biodegradation results indicated that significant weight loss was not observed for neat PER and PER/FNP-CAEFB nanocomposite, whereas, the UEFB/VUPER composite showed ca. 21.4% weight loss at 90 days, which was considered rationally due to the preferential degradation of the fibre.
