Fatigue Behavior of Natural Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites in Dry and Wet Environments

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Fotouh ◽  
John Wolodko
Keyword(s):  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Fatigue Behavior ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Thermoplastic Composite ◽  
Synthetic Fiber ◽  
Thermoplastic Composites ◽  
Natural Fiber Composites ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Volume Fractions

Over the past decade, there has been an increased demand for products manufactured using sustainable materials. Natural fiber composites are seen as an excellent replacement for synthetic fiber composites due to their low density, good mechanical properties (stiffness), good thermal/acoustic insulation properties and environmental benefits (waste stream utilization and low carbon footprint). While there has been a considerable number of studies examining the short-term behavior of natural fiber composites, very limited work has been done to characterize their long-term durability under cyclic loading. In this study, the fatigue behavior of a natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material was investigated. Cyclic fatigue experiments were conducted on hemp fiber reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) at various fiber volume fractions, and under both dry and wet ambient conditions. Using a stress level concept, a generalized model was developed to predict the fatigue life of the various composite formulations tested. The concept of pseudo-plastic flow was incorporated in the fatigue model to form a new model, which is capable of simulating fatigue behavior at different frequencies, fatigue stress ratios and volume fractions.

Applications of Bio-Composites in Industrial Products

2001 ◽  
Vol 702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prabhu Kandachar ◽  
Rik Brouwer
Keyword(s):  
Biodegradable Polymers ◽  
Moisture Absorption ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Natural Fibers ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Synthetic Fiber ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Natural Fiber Composites ◽  
Synthetic Fibers

ABSTRACTAvailable as agricultural resources in many countries, natural fibers, such as flax, hemp, kenaf, exhibit mechanical properties comparable to those of synthetic fibers like glass. But they are lighter, biodegradable, and are often claimed to be less expensive. Composites with these natural fibers have the potential to be attractive alternative to synthetic fiber composites. The natural fibers, however, exhibit more scatter in their properties, are thermally less stable and are sensitive to moisture absorption. The choice of matrix to reinforce with these fibers therefore becomes critical.Currently, synthetic non-biodegradable polymers, such as polypropylene, polyester, etc., are being explored as matrix materials, for applications in sectors like automobiles and buildings. Biodegradable polymers, if made available in sufficient quantities at affordable prices, pave way for bio-composites in future. With both matrix and fibers being biodegradable, bio-composites become attractive candidates from the environment point of view.Extensive and reliable property data on natural fiber composites and/or on bio-composites, are still lacking, making product design with these materials rather tedious. Once the database is available, design & manufacture of products with natural fiber composites and biocomposites offer several opportunities and challenges.

scholarly journals Development and Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Caryota and Sisal Natural Fibers Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 864
Author(s):  
Ayyappa Atmakuri ◽  
Arvydas Palevicius ◽  
Lalitnarayan Kolli ◽  
Andrius Vilkauskas ◽  
Giedrius Janusas
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Epoxy Resin ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Hybrid Composites ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Single Fiber ◽  
Synthetic Fiber ◽  
Sisal Fiber ◽  
Fiber Reinforced

In recent years, natural fiber reinforced polymer composites have gained much attention over synthetic fiber composites because of their many advantages such as low-cost, light in weight, non-toxic, non-abrasive, and bio-degradable properties. Many researchers have found interest in using epoxy resin for composite fabrication over other thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers due to its dimensional stability and mechanical properties. In this research work, the mechanical and moisture properties of Caryota and sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy resin hybrid composites were investigated. The main objective of these studies is to develop hybrid composites and exploit their importance over single fiber composites. The Caryota and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites were fabricated by using the hand lay-up technique. A total of five different samples (40C/0S, 25C/15S, 20C/20S, 15C/25S, 0C/40S) were developed based on the rule of hybridization. The samples were allowed for testing to evaluate their mechanical, moisture properties and the morphology was studied by using the scanning electron microscope analysis. It was observed that hybrid composites have shown improved mechanical properties over the single fiber (Individual fiber) composites. The moisture studies stated that all the composites were responded to the water absorption but single fiber composites absorbed more moisture than hybrid composites.

Tensile Strength of Banana – Bamboo – Glass Fiber Reinforced Natural Fiber Composites

2014 ◽  
Vol 592-594 ◽  
pp. 1195-1199
Author(s):  
Ashwin Sailesh ◽  
C. Shanjeevi ◽  
J.Jeswin Arputhabalan
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Fiber Orientation ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Fiber Composite ◽  
Natural Fibers ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Natural Fiber Composites ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced

The developments in the field of composite materials are growing tremendously day by day. One such development is the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in the composite material. This is attributed to the fact that natural fibers are environmental friendly, economical, easily available and non-abrasive. Mixing of natural fiber with Glass Fibers is finding increased applications. In this present investigation Banana – Bamboo – Glass fiber reinforced natural fiber composites is fabricated by Hand – Layup technique with varying fiber orientation such as [0°G, 90°BM, 0°BN, 0°G], [0°G, 0°BM, +45°BN, 0°G] and [0°G, 0°BM, 90°BN, 0°G] and are tested for its tensile strength. The tensile strength of the fabricated composites is evaluated. The results indicated that the natural fiber composite with the fiber orientation of [0°G, 0°BM, 90°BN, 0°G] can withstand more load when compared to the samples with other fiber orientation. Nomenclature Used: BN – Banana fiber BM – Bamboo fiber G – Glass fiber

scholarly journals Direct Comparison of the Structural Compression Characteristics of Natural and Synthetic Fiber-Epoxy Composites: Flax, Jute, Hemp, Glass and Carbon Fibers

Fibers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Mike R. Bambach
Keyword(s):  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Fiber Composite ◽  
Natural Fibers ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Epoxy Composites ◽  
Synthetic Fiber ◽  
Natural Fiber Composites ◽  
Composite Channels ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

Recent decades have seen substantial interest in the use of natural fibers in continuous fiber reinforced composites, such as flax, jute and hemp. Considering potential applications, it is of particular interest how natural fiber composites compare to synthetic fiber composites, such as glass and carbon, and if natural fibers can replace synthetic fibers in existing applications. Many studies have made direct comparisons between natural and synthetic fiber composites via material coupon testing; however, few studies have made such direct comparisons of full structural members. This study presents compression tests of geometrically identical structural channel sections fabricated from fiber-epoxy composites of flax, jute, hemp, glass and carbon. Glass fiber composites demonstrated superior tension material coupon properties to natural fiber composites. However, for the same fiber mass, structural compression properties of natural fiber composite channels were generally equivalent to, or in some cases superior to, glass fiber composite channels. This indicates there is substantial potential for natural fibers to replace glass fibers in structural compression members. Carbon fiber composites were far superior to all other composites, indicating little potential for replacement with natural fibers.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation of the Temperature Effect on the Mechanical Properties of Hemp Woven Fabrics Reinforced Polymer

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-256
Author(s):  
Sheedev Antony ◽  
Abel Cherouat ◽  
Guillaume Montay
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Compression Molding ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Woven Fabrics ◽  
Thermoplastic Composite ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Natural Fiber Composites ◽  
Thermal Compression

Natural fiber composites are widely used in a several industrial applications due to their outstanding biodegradability and recyclability. Thermal compression molding is a rapid and easy method to fabricate composite sheets. To better understand the manufacturing process and evaluate the mechanical properties of hemp woven fabrics reinforced thermoplastic composite at elevated temperatures, a detailed investigation is required. In this study, composite sheets were initially fabricated using hemp fiber fabrics (taffeta and serge 2×1) and polypropylene sheets by the thermal compression molding process. Mechanical tests (uniaxial, shear, and biaxial) were carried out at temperatures ranging from 20 to 160 ∘C in order to estimate the mechanical properties of composite sheets. Non-linear behavior was observed during the loading due to the unbalanced weaving pattern of hemp fabric. The biaxial behavior of the composite was estimated using a theoretical method for fabric strength prediction taking into account the interaction effect between the yarns. The experimental results demonstrate that, at high temperature, the polymer softens and the fiber reinforcements dismantle which resulting in a decrease in the mechanical properties of the composite. Two analytical models (Ha & Springer and thermal expansion coefficient) were also proposed to estimate the thermo-mechanical properties of natural fiber composites subjected to various temperatures.

scholarly journals Are Natural-Based Composites Sustainable?

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2326
Author(s):  
Luis Suárez ◽  
Jessica Castellano ◽  
Sara Díaz ◽  
Abbas Tcharkhtchi ◽  
Zaida Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Glass Fibers ◽  
Fiber Composites ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Natural Fiber Composites ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Composite Production ◽  
Main Components

This paper assesses the aspects related to sustainability of polymer composites, focusing on the two main components of a composite, the matrix and the reinforcement/filler. Most studies analyzed deals with the assessment of the composite performance, but not much attention has been paid to the life cycle assessment (LCA), biodegradation or recyclability of these materials, even in those papers containing the terms “sustainable” (or its derivate words), “green” or “eco”. Many papers claim about the sustainable or renewable character of natural fiber composites, although, again, analysis about recyclability, biodegradation or carbon footprint determination of these materials have not been studied in detail. More studies focusing on the assessment of these composites are needed in order to clarify their potential environmental benefits when compared to other types of composites, which include compounds not obtained from biological resources. LCA methodology has only been applied to some case studies, finding enhanced environmental behavior for natural fiber composites when compared to synthetic ones, also showing the potential benefits of using recycled carbon or glass fibers. Biodegradable composites are considered of lesser interest to recyclable ones, as they allow for a higher profitability of the resources. Finally, it is interesting to highlight the enormous potential of waste as raw material for composite production, both for the matrix and the filler/reinforcement; these have two main benefits: no resources are used for their growth (in the case of biological materials), and fewer residues need to be disposed.

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