scholarly journals Lignocellulosic Composites Prepared Utilizing Aqueous Alkaline/Urea Solutions with Cold Temperatures

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Brent Tisserat ◽  
Zengshe Liu ◽  
Luke M. Haverhals

Lignocellulosic composites (LCs) were fabricated by partially dissolving cotton to create a matrix that was reinforced with osage orange wood (OOW) particles and/or blue agave fibers (AF). LCs were composed of 15–35% cotton matrix and 65–85% OWW/AF reinforcement. The matrix was produced by soaking cotton wool in a cold aqueous alkaline/urea solvent and was stirred for 15 minutes at 350 rpm to create a viscous gel. The gel was then reinforced with lignocellulosic components, mixed, and then pressed into a panel mold. LC panels were soaked in water to remove the aqueous solvent and then oven dried to obtain the final LC product. Several factors involved in the preparation of these LCs were examined including reaction temperatures (−5 to −15°C), matrix concentration (15–35% cotton), aqueous solvent volume (45–105 ml/panel), and the effectiveness of employing various aqueous solvent formulations. The mechanical properties of LCs were determined and reported. Conversion of the cotton into a suitable viscous gel was critical in order to obtain LCs that exhibited high mechanical properties. LCs with the highest mechanical properties were obtained when the cotton wools were subjected to a 4.6% LiOH/15% urea solvent at −12.5°C using an aqueous solvent volume of 60 ml/panel. Cotton wool subjected to excessive cold alkaline solvents volumes resulted in irreversible cellulose breakdown and a resultant LC that exhibited poor mechanical properties.

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-259
Author(s):  
Baifen Liu ◽  
Mohammad Mirjalili ◽  
Peiman Valipour ◽  
Sajad Porzal ◽  
shirin Nourbakhsh

This research deals with the mechanical properties, microstructure, and interrelations of triple nanocomposite based on PET/EPDM/Nanoclay. These properties were examined in different percentages of PET/EPDM blend with compatibilizer (Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene)-G-(Maleic anhydrate) (SEBS-g-MAH). Results showed that the addition of 15% SEBS-g-MAH improved the toughness and impact strength of this nanocomposite. SEM micrographs indicated the most stable fuzzy microstructure in a 50/50 mixture of scattered phases of EPDM/SEBS-g-MAH. The effects of percentages of 1, 3, 5, 7 nanoclay Cloisite 30B (C30B) on the improvement of the properties were evaluated. With the addition of nano clay, the toughness and impact strength was reduced. Thermal destruction of nanoclay in processing temperature led to the decreasing dispersion of clay plates in the matrix and a reduction in the distances of nano clay plates in the composite compared to pure nano clay. XRD and TEM analysis was used to demonstrate the results. By adding 1% of nanoclay to the optimal sample, maximum stiffness, and Impact strength, among other nanocomposites, was achieved.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1124
Author(s):  
Zhifang Liang ◽  
Hongwu Wu ◽  
Ruipu Liu ◽  
Caiquan Wu

Green biodegradable plastics have come into focus as an alternative to restricted plastic products. In this paper, continuous long sisal fiber (SF)/polylactic acid (PLA) premixes were prepared by an extrusion-rolling blending process, and then unidirectional continuous long sisal fiber-reinforced PLA composites (LSFCs) were prepared by compression molding to explore the effect of long fiber on the mechanical properties of sisal fiber-reinforced composites. As a comparison, random short sisal fiber-reinforced PLA composites (SSFCs) were prepared by open milling and molding. The experimental results show that continuous long sisal fiber/PLA premixes could be successfully obtained from this pre-blending process. It was found that the presence of long sisal fibers could greatly improve the tensile strength of LSFC material along the fiber extension direction and slightly increase its tensile elongation. Continuous long fibers in LSFCs could greatly participate in supporting the load applied to the composite material. However, when comparing the mechanical properties of the two composite materials, the poor compatibility between the fiber and the matrix made fiber’s reinforcement effect not well reflected in SSFCs. Similarly, the flexural performance and impact performance of LSFCs had been improved considerably versus SSFCs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunwu Yu ◽  
Wenhao Pan ◽  
Xiaoman Guo ◽  
Lili Gao ◽  
Yaxin Gu ◽  
...  

Poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PES)–titanium dioxide (TiO2) hybrid membranes were prepared via solution blending method using TiO2 nanoparticles as inorganic filler. The chemical structure and thermal stability of the matrix polymer were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The crystal structure, morphology, mechanical properties, and gas separation performance of hybrid membranes were characterized in detail. As shown in scanning electron microscopic images, TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed homogeneously in the matrix. Although the mechanical properties of hybrid membranes decreased certainly compared to the pure PES membranes, they are strong enough for gas separation in this study. All gas permeability coefficients of PES-TiO2 hybrid membranes were higher than pure PES membranes, attributed to the nanogap caused by TiO2 nanoparticles, for instance, oxygen and nitrogen permeability coefficients of Hybrid-3 (consists of PES with 4-amino-phenyl pendant group and hexafluoroisopropyl (Am-PES)-20 and TiO2 nanoparticles, 5 wt%) increased from 2.57 and 0.33 to 5.88 and 0.63, respectively. In addition, the separation factor increased at the same time attributed to the stimulative transfer effect caused by the interaction of hydroxyl groups on the TiO2 nanoparticle and polar carbon dioxide molecules.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid Agureev ◽  
Valeriy Kostikov ◽  
Zhanna Eremeeva ◽  
Svetlana Savushkina ◽  
Boris Ivanov ◽  
...  

The article presents the study of alumina nanoparticles’ (nanofibers) concentration effect on the strength properties of pure nickel. The samples were obtained by spark plasma sintering of previously mechanically activated metal powders. The dependence of the grain size and the relative density of compacts on the number of nanofibers was investigated. It was found that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, the average size of the matrix particles decreased. The effects of the nanoparticle concentration (0.01–0.1 wt.%) on the elastic modulus and tensile strength were determined for materials at 25 °C, 400 °C, and 750 °C. It was shown that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, a 10–40% increase in the elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength occurred. A comparison of the mechanical properties of nickel in a wide range of temperatures, obtained in this work with materials made by various technologies, is carried out. A description of nanofibers’ mechanisms of influence on the structure and mechanical properties of nickel is given. The possible impact of impurity phases on the properties of nickel is estimated. The tendency of changes in the mechanical properties of nickel, depending on the concentration of nanofibers, is shown.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingmei Xie ◽  
Hiroki Kurita ◽  
Ryugo Ishigami ◽  
Fumio Narita

Epoxy resins are a widely used common polymer due to their excellent mechanical properties. On the other hand, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is one of the new generation of fibers, and recent test results show that CNF reinforced polymers have high mechanical properties. It has also been reported that an extremely low CNF addition increases the mechanical properties of the matrix resin. In this study, we prepared extremely-low CNF (~1 wt.%) reinforced epoxy resin matrix (epoxy-CNF) composites, and tried to understand the strengthening mechanism of the epoxy-CNF composite through the three-point flexural test, finite element analysis (FEA), and discussion based on organic chemistry. The flexural modulus and strength were significantly increased by the extremely low CNF addition (less than 0.2 wt.%), although the theories for short-fiber-reinforced composites cannot explain the strengthening mechanism of the epoxy-CNF composite. Hence, we propose the possibility that CNF behaves as an auxiliary agent to enhance the structure of the epoxy molecule, and not as a reinforcing fiber in the epoxy resin matrix.


2017 ◽  
Vol 09 (01) ◽  
pp. 1750014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingguo Li ◽  
Bingbing An ◽  
Dongsheng Zhang

Interfacial behavior in the microstructure and the plastic deformation in the protein matrix influence the overall mechanical properties of biological hard tissues. A cohesive finite element model has been developed to investigate the inelastic mechanical properties of bone-like biocomposites consisting of hard mineral crystals embedded in soft biopolymer matrix. In this study, the complex interaction between plastic dissipation in the matrix and bonding properties of the interface between minerals and matrix is revealed, and the effect of such interaction on the toughening of bone-like biocomposites is identified. For the case of strong and intermediate interfaces, the toughness of biocomposites is controlled by the post yield behavior of biopolymer; the matrix with low strain hardening can undergo significant plastic deformation, thereby promoting enhanced fracture toughness of biocomposites. For the case of weak interfaces, the toughness of biocomposites is governed by the bonding property of the interface, and the post-yield behavior of biopolymer shows negligible effect on the toughness. The findings of this study help to direct the path for designing bioinspired materials with superior mechanical properties.


2015 ◽  
Vol 802 ◽  
pp. 225-230
Author(s):  
Farah Noor Abdul Aziz ◽  
Sani Mohammed Bida ◽  
Noor Azline Mohd Nasir ◽  
Nor Azizi Safiee ◽  
Mohd Saleh Jaafar

Addition or replacement of waste tyre in mortars and concretes in lightweight aggregate concrete composites are popular in concrete material research although the mechanical properties of the composite are reduced. Various research studies have been conducted in an effort to improve the mechanical properties of concretes and mortars containing waste tyre particles using chemicals and additives which lead to increase cost. This approach presents an economical and sustainable method, through adding oil palm fruit fibre (OPFF) at 0.5, 1%, and 1.5% by mass of cement content into the matrix and pre-treating the tyre crumb aggregate (0-40%) by volume with cement, in order to improve the properties of the composite. Mechanical properties including compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength were measured on the mortar specimens. Results showed the addition of 0.5% OPFF in 10% treated tyre crumb mortar gives the best improvement in the mechanical strengths of mortar modified with treated tyre crumb.


2005 ◽  
Vol 475-479 ◽  
pp. 317-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Pei Xie ◽  
Ji Wen Li ◽  
Zhong Xia Liu ◽  
Ai Qin Wang ◽  
Yong Gang Weng ◽  
...  

The in-situ Ti alloying of aluminium alloys was fulfilled by electrolysis, and the material was made into A356 alloy and used in automobile wheels. The results show that the grains of the A356 alloy was refined and the second dendrites arm was shortened due to the in-situ Ti alloying. Trough 3-hour solution treatment and 2-hour aging treatment for the A356 alloy, the microstructures were homogeneous, and Si particles were spheroid and distribute in the matrix fully. The outstanding mechanical properties with tensile strength (σb≥300Mpa) and elongation values (δ≥10%) have been obtained because the heat treatment was optimized. Compared with the traditional materials, tensile strength and elongation were increased by 7.6~14.1% and 7.4~44.3% respectively. The qualities of the automobile wheels were improved remarkably.


2007 ◽  
Vol 330-332 ◽  
pp. 907-910
Author(s):  
Fa Ming Zhang ◽  
Jiang Chang ◽  
Jian Xi Lu ◽  
Kai Li Lin

Attempt to increase the mechanical properties of porous bioceramics, a dense/porous structured β-TCP bioceramics that mimic the characteristics of nature bone were fabricated. Experimental results show that the dense/porous structured β-TCP bioceramics demonstrated excellent mechanical properties with compressive strength up to 74 MPa and elastic modulus up to 960 MPa, which could be tailored by the dense/porous cross-sectional area ratio obeying the rule of exponential growth. The interface between the dense and porous bioceramics is connected compactly and tightly with some micropores distributed in the matrix of both porous and dense counterparts. The dense/porous structure of β-TCP bioceramics may provide an effective way to increase the mechanical properties of porous bioceramics for bone regeneration at weight bearing sites.


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