A CASE STUDY OF BIOCOMPOSITE MATERIAL USE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL WALCZYK ◽  
RONALD BUCINELL ◽  
STEVEN FLEISHMAN ◽  
SHARMAD JOSHI
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Maximum Tensile Stress ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Flexural Stress ◽  
Fiber Volume ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Biocomposite Material

Interest in biocomposites is growing worldwide as companies that manufacture high-performance products seek out more sustainable material options. Although there is significant research on biocomposite material options and processing found in the literature from at least the last two decades, there are few experimentally based case studies published to help guide product designers and engineers when considering these materials. This paper discusses the use of biocomposites in the seat of an electric bus. Although it is clear that biocomposite material options are quite limited, the authors eventually settled on three natural reinforcements (cellulose, hemp, flax), two epoxies (one low and the other high viscosity) with high biobased carbon content, and one flax precoated with bioepoxy for consideration. Laminate plates with a 4mm nominal thickness are manufactured using VARTM (low viscosity epoxy only), hand layup as a surrogate for prepregging (high viscosity epoxy only), compression molding, and an out-of-autoclave process called the Pressure Focusing Layer (PFL) method. Permeability of the three reinforcements infused with the high viscosity epoxy and fiber volume fractions are determined experimentally to provide insight into VARTM processing and mechanical performance. The tensile modulus, maximum tensile stress, flexural modulus, and maximum flexural stress are measured for all combinations of reinforcement, resin, and processing using tension testing and three-point bending based on ASTM standards. Basic conclusions are drawn about the specific application and more generally about the process of using biocomposites in commercial products.

scholarly journals Melt-Blended Multifunctional PEEK/Expanded Graphite Composites

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mozaffar Mokhtari ◽  
Edward Archer ◽  
Noel Bloomfield ◽  
Eileen Harkin-Jones ◽  
Alistair Mcilhagger
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Expanded Graphite ◽  
Elastic Behaviour ◽  
Wear Properties ◽  
Flexural Stress ◽  
Sem Images

In this work, antistatic, high-performance composites of poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and concentrations of 0.5–7 vol% expanded graphite (EG) were fabricated via twin-screw extrusion and injection moulding at mould temperatures of 200°C. The morphological, electrical, rheological, thermal, mechanical, and wear properties of the composites were investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that distribution and dispersion of EG platelets in the PEEK matrix are enhanced at higher EG loadings. The electrical conductivity of the composites with 5 vol% of EG exhibits a sharp rise in the electrical conductivity range of antistatic materials because of the formation of conductive paths. The formation of a three-dimensional EG network led to a rapid increase in the storage modulus of the melt of the 2 vol% of EG-loaded composite at a frequency of 0.1 rad/s and temperature of 370°C. The neat PEEK and composites containing 0.5–5 vol% EG indicated a cold-crystallisation peak in the first heating scan of a non-isothermal differential scan calorimetry (DSC) test and their crystallinity degrees changed slightly. However, after removing their thermal and stress histories, the EG platelets promoted nucleation and increased the PEEK crystallinity remarkably, indicating that annealing of the PEEK composites can improve their mechanical performance. The neat PEEK exhibits the standard tensile and flexural stress-strain behaviour of thermoplastics, and the composites exhibit elastic behaviour initially followed by a weak plastic deformation before fracture. The addition of 5 vol% of EG to PEEK increased the tensile and flexural modulus from 3.84 and 3.55 GPa to 4.15 and 4.40 GPa, decreased the strength from 96.73 and 156.41 MPa to 62 and 118.19 MPa, and the elongation at break from 27.09 and 12.9% to 4 and 4.6%, respectively. The wear resistance of the composite containing 3 vol% EG was enhanced by 37% compared with the neat PEEK.

scholarly journals A Novel Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Admixture for Increasing Flowability and Reducing Viscosity of Ultra-High Performance Paste

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Wang ◽  
Hao Yao
Keyword(s):  
Steric Hindrance ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Performance Concrete ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Inorganic Hybrid ◽  
Oh Groups ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Binder Ratio ◽  
The One ◽  
Water Binder Ratio

The low flowability and high viscosity of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), which is mainly caused by the silica fume (SF) agglomeration and low water–binder ratio, is a severe defect in its engineering applications. Herein, a novel organic–inorganic hybrid (OIH) admixture was synthesized by grafting comb-like polycarboxylate ether (PCE) onto the surface of SF. On the one hand, PCE-grafting could effectively prevent SF agglomeration and improve the dispersion of SF core. The reason being the consumption of polar silicon hydroxyl (Si-OH) groups on the surface of SF and the steric hindrance effect generated from PCE arms. On the other hand, OIH admixture could adsorb onto the surface of cement and SF particles by electrostatic interaction, exhibiting stronger steric hindrance effect than traditional comb-like PCE. As a result, UHPC system with this star-like OIH admixture presented high flowability and low viscosity at low water–binder ratio (0.18).

scholarly journals Effect of MWCNT on Thermal, Mechanical, and Morphological Properties of Polybutylene Terephthalate/Polycarbonate Blends

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Rejisha ◽  
S. Soundararajan ◽  
N. Sivapatham ◽  
K. Palanivelu
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Nucleating Agent ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Multiwall Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Polybutylene Terephthalate ◽  
The Impact

This paper evaluated the effect of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the properties of PBT/PC blends. The nanocomposites were obtained by melt blending MWCNT in the weight percentages 0.15, 0.3, and 0.45 wt% with PBT/PC blends in a high performance corotating twin screw extruder. Samples were characterized by tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Concentrations of PBT and PC are optimized as 80 : 20 based on mechanical properties. A small amount of MWCNT shows better increase in the thermal and mechanical properties of the blends of PBT/PC nanocomposite when compared to nanoclays or inorganic fillers. The ultimate tensile strength of the nanocomposites increased from 54 MPa to 85 MPa with addition of MWCNT up to 0.3% and then decreased.The tensile modulus values were increased to about 60% and the flexural modulus was more than about 80%. The impact strength was also improved with 20% PC to about 60% and with 0.15% MWCNT to about 50%. The HDT also improved from 127°C to 205°C. It can be seen from XRD result that the crystallinity of PBT is less affected by incorporating MWCNT. The crystallizing temperature was increased and the MWCNT may act as a strong nucleating agent.

scholarly journals Preparation of a High-Performance Porous Ceramic Membrane by a Two-Step Coating Method and One-Step Sintering

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwen Hu ◽  
Yulong Yang ◽  
Qibing Chang ◽  
Fengli Liu ◽  
Yongqing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Ceramic Membrane ◽  
Porous Ceramic ◽  
Ceramic Membranes ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Solid Content ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Coating Method ◽  
One Step ◽  
Hole Defects

Hole defects and uneven membrane thicknesses can lead to poor performance, especially in the separation stability of ceramic membranes. This paper uses a one-step sintering method, which avoids hole defects and uneven membrane thicknesses, for the preparation of high-performance and defect-free ceramic membranes. For this purpose, two kinds of ceramic membrane slurry with high or low viscosities were prepared by alumina particles, as raw materials. Both the effects of the two coating process with a one-step coating method for low-viscosity slurry, and the two-step coating method with a high viscosity flush after a low viscosity coating, on the surface properties of a ceramic membrane, were studied in detail. The result shows that the properties of ceramic membranes can be improved by a two-step coating method, with a high viscosity flush after a low viscosity coating, A high-performance and defect-free ceramic membrane was obtained by one-step sintering at 1450 °C for 2 hr with 7 wt % solid content and a coating time of 11 s.

STABILIZATION OF TUFF MATERIAL BY ELECTROSPINNING OF LOW AREAL WEIGHT TPU VEIL MATERIAL

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH DEITZEL ◽  
DIRK HEIDER ◽  
ROGER CRANE ◽  
TEKIN OZDEMIR
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Complex Geometry ◽  
Fiber Material ◽  
Short Fiber ◽  
Continuous Fiber ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Fiber Volume ◽  
Carbon Fiber Material

The Tailored Universal Feedstock for Forming (TuFF) material is an aligned, discontinuous carbon fiber material with high fiber volume fraction up to 63% and mechanical performance equivalent to continuous fiber, unidirectional composites. The short fiber material allows at least 40% in-plane extension during processing enabling metal-like forming approaches simplifying composites manufacturing significantly. Traditionally, TuFF preforms are produced at areal weight (AW) of ~8 grams per square meter (gsm), stacked and impregnated with thermoset or thermoplastic polymer to create prepreg followed by curing/consolidation in an autoclave or stamp forming process resulting in high-performance structural parts. Here, the impregnated TuFF prepreg can be handled the same way as traditional continuous fiber prepreg. In contrast, to enable liquid composite molding (LCM) processes with TuFF material, the unimpregnated (dry) short fiber TuFF preforms must be stabilized for handling and preforming purposes. This paper details an electrospun veil approach as shown in Figure 1 to stabilize the individual TuFF sheets while maintaining the in-plane extensibility for complex geometry parts. Electrospun TPU fibers are applied onto the TuFF surface and then consolidated via a combination of heating and pressure, formingtrials were carried out using the stabilized preforms and composites werefabricated using LCM. Tensile tests show ~90-95% property retention versus theunstabilized baseline. The approach allows fabrication of stabilized TuFF fabricsfor the first time enabling the use of LCM processes for complex geometry parts.

Developing Woven Enhanced Silk Fabric for Ballistic Protection

2012 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 34-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelvin K.M. Loh ◽  
Willy C.K. Tan ◽  
Rayson H.C. Oh
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Silk Fabric ◽  
Ballistic Performance ◽  
Weave Structure ◽  
Ballistic Protection ◽  
Marine Engineering ◽  
High Performance Application ◽  
Fabric Materials

Fabric materials can be in form of woven, knitted, non-woven and braided structures or a combination of these structures can be used for protective fabric. Properties of fabrics depend on the different types of fibres that constitute the fabric and the geometry of the final structure. This project seeks the development of optimally woven enhanced silk fabric for high performance application that can be potentially beneficial to various engineering fields such as ballistic protection for military, aerospace, automotive, sports and marine engineering industries. Natural enhanced silk will be used as the yarns, rather than the traditionally used synthetically produced aramid material which poses an environmental problem. The tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation of yarns strength are the main influences on ballistic performance. In addition to the tensile properties of the yarn, fabric weave structure is crucial as propagation of stress waves is affected by the weave structure. Mechanical performance of the woven silk fabric of various designs will be subsequently accessed for their effectiveness based on tensile testing and ballistic testing.

scholarly journals Hybrid green organic/inorganic filler polypropylene composites: Morphological study and mechanical performance investigations

e-Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 710-721
Author(s):  
Mohammed T. Hayajneh ◽  
Faris M. AL-Oqla ◽  
Mu’ayyad M. Al-Shrida
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Hybrid Composites ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Inorganic Filler ◽  
Hybrid Filler ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Polypropylene Matrix ◽  
Mechanical Performances ◽  
Flexural Tests

Abstract In this study, the morphological and mechanical performances of hybrid green organic and inorganic filler composites were investigated. Various hybrid reinforcements using natural waste fillers including lemon leaves and eggshells were utilized for the study. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation to break, flexural strength, and flexural modulus were investigated for the composites with polypropylene matrix. The results revealed that eggshells composites had the best values for both tensile and flexural tests while lemon leaves composites had the lowest values. However, the hybrid filler (lemon leaves-eggshells) had intermediate values. The poor properties of lemon leaves were attributed to the agglomeration and weak bonding presented by the morphological analysis of the hybrid composites.

Influence of Alkali Treatment and Nanoclay Content on the Properties of Rice Husk Filled Polyester Composites

2017 ◽  
Vol 882 ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omid Nabinejad ◽  
Sujan Debnath ◽  
Teh J. Ying ◽  
Willey Y.H. Liew ◽  
Ian J. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Water Absorption ◽  
Rice Husk ◽  
Moisture Absorption ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Alkali Treatment ◽  
Unsaturated Polyester ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Scanning Electron Micrographs ◽  
Nanoclay Content

The effect of alkali treatment and nanoclay addition on the mechanical properties and water absorption behavior of rice husk particle (RHP) reinforced unsaturated polyester (UP) composites was investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the alkali treatment removed most of the hemicellulose and impurities from the RHP with the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus of the resulting composites being improved by alkali treatment. The results indicated that the 5% sodium hydroxide concentration had the optimum performance on mechanical strength and water absorption resistance. Furthermore, the influence of nanoclay addition (1, 3 and 5 wt%) on the properties of optimum alkali treated RHP-UP composites was investigated with the lowest content (1 wt%) of nanoclay showing the highest mechanical performance. However, further addition of nanoclay improved the moisture absorption resistance of the composites. Good interface bonding between the filler and matrix was observed from scanning electron micrographs for the optimum RHP alkali treated and nanoclay dispersed RHP-UP composites.

scholarly journals Effect of Morphological Changes due to Increasing Carbon Nanoparticles Content on the Quasi-Static Mechanical Response of Epoxy Resin

Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Yazdani Nezhad ◽  
Vijay Kumar Thakur
Keyword(s):  
Epoxy Resin ◽  
Carbon Nanoparticles ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Epoxy Polymer ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Weight Percentage ◽  
Low Viscosity

Mechanical failure in epoxy polymer and composites leads them to commonly be referred to as inherently brittle due to the presence of polymerization-induced microcrack and microvoids, which are barriers to high-performance applications, e.g., in aerospace structures. Numerous studies have been carried out on epoxy’s strengthening and toughening via nanomaterial reinforcement, e.g., using rubber nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix of new composite aircraft. However, extremely cautious process and functionalization steps must be taken in order to achieve high-quality dispersion and bonding, the development of which is not keeping pace with large structures applications. In this article, we report our studies on the mechanical performance of an epoxy polymer reinforced with graphite carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), and the possible effects arising from a straightforward, rapid stir-mixing technique. The CNPs were embedded in a low viscosity epoxy resin, with the CNP weight percentage (wt %) being varied between 1% and 5%. Simplified stirring embedment was selected in the interests of industrial process facilitation, and functionalization was avoided to reduce the number of parameters involved in the study. Embedment conditions and timing were held constant for all wt %. The CNP filled epoxy resin was then injected into an aluminum mold and cured under vacuum conditions at 80 °C for 12 h. A series of test specimens were then extracted from the mold, and tested under uniaxial quasi-static tension, compression, and nanoindentation. Elementary mechanical properties including failure strain, hardness, strength, and modulus were measured. The mechanical performance was improved by the incorporation of 1 and 2 wt % of CNP but was degraded by 5 wt % CNP, mainly attributed to the morphological change, including re-agglomeration, with the increasing CNP wt %. This change strongly correlated with the mechanical response in the presence of CNP, and was the major governing mechanism leading to both mechanical improvement and degradation.

scholarly journals TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE LOW AND HIGH VISCOSITY PEEK AGAINST STEEL USING DIFFERENTS CONTACT PRESSURES

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Rodriguez ◽  
Jacob Sukumaran ◽  
Yeczain Perez ◽  
Patrick De Baets ◽  
Matyas Ando
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Friction And Wear ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Tribological Behaviour ◽  
Wear Performance ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Enhanced Properties ◽  
Semi Solid ◽  
Contact Pressures

  In the market of polymers for tribological applications polyetheretherketone (PEEK) are often used for satisfying requests coming from industry regarding enhanced properties such as, thermal stability, friction and wear resistance. These properties promote the material to be used in so called high performance tribological applications. However, fundamental mechanisms governing friction and wear are not yet fully understood and neither is the influence of composition parameters. An important parameter is PEEK’s viscosity during manufacturing process which is heated up to semi-solid state, between its glass transition and melting temperature. This paper studies the friction and wear performance of low and high viscosity PEEK and pure PEEK under dry reciprocating sliding contact. The tests were performed in large scale specimens under flat-on-flat configuration to determine the transitions in tribological behaviour at different contact pressures. Tests were carried out at controlled atmosphere with 25 °C and a relative humidity of 50%. Contact pressures parameters were 4, 8 and 10 MPa used at a sliding speed of 20 mm/s. Post mortem analyses were carried out by means of 2-D surface topography and optical microscopy. The results show that the pure PEEK exhibits low coefficient of friction and wear rate when the contact pressure increase and similar behave for high and low viscosity PEEK.

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