scholarly journals Coir Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Eco-friendly Byproducts

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
SMG Moktadir ◽  
MU Talukder ◽  
AKO Huq ◽  
MA Gafur ◽  
AMS Chowdhury

Coir fiber (CF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were fabricated using an extruder machine. The fiber contents were varied 5 to 20% and physico-mechanical properties as well as bio-degradability were also tested. Ultimate tensile strength and flexural strength decreases with the increases of percentages of fiber addition. Lowest percentage elongation is observed at 20% CF+PP composite which are rigid in nature. Leeb rebound hardness also decreases with the increase of percentage of raw fiber addition. The bio-degradation of different percentage of CF and PP composites in soil and saline water increased with increase of coir fiber content. Thus, it showed that higher percentage of coir fiber was produced more biodegradable and eco-friendly byproducts. However, higher percentages of coir fiber decrease the mechanical properties. A moderate percentage of coir fiber i.e. 15% CF +PP showed the good mechanical properties as well as considerable amount of bio-degradability in soil and saline water.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 10(1): 61-64 2017

2014 ◽  
Vol 1611 ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadira Mathura ◽  
Duncan Cree ◽  
Ryan P. Mulligan

ABSTRACTIn many tropical countries coconut (coir) fiber production is a major source of income for rural communities. The Caribbean has an abundance of coconuts but research into utilizing its by-products is limited. Environmentally friendly coir fibers are natural polymers generally discarded as waste material in this region. Research has shown that coir fiber from other parts of the world has successfully been recycled. This paper therefore investigates the mechanical properties of Caribbean coir fiber for potential applications in civil engineering.Approximately four hundred fibers were randomly taken from a coir fiber stack and subjected to retting in both distilled and saline water media. The mechanical properties of both the retted and unretted coir fibers were evaluated at weekly increments for a period of 3 months. Tensile strength test, x-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron micrographs were used to assess trends and relationships between fiber gauge lengths, diameter, tensile strength and Young’s modulus. Diameters ranged between 0.11 mm-0.46 mm, while fiber samples were no longer than 250 mm in length. The tensile strength and strain at break decreased as the gauge length increased for both unretted and retted fibers. The opposite occurred for the relationship between the gauge length and Young’s modulus. Additionally, the tensile strength and modulus decreased as the fiber diameter increased. Neither distilled nor saline water improved the coir fiber’s crystalline index. Scanning electron micrographs qualitatively assessed fiber surfaces and captured necking and microfibril degradation at the fractured ends.The analysis revealed that the tensile strength, modulus, strain at break and crystallinity properties of the Caribbean coir fibers were comparable to commercially available coir fiber which are currently being used in many building applications.


Author(s):  
G Gaurav ◽  
Q Murtaza ◽  
N Yuvraj ◽  
D Mandal ◽  
KL Sahoo ◽  
...  

Magnesium alloys are increasingly accepted in automobile industry owing to their greater strength-to-weight ratio. These qualities lead to less vehicle weight and better fuel economy. Therefore, in the present work an effort has been made to develop a new Mg alloy system that exhibits greater ductility together with greater mechanical strength. Misch metal is added in Mg-based alloys to investigate the changes in mechanical properties. The microstructure of alloys Mg–4Al–3Zn–3Sn–3Pb (H1) and Mg–4Al–3Zn–3Sn–3Pb–0.5MM (H2) are dendritic in nature while for Mg–3Zn–3Sn–3Pb–2Si (H3) the “Chinese script” Mg2Si intermetallic structure was obtained. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of Mg–4Al–3Zn–3Sn–3Pb–0.5MM (H2) alloy are about 40% and 100 % higher than that of H3 alloy. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and percentage elongation of H2 alloy are 170 MPa, 44 MPa, and 3.4%, respectively.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 67-70
Author(s):  
A. Malar Retna

The chain extended polyurethane was synthesized by reacting castor oil based polyol with 4,4’-methylenebis(cyclohexyl) isocyanate and chain extender such as malonic acid. The composites have been fabricated by incorporating the coir fiber into the neat polyurethane. The polyurethane and its composites were characterized with respect to their mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, percentage elongation and Young’s modulus. The morphology of neat polyurethane and its composites with coir fiber was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). These studies revealed the high performance character of the polyurethane composites with respect to the corresponding neat polyurethane.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Joseph Temitope Stephen ◽  
Adeyinka Adebayo ◽  
Gbenga Joshua Adeyemi

This paper reports the influence of solidification rate and stress-relief annealing on the mechanical properties of cast 6063 Aluminium alloy (Al6063). Ingots of Al6063 were melted and then cast using sand and metal moulds. Some of the cast samples were heat treated and then cooled in natural air. Tensile test, hardness test, impact test and microstructural analysis were carried out on the samples. The results show substantial changes in the mechanical properties of the specimens. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness percentage elongation of cast Al6063 increases with the use of casting method with high thermal conductivity and reduces when annealing is carried out on the specimens. The ultimate tensile strength of 146.7 MPa and 163.5 MPa were recorded for sand mould and metal mould samples, respectively and the values decreases by 10.3% and 7.5% for the respective moulds. In contrast, the values of impact strength and percentage elongation of cast Al6063 rod improved with the increase in thermal conductivity of casting method and annealing operation. The ductile increased by 51.01% and 45.82% for sand mould and metal mould samples, respectively, after they were annealed. Furthermore, microstructural analysis of cast Al6063 rod revealed a fine-grained structure with increase in thermal conductivity of casting method used; however, the annealing process encouraged grain growth as a result of the stress being relieved from the samples.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 831-836
Author(s):  
M. Vykunta Rao ◽  
Srinivasa Rao P. ◽  
B. Surendra Babu

Purpose Vibratory weld conditioning parameters have a great influence on the improvement of mechanical properties of weld connections. The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of vibratory weld conditioning on the mechanical and microstructural characterization of aluminum 5052 alloy weldments. An attempt is made to understand the effect of the vibratory tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process parameters on the hardness, ultimate tensile strength and microstructure of Al 5052-H32 alloy weldments. Design/methodology/approach Aluminum 5052 H32 specimens are welded at different combinations of vibromotor voltage inputs and time of vibrations. Voltage input is varied from 50 to 230 V at an interval of 10 V. At each voltage input to the vibromotor, there are three levels of time of vibration, i.e. 80, 90 and 100 s. The vibratory TIG-welded specimens are tested for their mechanical and microstructural properties. Findings The results indicate that the mechanical properties of aluminum alloy weld connections improved by increasing voltage input up to 160 V. Also, it has been observed that by increasing vibromotor voltage input beyond 160 V, mechanical properties were reduced significantly. It is also found that vibration time has less influence on the mechanical properties of weld connections. Improvement in hardness and ultimate tensile strength of vibratory welded joints is 16 and 14%, respectively, when compared without vibration, i.e. normal weld conditions. Average grain size is measured as per ASTM E 112–96. Average grain size is in the case of 0, 120, 160 and 230 is 20.709, 17.99, 16.57 and 20.8086 µm, respectively. Originality/value Novel vibratory TIG welded joints are prepared. Mechanical and micro-structural properties are tested.


Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Hongxin Liao ◽  
Taekyung Lee ◽  
Jiangfeng Song ◽  
Jonghyun Kim ◽  
Fusheng Pan

The microstructures and mechanical properties of the Mg88.5Zn5Y6.5-XREX (RE = Yb and Ce, X = 0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5) (wt.%) alloys were investigated in the present study. Mg88.5Zn5Y6.5 is composed of three phases, namely, α-Mg, long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases, and intermetallic compounds. The content of the LPSO phases decreased with the addition of Ce and Yb, and no LPSO phases were detected in Mg88.5Zn5Y2.0Yb4.5. The alloys containing the LPSO phases possessed a stratified microstructure and exhibited excellent mechanical properties. Mg88.5Zn5Y5.0Ce1.5 exhibited the highest creep resistance and mechanical strength at both room temperature and 200 °C, owing to its suitable microstructure and high thermal stability. The yield strength of Mg88.5Zn5Y5.0Ce1.5 at room temperature was 358 MPa. The ultimate tensile strength of Mg88.5Zn5Y5.0Ce1.5 at room temperature and 200 °C was 453 MPa and 360 MPa, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 263498332110074
Author(s):  
Henry C Obasi ◽  
Uchechi C Mark ◽  
Udochukwu Mark

Conventional inorganic fillers are widely used as fillers for polymer-based composites. Though, their processing difficulties and cost have demanded the quest for credible alternatives of organic origin like coconut shell fillers. Dried shells of coconut were burnt, ground, and sifted to sizes of 63, 150, 300, and 425 µm. The ground coconut shell particles (CSP) were used as a filler to prepare polypropylene (PP) composites at filler contents of 0% to 40% via injection melt blending process to produce PP composite sheets. The effect of the filler particle size on the mechanical properties was investigated. The decrease in the size of filler (CSP) was found to improve the yield strength, tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness of PP by 8.5 MPa, 15.75 MPa, 1.72 GPa, 7.5 MPa, 100 MPa, and 10.5 HR for 63 µm at 40%, respectively. However, the elongation at break and modulus of resilience of the PP composites were seen to increase with increase in the filler size. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that fillers with 63 µm particle size had the best distribution and interaction with the PP matrix resulting in enhanced properties.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Ateekh Ur Rehman ◽  
Nagumothu Kishore Babu ◽  
Mahesh Kumar Talari ◽  
Yusuf Siraj Usmani ◽  
Hisham Al-Khalefah

In the present study, a friction welding process was adopted to join dissimilar alloys of Ti-Al-4V to Nitinol. The effect of friction welding on the evolution of welded macro and microstructures and their hardnesses and tensile properties were studied and discussed in detail. The macrostructure of Ti-6Al-4V and Nitinol dissimilar joints revealed flash formation on the Ti-6Al-4V side due to a reduction in flow stress at high temperatures during friction welding. The optical microstructures revealed fine grains near the Ti-6Al-4V interface due to dynamic recrystallization and strain hardening effects. In contrast, the area nearer to the nitinol interface did not show any grain refinement. This study reveals that the formation of an intermetallic compound (Ti2Ni) at the weld interface resulted in poor ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation values. All tensile specimens failed at the weld interface due to the formation of intermetallic compounds.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Petar Janjatovic ◽  
Olivera Eric Cekic ◽  
Leposava Sidjanin ◽  
Sebastian Balos ◽  
Miroslav Dramicanin ◽  
...  

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) is an advanced cast iron material that has a broad field of application and, among others, it is used in contact and for conveyance of fluids. However, it is noticed that in contact with some fluids, especially water, ADI material becomes brittle. The most significant decrease is established for the elongation. However, the influence of water and the cause of this phenomenon is still not fully understood. For that reason, in this paper, the influence of different water concentrations in ethyl alcohol on the mechanical properties of ADI materials was studied. The test was performed on two different types of ADI materials in 0.2, 4, 10, and 100 vol.% water concentration environments, and in dry condition. It was found that even the smallest concentration of water (0.2 vol.%) causes formation of the embrittled zone at fracture surface. However, not all mechanical properties were affected equally and not all water concentrations have been critical. The highest deterioration was established in the elongation, followed by the ultimate tensile strength, while the proof strength was affected least.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingrong Zhang ◽  
Lingkun Zhang ◽  
Zhiming Wang ◽  
Anjiang Gao

In order to obtain high-strength and high-ductility Al–Si–Cu–Mg alloys, the present research is focused on optimizing the composition of soluble phases, the structure and morphology of insoluble phases, and artificial ageing processes. The results show that the best matches, 0.4 wt% Mg and 1.2 wt% Cu in the Al–9Si alloy, avoided the toxic effect of the blocky Al2Cu on the mechanical properties of the alloy. The addition of 0.6 wt% Zn modified the morphology of eutectic Si from coarse particles to fine fibrous particles and the texture of Fe-rich phases from acicular β-Fe to blocky π-Fe in the Al–9Si–1.2Cu–0.4Mg-based alloy. With the optimization of the heat treatment parameters, the spherical eutectic Si and the fully fused β-Fe dramatically improved the ultimate tensile strength and elongation to fracture. Compared with the Al–9Si–1.2Cu–0.4Mg-based alloy, the 0.6 wt% Zn modified alloy not only increased the ultimate tensile strength and elongation to fracture of peak ageing but also reduced the time of peak ageing. The following improved combination of higher tensile strength and higher elongation was achieved for 0.6 wt% Zn modified alloy by double-stage ageing: 100 °C × 3 h + 180 °C × 7 h, with mechanical properties of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of ~371 MPa, yield strength (YS) of ~291 MPa, and elongation to fracture (E%) of ~5.6%.


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