scholarly journals Effect of Natural Fiber (NF) Mix on Mechanical Strength of NF Plastic Composites (NFPC)

Natural fibers from plants are gaining importance and may substitute wood in the production of wood plastic composites (WPC). To ensure continuity of fiber supply and sustainability of WPC industries, fibers of various types could be mixed together to obtain Mix WPC. However, research need to be carried out to identify the contribution of different fiber type collectively to the mechanical properties of Mix natural fiber polymer composite (NFPC). In this study, preliminary work on the use of natural fibre (NF) such as kenaf, sugar palm and pineapple leaf fibers in the preparation of Mix NFPC were carried out. Four different fiber mix samples with different fiber ratio and size were formulated using polypropylene (PP) as the polymer matrix. Montmorrilonite (MMT) filler was added at constant amount for enhancement of composite mechanical properties. Samples were mixed and prepared using a twin screw extruder and mini injection moulding resepectively. Individual fibers and NFPC prepared were characterized using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Tensile, flexural and impact strength of the composites were determined. Generally, it was found that addition of fiber mix at 50% fiber loading enhance the tensile and flexural strength of the various NFPC with minimal exceptions. The impact strength of the composites were comparable to that of blank PP implying that addition of fiber gives additional advantage besides being eco-friendly. It was also found that higher kenaf loading and different size of fiber mix contribute positively to the various strengths measured. In addition to that, composition of individual fibers also contribute to the mechanical properties of the NFPCs

Author(s):  
Mohammed Khazal ◽  
Salman H. Abbas ◽  
Younis M. Younis ◽  
Thabit Jamel

This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer material using type of natural fiber. Bamboo fiber considered the strongest between the natural fibers group, it have low density, high mechanical strength in addition to its availability makes it economically viable and have potential for used as engineering material. The study is concerned with evaluate some of the mechanical properties (Tensile strength, Bending strength, Impact strength) for the resultant composite reinforced with 10, 20 and 30 vol.% of bamboo fibers, as compared with received material. With the natural reinforcement, the optimum mechanical properties in comparison with the as received epoxy were achieved. The results indicated that the tensile strength increased from 13.51 MPa to 33.50 MPa (that is a percentage increase of 150 %), also the bending strength increased from 24.25 MPa to 44.5 MPa (that is a percentage increase about 83 %), as well as, the increase of the impact strength from 41 kJ/m2 to 69 kJ/m2 (that is a percentage increase about 68 %).


Author(s):  
Zahid Iqbal Khan ◽  
Zurina Binti Mohamad ◽  
Abdul Razak Bin Rahmat ◽  
Unsia Habib ◽  
Nur Amira Sahirah Binti Abdullah

This work explores a novel blend of recycled polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide 11 (rPET/PA11). The blend of rPET/PA11 was introduced to enhance the mechanical properties of rPET at various ratios. The work’s main advantage was to utilize rPET in thermoplastic form for various applications. Three different ratios, i.e. 10, 20 and 30 wt.% of PA11 blend samples, were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and injection moulding machine. The mechanical properties were examined in terms of tensile, flexural and impact strength. The tensile strength of rPET was improved more than 50%, while the increase in tensile strain was observed 42.5% with the addition of 20 wt.% of PA11. The improved properties of the blend were also confirmed by the flexural strength of the blends. The flexural strength was increased from 27.9 MPa to 48 MPa with the addition of 30 wt.% PA11. The flexural strain of rPET was found to be 1.1%. However, with the addition of 10, 20 and 30 wt.% of PA11, the flexural strain was noticed as 1.7, 2.1, and 3.9% respectively. The impact strength of rPET/PA11 at 20 wt.% PA11 was upsurged from 110.53 to 147.12 J/m. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a dispersed PA11 domain in a continuous rPET matrix morphology of the blends. This work practical implication would lead to utilization of rPET in automobile, packaging, and various industries.


2011 ◽  
Vol 366 ◽  
pp. 310-313
Author(s):  
Ming Tao Run ◽  
Meng Yao ◽  
Bing Tao Xing ◽  
Wen Zhou

The rheology, morphology and mechanical properties of the PA6/PP-g-MAH/POE blends prepared by twin-screw extruder were studied by rheometer, scanning electron microscopy, universal tester and impact tester, respectively. The results suggest that the impact strength is improved by the POE acting as a toughening agent, while the compatibility of PA6 and POE is improved by the compatibilizer of PP-g-MAH. Furthermore, the PP-g-MAH component also acts as a reinforcing agent for decreasing the strength depression induced by the POE component. When POE content is about 9 wt% and PP-g-MAH content is about 10% in blends, the blend has the maximum tensile strength and impact strength. All melts of PA6/PP-g-MAH/POE blends are pseudo-plastic fluids. Both the POE and PP-g-MAH components can increase the apparent viscosity of the melt due to their facility of the linear molecular.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Rohit Kumar ◽  
Ramratan . ◽  
Anupam Kumar ◽  
Rajinder Singh Smagh

Elephant dung is an excellent source of cellulosic fiber that is a basic requirement for paper making. But they contributed to very small percentage production of elephant dung. So, researchers are trying to find a new area of utilization of elephant dung fiber pulp as in reinforcement’s polymer composite. In this experiment element dung fiber pulp in the natural fiber component chemically treated with alkaline and soda AQ solution in this study, it has been aimed to use elephant dung fiber pulp in composite material and to study mechanical properties of the produced material. The produced composite samples were then characterized using tensile test, Izod impact test, thickness test. The fracture surface of the polymer composite sample was also inspected with the help of SEM. The content of elephant dung fiber pulp is varied (35%, 45%, 55%) weight percentage whereas the epoxy resin is varied (50%, 40%, 30%) percentage is kept constant 15% in hardener. The entire sample has been tested in a universal testing machine as per ASTM standard for tensile strength and impact strength. It is observed that composite with 35% fiber pulp is having the highest tensile strength of 4mm 6.445 Mpa and 8mm 11.80 Mpa. The impact strength of composite with 35% fiber pulp washes highest than 45% to 55% dung fiber pulp. This produces composite sheet will be used for the surfboards, sporting goods, building panel this not only reduces the cost but also save from environmental pollution.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2144
Author(s):  
Helena Oliver-Ortega ◽  
Quim Tarrés ◽  
Pere Mutjé ◽  
Marc Delgado-Aguilar ◽  
José Alberto Méndez ◽  
...  

The research toward environmentally friendly materials has devoted a great effort on composites based on natural fiber-reinforced biopolymers. These materials have shown noticeable mechanical properties, mainly tensile and flexural strengths, as a consequence of increasingly strong interfaces. Previous studies have shown a good interface between natural fibers and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) when these fibers present a low lignin content in their surface chemical composition (bleached fibers). Nonetheless, one of the main drawbacks of these materials is the hydrophilicity of the reinforcements in front of the mineral ones like glass fiber. Meanwhile, the behavior of such materials under impact is also of importance to evaluate its usefulness. This research evaluates the water uptake behavior and the impact strength of bleached Kraft softwood-reinforced PLA composites that have been reported to show noticeable tensile and flexural properties. The paper explores the differences between these bio-based materials and commodity composites like glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene.


2011 ◽  
Vol 471-472 ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Hafizuddin Ab Ghani ◽  
Ahmad Haji Sahrim

We investigated the effects of amount of antioxidants variability on selected mechanical and physical properties of wood plastic composites. Recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) and natural fibers were compounded into pellets by compounder, then the pellets were extruded using co-rotating twin-screw extruder and test specimens were prepared by hot and cold press process. From the study, samples with 0.5 wt% of antioxidants produce the highest strength and elasticity of composites. The effect of antioxidants presence on water uptake is minimal.


2014 ◽  
Vol 554 ◽  
pp. 62-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noora Tiqah Mohamad Fauzi ◽  
Zurina Mohamad

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of sepiolite concentration (2-10 phr) on the mechanical properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) / ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) blend at the ratio 80/20. Twin screw extruder and injection moulding machine were used to prepare the samples. The strength and modulus of flexural was increased until 6 phr of sepiolite content. On the other hand, the impact strength of PA6/EVA/sepiolite composite was decreased gradually as sepiolite content increased.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 365-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.M. Matuana ◽  
S. Cam ◽  
K.B. Yuhasz ◽  
Q.J. Armstrong

This study examined both the use of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) as a plastic matrix for wood-plastic composites (WPCs) and the effect of impact modification on the mechanical properties of ABS/wood-flour composites. Blends of ABS filled with wood flour (both pine and maple) were processed into profile shape using a conical twin-screw extruder and the mechanical properties of the resulting composites were characterised and compared to WPCs made with polyolefins (HDPE and PP) and rigid PVC matrices. Generally, WPCs made with ABS matrix outperformed their polyolefin counterparts in both flexural strength and modulus, whereas ABS-based composites had inferior strength but greater modulus than those made with rigid PVC. The impact strength of ABS/wood-flour composites was below that of wood plastic composites made with polyolefins. However, impact modification with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers had some effect in toughening of the ABS/wood-flour composites.


2010 ◽  
Vol 150-151 ◽  
pp. 379-385
Author(s):  
Qun Lü ◽  
Qing Feng Zhang ◽  
Hai Ke Feng ◽  
Guo Qiao Lai

The wood-plastic composites (WPC) were prepared via compress molding by using the blends of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and modified polyethylene (MAPE) as the matrix and wood flour (WF) as filler. The effect of MAPE content in the matrix on the mechanical properties of the matrix and WPC was investigated. It was shown that the change of MAPE content in the matrix had no influence on the tensile strength of the matrix, but markedly reduced the impact strength of the matrix. Additionally, it had significant influence on the strength of WPC. When the content of wood flour and the content of the matrix remained fixed, with increasing the content of MAPE in the matrix, the tensile strength and the flexural strength of WPC tended to increase rapidly initially and then become steady. Moreover, with the increasing of MAPE concentration, the impact strength of WPC decreased when the low content of wood flour (30%) was filled, but increased at high wood flour loading (70%).


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2744-2751

Natural fiber reinforced composites are gaining popularity over conventional materials due its low cost, easy accessibility, non toxicity and most important feature - the biodegradability. Since broad varieties of natural fibers are available on earth, hence their merits can be incorporated in one by means of hybridization. Matured sponge gourd, which turns into a net structured fibrous mass on sun drying, is amalgamated with coconut coir as reinforcement along with epoxy resin as matrix material in a composite. The present study was carried out to explore the impact of change in weight percentages of sponge gourd fiber and coir on the mechanical properties and moisture affinity. The alkali treated fibers were turned into composites by dint of Hand Layup technique. The various mechanical properties were evaluated according to ASTM protocol. After the successful conclusion of the experiments, it was found that composite with maximum weight percentage of coir showed superlative tensile and impact strength whereas the composite with highest sponge fibre content showed maximum flexural strength. The composite with equal sponge fiber-coir weight percentage displayed lowest affinity towards moisture.


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