Water Absorption in Composites Reinforced with Caroá Fiber Fabrics: Modeling and Simulation via ANSYS CFX®

2014 ◽  
Vol 353 ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Silva ◽  
T.H.F. de Andrade ◽  
E.G. Silva ◽  
Antônio Gilson Barbosa de Lima

Studies in polymer composites reinforced with vegetable fiber show that they are enough sensitive to influences from environmental agents such as water and temperature. The moisture causes degradation of the mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced composites to a large extent when compared to synthetic fiber reinforced composites. This is a consequence of the higher moisture absorption, and the hydrofilic nature of the natural fiber. In this sense, the purpose of this work is to study theoretically the water absorption in unsaturated polyester composites reinforced with caroá natural fiber (Neoglazioviavariegata) at the temperature 50°C. The composite had a weight composition of 30% caroá and 70% unsaturated polyester resin and dimensions of 20× 20× 3 mm3. Results of the average moisture content and moisture content distribution during the absorption process are presented and analyzed. Comparison between numerical and experimental data of the average moisture content presented good agreement. We conclude that the water absorption rate is faster in the vertex region of the composites.

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 2153-2183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azam Ali ◽  
Khubab Shaker ◽  
Yasir Nawab ◽  
Madeha Jabbar ◽  
Tanveer Hussain ◽  
...  

There is a growing interest in the development of natural fiber-reinforced composites, most likely due to their wide availability, low cost, environment friendliness, and sustainability. The market size for natural fiber-reinforced composites is projected to reach $5.83 billion by 2019, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.3%. The composite materials reinforced with wood, cotton, jute, flax or other natural fibers fall under this category. Meanwhile, some major factors limiting the large scale production of natural fiber composites include the tendency of natural fiber to absorb water, degradation by microorganisms and sunlight and ultimately low strength and service life. This paper has focused to review the different natural fiber treatments used to reduce the moisture absorption and fiber degradation. The effect of these treatments on the mechanical properties of these composites has also been summarized.


2005 ◽  
Vol 297-300 ◽  
pp. 213-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Bae Jeon ◽  
Do Won Seo ◽  
Jae Kyoo Lim

Using natural fibers that are inexpensive, lightweight and biodegradable, as the reinforcement for composites is difficult due to their poor interfacial properties between hydrophilic fiber and hydrophobic polymer matrices. It is necessary to evaluate fracture toughness of natural fiber reinforced composites according to water absorption rates to improve mechanical performance of those. In this study, compact tension fracture test was conducted to evaluate fracture toughness with the various specimens. The value of fracture toughness has the tendency to decrease as water absorption rate increases. And different surface treatment methods and different polymer matrices have influence on the value of fracture toughness.


Nowadays, Natural Fiber Reinforced composites (NFCs) are emerging to be a good substitute for synthetic fiber reinforced composites as NFCs have many advantages such as low density, high specific strength, recyclability, low cost and good sound abatement quality etc. Among all types of NFCs, a vast study has been done on banana fiber and kenaf fiber reinforced composite. However, only limited work has been done on the banana fabric, kenaf fiber reinforced composite and the effect of their hybridization on mechanical properties. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the mechanical properties of the banana fabric, kenaf fiber and hybrid banana fabric/kenaf fiber reinforced composites. Effect of alkali treatment on kenaf fiber reinforced composite is discussed in the paper. For the present work, plain-woven banana fabric and randomly oriented kenaf fiber are used as reinforcement while the epoxy resin is used as a matrix. samples are fabricated using hand lay-up and vacuum bagging method. Curing is done at ambient temperature (250C-300C) for 48h. Tensile, impact and hardness test has been performed on a specimen according to ASTM standards. Improvement in mechanical properties is observed after alkali (6% NaOH) treatment on kenaf fiber reinforced composite. Tensile testing behavior of randomly oriented kenaf fiber composite has been studied using Finite element method and results are compared with experimental investigations. This topic present big potential because it seeks to find solution for sustainable development with environmental concerns.


2015 ◽  
Vol 766-767 ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Rajmohan ◽  
K. Mohan ◽  
K. Palanikumar

Natural Fiber Reinforced Composite (NFRC) are used by replacing Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Composites (SFRC) because of its poor reusability, recycling, bio degradability. Even though NFRC are lack in thermal stability, strength degradation, water absorption and poor impact properties. The hybridization and nanoparticles mixed in different polymers are used to improve mechanical and wear properties of the polymer composites. In the present investigation Multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) dispersed in Epoxy resin using ultrasonic bath sonicator are used as matrix face for hybrid banana-Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics composite materials which is manufactured by compression molding processes. As per ASTM standards tensile, compression tests are carried out by using Universal Testing Machine. Microstructure of samples are investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) with Energy dispersive X-ray (EDS). SEM shows the homogeneous distribution of the fiber in the modified polymer matrix. The results indicated that the increase in weight % of MWCNT improves the mechanical properties of MWCNT filled hybrid natural fiber composites.


2008 ◽  
Vol 33-37 ◽  
pp. 553-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Yan Ping Hu ◽  
Chun Jing Hu ◽  
Ye Hong Yu

Natural fibers are excellent substitute materials for man made fibers in making fiber reinforced composites due to their high specific strength and modulus, low density, low price, easy availability in some countries, recyclable and degradable properties. They have raised great attentions among material scientists and engineers in the past decade. Many researches have been conducted to study the mechanical properties, especially interfacial properties of natural fiber reinforced composites. However, the properties, such as mechanical performances, moisture absorption behaviors, et. al of natural fibers themselves have been seldom investigated. Knowing the relationship between microstructures and properties of natural fibers are important for understanding the bulk properties of natural fiber composites and also good instructions for designing bio-mimic materials. In this study, four kinds of natural fibers which were extracted from different plant sources were investigated. The microstructures of these natural fibers were revealed with the aid of optical microscopy. Microstructure models were thereof set up and mechanical properties for the representative volume element were assumed. Fiber bundle fracture models together with probability statistics analysis were employed to calculate the mechanical properties of natural fibers. The results were compared with the experimental measurements. Different mechanical behaviors of natural fibers which were functioned differently in the nature were clearly explained by the above studies


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