Mechanical Performance and Applications of CNTs Reinforced Polymer Composites—A Review

Developments in the synthesis and scalable manufacturing of carbon nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely used in the polymer material industry over the last few decades, resulting in a series of fascinating multifunctional composites used in fields ranging from portable electronic devices, entertainment and sports to the military, aerospace, and automotive sectors. CNTs offer good thermal and electrical properties, as well as a low density and a high Young’s modulus, making them suitable nanofillers for polymer composites. As mechanical reinforcements for structural applications CNTs are unique due to their nano-dimensions and size, as well as their incredible strength. Although a large number of studies have been conducted on these novel materials, there have only been a few reviews published on their mechanical performance in polymer composites. As a result, in this review we have covered some of the key application factors as well as the mechanical properties of CNTs-reinforced polymer composites. Finally, the potential uses of CNTs hybridised with polymer composites reinforced with natural fibres such as kenaf fibre, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre, bamboo fibre, and sugar palm fibre have been highlighted.

Effect of Fibre Length and Sea Water Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Sugar Palm Fibre Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites

This study presented the effect of different fibre length and seawater treatment on mechanical properties of the fabricated composites. The composite was reinforced with fixed 30wt.% of fibre loading. Sugar palm was treated using sea water for 30 days and have been cut into three different lengths by 5cm, 10cm and 15cm. The mechanical properties of the untreated and treated fibre with different fibre length composites were characterised includes tensile test and flexural test. Treated sugar palm fibre composites with 15cm fibre length exhibited higher tensile strength at 18.33 MPa. However, it shows the lowest value for the tensile modulus at 4251.96MPa. The flexural strength shows an increasing trend as the fibre length increased up to 15cm and the maximum flexural strength was exhibited by treated sugar palm fibre with 5 cm at 80.80MPa.Effect of Fibre Length and Sea Water Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Sugar Palm Fibre Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites

Nanofibrillated Cellulose Sugar Palm Fibre Reinforced Sugar Palm Starch Nanocomposite. Part 2: Thermal, Water Barrier and Biodegradation Properties

The objective was to characterize the thermal, water barrier, and soil degradation properties of biodegradable sugar palm starch (SPS) containing sugar palm nanofibrillated cellulose (SPNFCs) in the range of 0.1-1.0 wt. %. The nanocomposites were casted using solution-casting method. The thermal stability, water resistance and degradation behavior improved with increasing SPNFCs content, due to compatible and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds existed between SPS and SPNFCs. The present work shows that SPS/SPNFCs nanocomposites with 1.0 wt. % SPNFCs content have the highest thermal stability. TGA analysis shows an increasing in residue left with increase in SPNFCs content. Soil burial tests showed biodegradation resistance of the nanocomposites. In conclusion, the addition of SPNFCs improved the thermal properties of starch polymer which widened the potential application of this eco-friendly material. The most promising applications for this eco-friendly material are short-life products such as plastic packaging, food container, etc.