Effect of chemical treatment on dynamic mechanical properties of sisal fiber-reinforced polyester composites fabricated by resin transfer molding

The dynamic mechanical properties of treated sisal fiber-reinforced polyester composites fabricated by resin transfer molding (RTM) have been studied with reference to fiber surface modifications, frequency and temperature. The sisal fibers have been subjected to various chemical and physical treatments like mercerization, heating at 100°C, permanganate, benzoylation and vinyl tris(2-ethoxymethoxy) silane to improve the interfacial bonding with isophthalic polyester resin. Results indicated that treatment changed the storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″) and damping factor (tan δ) drastically at a wide range of temperature. The E′ value increased for every treatment, and is maximum for the composites fabricated by benzoylated-treated fibers. The T _g value obtained from the E″value showed an increase as compared to untreated fiber-reinforced composites. The alkali-treated fiber-reinforced composites showed lower tan δ value. Using Arrhenius' equation the activation energy was calculated and found maximum for the composites fabricated by alkali-treated fiber, which shows good fiber/matrix interactions.     

Improvement of resin impregnation into glass cloth by silane treatment in resin transfer molding

An evaluation method was proposed for resin impregnation using resin transfer molding of unsaturated polyester matrix composites with silane-treated glass cloth. The determination of whitening of the composite was carried out as a parameter of incompleteness of resin impregnation. The change of whitening with silane concentration was compared with the bending modulus as a parameter of chemical reinforcement. The materials used were unsaturated polyester resin as a matrix and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as a silane coupling agent for glass cloth. Resin transfer molding was used to produce four plies of glass cloth laminates by impregnating the resin. The silane-treated glass cloth repressed whitening above 0.026 w/w% of silane in aqueous solution, while the chemical reinforcement due to silane gave no appearance below 0.2 w/w% based on the bending test of the laminates. The large difference between the concentrations suggested that silane has a couple of functions, that is, chemical reinforcement and physico-chemical resin wettability.     

Determination of the interfacial properties between modified soy protein resin and kenaf fiber

The kenaf fiber/soy protein resin interface was characterized. The soy protein isolate (SPI) was modified using a polycarboxylic acid, Phytagel^® (PH), to make an interpenetrating network-like (IPN-like structure) structure of the resin. The effects of different PH contents on the interfacial properties were characterized using single fiber composite (SFC) tests and optical microscopy. Kenaf fiber strength was characterized using tensile tests. Kenaf fibers were extracted from nonwoven mats. The length of each kenaf fiber was extended by gluing it to long polyethylene filaments on both sides. After drying the glue, dog-bone shaped SFC specimens were prepared using pure and modified SPI resins. The dried SFC specimens were taken out from the mold and hot-pressed (cured) at 120°C. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was calculated using the shear-lag analysis. Single fiber tensile tests at different gauge lengths were performed. The average stresses were computed by fitting the data to Weibull distribution. These values were used in the calculation of the IFSS. After the SFC tests, the specimens were observed under the optical microscope to characterize the fiber fracture modes and the region around the fiber fracture. The SFC tests showed that the IFSS is a function of the PH content which controls the resin shrinkage. It was also seen that the interfacial failure mode is also a function of the PH content. These finding were confirmed by the microbead tests in which E-glass fibers were used with the modified SPI resins.     

Interfacial reinforcement in composites with PPT aramid fiber modified by network-intercalation method

—A novel surface treatment for poly(p-phenylene telephthalamide) (PPTA) fiber is performed with silanes and urethane binder that are usually used as sizes for glass fiber treatment. The PPTA used for the surface treatment is modified by a spinning process to make the gaps between PPTA crystallites open. In this treatment, supercritical carbon dioxide fluid method is used to impregnate the sizing molecules into open gaps in PPTA fiber. After the impregnation, the fiber is heated at 100–170°C to make the gaps close and turn open-gapped fiber to the normal type of PPTA modified with sizes. The interfacial shear strength of fiber to epoxy resin is measured by microdroplet method. The modified PPTA improves the interfacial shear strength by ca. 67% to the interfacial shear strength given by normal PPTA without treatment. Those improvements are 33% without heating, 18% with only silanes, and 12% with only urethane instead of the mixture of silane and urethane. In addition, the fiber strength shows no remarkable decrease after the treatment.     

Anisotropic orientation of the carbon fiber/liquid crystalline epoxy resin composites

Anisotropic orientation of carbon fiber (CF)/liquid crystalline epoxy (LCE) resin composite was readily induced during curing on a CF surface along a long molecular axis of CF. Orientation of LCE was confirmed with polarized optical microscope (POM) and wide angle X-ray diffractometer (WAXD). In addition, anisotropic ordering of LCE was correlated with curing rate, dynamic mechanical properties and thermal expansion behaviors of CF/LCE composite. Curing of LCE was accelerated in the presence of CF and the rubbery modulus of the CF/LCE composites cured at low temperature was enhanced by long-range, long axis orientational ordering of the LCE resin along a CF surface. Fully cured CF/LCE composite showed a negative coefficient of thermal expansion in the fiber direction. These results obtained in this study are interpreted in terms of structural changes occurring during curing.     

Influence of interfacial reaction on interfacial performance of carbon fiber and polyarylacetylene resin composites

The influence of interfacial reaction on interfacial performance of carbon fiber/polyarylacetylene resin composites was studied. For this purpose, vinyltrimethoxysilane containing a double bond was grafted onto the carbon fiber surface to react with the triple bond of polyarylacetylene resin. The reaction between polyarylacetylene resin and vinyltrimethoxysilane was proved by reference to the model reaction between phenylacetylene and vinyltrimethoxysilane. Surface chemical analysis by XPS, surface energy determination from the dynamic contact angle, and the interfacial adhesion in composites was evaluated by interfacial shear strength test as well. It was found that vinyltrimethoxysilane, which can react with polyarylacetylene resin, had been grafted onto the carbon fiber surface. Furthermore, because the reaction between polyarylacetylene resin and vinyltrimethoxysilane took place at the interface, the interfacial adhesion in composites was significantly increased, and the improvement of interfacial adhesion was all attributed to the interfacial reaction.     

Finite element prediction of debonding onset in short fiber reinforced polymers incorporating a hybrid interphase region

A robust finite element procedure for investigating damage evolution in short fiber reinforced polymeric composites under external loads is developed. This procedure is based on an axisymmetric unit cell composed of a fiber, surrounding interphase and bulk matrix. The hybrid interphase concept involves a degraded material phase, the extent of which is material and property dependent. One of the most significant features of the model relies on establishment of variable adhesion conditions between the primary material phases. The unit cell is discretized into linearly elastic elements for the fiber and the matrix and interface elements which allow debonding in the fiber–matrix interface. The interface elements fail according to critical stress and critical energy release rate criteria. The tension and shear aspects of failure are uncoupled, although the resulting nonlinear problem is solved implicitly utilizing quasi-static incremental loading conditions. Final failure resulting from saturation and breakage is modeled by the vanishing interface element technique. Details of the propagation of interface cracks and the initiation of debonds are also observed and discussed for various shapes of fiber end. Numerical results reveal an intense effect of the fiber-end geometry on the initial fiber–matrix de-cohesion. The present finite element procedures can generate meaningful results in the analysis of fiber-reinforced composites.     

树脂基复合材料在连续激光作用下的损伤

 采用热压工艺制备了碳纤维布和高硅氧纤维布增强的环氧树脂和酚醛树脂基复合材料,研究了不同功率密度连续激光辐照下,复合材料的破坏形式及其组织结构与力学性能的变化。结果表明：当激光辐照功率密度大于0.1 kW/cm²后,树脂基体产生燃烧,碳纤维没有明显的损伤,而玻璃纤维布开始熔融,复合材料的拉伸性能降低30%~40%;当功率密度达到1 kW/cm²以后,除基体燃烧外,碳纤维复合材料产生明显的鼓泡分层,表层碳纤维有少量破断,而高硅氧纤维产生明显的熔融烧损,复合材料的拉伸性能降低80%以上。采用有限元计算方法,对碳纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料在连续激光辐照下的温度场进行了研究,计算结果与实验中复合材料的损伤行为相吻合。     

树脂基复合材料在连续激光作用下的损伤

采用热压工艺制备了碳纤维布和高硅氧纤维布增强的环氧树脂和酚醛树脂基复合材料,研究了不同功率密度连续激光辐照下,复合材料的破坏形式及其组织结构与力学性能的变化。结果表明：当激光辐照功率密度大于0.1 kW/cm2后,树脂基体产生燃烧,碳纤维没有明显的损伤,而玻璃纤维布开始熔融,复合材料的拉伸性能降低30%~40%;当功率密度达到1 kW/cm2以后,除基体燃烧外,碳纤维复合材料产生明显的鼓泡分层,表层碳纤维有少量破断,而高硅氧纤维产生明显的熔融烧损,复合材料的拉伸性能降低80%以上。采用有限元计算方法,对碳纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料在连续激光辐照下的温度场进行了研究,计算结果与实验中复合材料的损伤行为相吻合。     

Discontinuous basalt and glass fiber reinforced PP composites from textile prefabricates: effects of interfacial modification on the mechanical performance

Spun and blown basalt fibers and their PP matrix composites were investigated. The composites were manufactured by hot pressing technology from carded and needle punched prefabricate using PP fiber as matrix material. Glass and blown basalt fibers were treated with reaction product of maleic acid-anhydride and sunflower oil while spun basalt fibers had a surface coating of silane coupling agent. Fibers were investigated with tensile tests while composites were subjected to static and dynamic mechanical tests. The results show that blown basalt fibers have relatively poor mechanical properties, while spun basalt fibers are comparable with glass fibers regarding geometry and mechanical performance. The static and dynamic mechanical properties of glass and spun basalt fiber reinforced composites are similar and are higher than blown basalt fiber reinforced composites. Results were supported with SEM micrographs.     

Sorption characteristics of water,oil and diesel in cellulose nanofiber reinforced corn starch resin/ramie fabric composites

Nowadays, utilisation of biodegradable materials has become necessary in order to maintain global environmental and ecological balance. Fully biodegradable nano 'Green' textile composites have been prepared from cellulose nanofibers reinforced corn starch resin and ramie fabric. Nanofibers having dimensions of approximately 1 μm long and 20–30 nm in diameter are used in the study. The nanofibers were incorporated in corn starch resin via ball mill mixing using ceramic balls. Textile composites were fabricated by pasting the reinforced resin onto the ramie fabric and by hot compression molding technique. Interactions at the fiber–matrix interface and the compatibility between cellulose and corn starch resin molecules will affect the properties of the system. The well dispersed cellulose nanofibers contribute higher interfacial area and good fiber networking within the matrix resin. This will lead to better barrier properties. Sorption characteristics of water, oil and diesel in the textile composites were analysed and the influence of nano fibers and macro fibers on the transport phenomena was investigated. The kinetics of sorption-diffusion process was investigated. Kinetic parameters such as n, k, diffusion coefficient, permeability, solubility parameter, % swelling index, etc., were analysed. The presence of cellulose nanofibers influences the sorption mechanism. The water sorption mechanism in the nanocomposites was found to exhibit slight deviation from Fickian mode. Structure–property relationships of the nanocomposites were evaluated.     

Development and characterization of alkali treated abaca fiber reinforced friction composites

Abaca fibers show tremendous potential as reinforcing components in composite materials. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of abaca fiber content on physical, mechanical and tribological properties of abaca fiber reinforced friction composites. The friction composites were fabricated by a compression molder and investigated using a friction test machine. The experiment results show that surface treatment of abaca fibers could improve the mechanical properties of abaca fiber and interface bonding strength of the abaca fiber and composite matrix. Density of friction composites decreased with the increasing of abaca fiber content (0 wt%–4 wt%). The different content of abaca fibers had less effect on hardness of specimens, whereas large of impact strength. The specimen F3 with 3 wt% abaca fibers had the lowest wear rate and possessed the best wear resistance, followed by specimen F4 with 4 wt% abaca fibers. The worn surface morphologies were observed using the Scanning Electron Microscopy for study the tribological behavior and wear mechanism. The results show that a large amount of secondary contact plateaus presented on the worn surface of specimen F3 which had relatively smooth worn surface.     

Improving the interfacial strength of PMMA resin composites by chemically grafting graphene oxide on UHMWPE fiber

Controlling interfacial microstructure and interactions between (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) UHMWPE fiber and matrix is of crucial importance for the fabrication of advanced polymer composites. In this paper, (UHMWPE fiber-g-graphene oxide [GO]) was prepared. GO nanoparticles distributed onto the ?ber surface uniformly, which could increase surface polarity and roughness. Increases of interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of UHMWPE fiber-g-GO composites were achieved. These enhancements can be attributed to the existent of GO interface with providing chemical bonding and strong mechanical interlocking between the ?ber and matrix. Moreover, impact resistance of UHMWPE fiber-g-GO composites was enhanced.     

Influence of material processing and interface on the fiber fragmentation process in titanium matrix composites

The objective of this work is to study the effect of composite processing conditions on the nature of the fiber–matrix interface in titanium matrix composites and the resulting fragmentation behavior of the fiber. Titanium matrix, single fiber composites (SFCs) were fabricated by diffusion bonding and tensile tested along the fiber axis to determine their interfacial load transfer characteristics and the resulting fiber fragmentation behavior. Two different titanium alloys, Ti-6Al-4V (wt%) and Ti-14Al-21Nb (wt%), were used as matrix material with SiC (SCS-6) fibers as reinforcement. The tensile tests were conducted at ambient temperature and were continuously monitored by acoustic emission. It was observed that the Ti-6Al-4V/SCS-6 composite system exhibited a greater degree of fiber–matrix interfacial reaction, as well as a rougher interface, compared to Ti-14Al-21Nb/SCS-6 composites. Acoustic emissions during tensile testing showed that most of the fiber fractures in Ti-6Al-4V/SCS-6 occurred at strains below ～5% and the fragmentation ceased at ～10% strain corresponding to specimen necking. In contrast, the Ti-14Al-21Nb/SCS-6 composite deformed without necking and fiber fractures occurred throughout the plastic range until final fracture of the specimen at about 12% strain. The markedly different fragmentation characteristics of these two composites were attributed to differences in the fiber–matrix interfacial regions and matrix deformation behavior.     

Improving the performances of polyethylene/sisal fiber composites by infiltratively compatibilizing the multi-scale interfaces

Sisal fiber (SF) is a good raw material to prepare natural fiber composites (NFCs) by blending it with plastics. However, most NFCs are highly filled with natural fibers in order to decrease the cost of products that causes the weak interfacial compatibilities between the natural fibers and polymers. To successfully prepare a high-performance NFC, the interfacial compatibility is the key problem that should be disposed. In this paper, the graft copolymers of polyethylene (GPE) were used as the infiltrative compatibilizers for SF-filled recycled polyethylene (rPE) composites. How GPE affected the interfacial compatibility and performances of rPE/SF composites were investigated. Results show that the mechanical properties, water resistance and thermal stability of the composites increased with the increase in GPE. The improved interfacial interactions restrained the movement of rPE chains, resulting in the decreasing of crystallinity of the composites. GPE were favorable to improve the rheological properties of the composites. The scanning electron microscopy observation discovered that GPE promoted the formation of infiltrative interfacial interactions that primarily came from the chemical and physical interactions between SF and GPE.     

Enhanced crack suppression ability of hybrid glass fiber reinforced laminated composites fabricated using GNP/epoxy system by optimized UDM parameters

In this work, GFRPs with layer-up [+22/−22/90_n]_s were prepared and hybridized with 0.5 wt% of GNPs to introduce in-situ crack suppression ability. Optimization of the processing parameters of ultrasonic dual mode mixing (UDM) process was adopted to disperse GNPs uniformly in the epoxy system and place them evenly at the interfacial zones of GFRPs. Test results show that 102% and 153% enhancement in tensile strength and Young’s modulus has been achieved by the proposed method. Low stirring speed and low pulse-off time show significant effect on properties of the GFRPs. The fragmentation behaviour was investigated under optical microscope for GNP infused hybrid GFRPs and compared to that of the control. Failure investigation examined under FESEM showed reduced delamination for hybrid GFRPs having randomly oriented GNPs in their interfacial zone. This work exposes the effective espousal of the process to prepare GNP infused hybrid GFRPs having crack suppression ability at the interfaces.     

The effect of surface modification on the properties of sisal fiber and improvement of interfacial adhesion in sisal/starch composites induced by starch nanocrystals

A facile approach was utilized to introduce starch nanocrystals (SNCs) onto sisal fiber (SF) to improve the interfacial adhesion between SF and starch. For this, fibers were treated with alkali and then subjected to cold plasma treatment to increase the accessibility with SNCs, which was confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that due to the influence of cold plasma treatment, new functional groups were introduced onto SF. The surface characteristics of SF were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observed results suggested that SNCs were successfully distributed onto SF. Tensile strength and interfacial shear strength of fibers treated under different conditions were calculated and compared through a two-parameter Weibull model. The highest interfacial shear strength of 3.05 MPa was obtained by Alkali-300 W-SNCs, which indicated an increase of 80.6% than untreated SF. It has also been proved that the starch nanocrystals produced hydrogen bonding and physical interlocking between sisal fiber and starch. Notably, the outcome of this investigation indicates that SNCs may be applied for the fabrication of high performance, environmentally friendly sisal/starch composites for a range of technological applications.     

Elastomeric sizings for glass fibers and their role in fiber wetting and adhesion in resin transfer molded composites

Mold fill velocities of 0.067 cm³/s and 2.66 cm³/s were used to impregnate glass fiber preforms with different architectures and sizing types in two force-controlled resin transfer molding (RTM) fixtures. The fabrication of disk-shaped parts at high molding speed and high post-cure fill pressure was proven successful in reducing the amount of flow-induced defects for reinforcements with a random nonlayered structure. Investigations on the effect of fiber/matrix interface modification with controlled-thickness elastomeric films obtained by the admicellar polymerization technique were carried out to assess the structural integrity levels attained with these less expensive polymeric sizings. In particular, parts reinforced with fibers coated with a thin film of styrene-isoprene copolymer performed significantly better than the uncoated control samples in the tensile and flexural tests. For the same sizing type, the interlaminar shear strength was more than 30% higher than the desized composite and compared statistically to the adhesion level exhibited by commercially sized reinforcements. Greater data scatter and poorer adhesion performance was observed for those composites containing fibers with a thin polystyrene coat. We infer that beneficial effects of a nanometer-thick elastomer interlayer are more evident when extensive cooperative segmental motions take place, that is, when the surface glass transition temperature of the sizing is far below the room temperature. These results have implications for composite manufacture applications involving tailored interfaces with flexible sizings.     

两种纤维增强复合材料连续激光烧蚀阈值测量及吸收特性分析

 通过双积分球-光电管测试系统和摄像记录的方法,对芳纶纤维/环氧和碳纤维/环氧两种复合材料在1.319 μm连续激光作用下的烧蚀阈值和烧蚀过程中材料对激光能量的吸收特性进行了实验研究。结果表明：芳纶纤维/环氧复合材料的平均烧蚀阈值随材料厚度增加而降低,碳纤维/环氧复合材料的平均烧蚀阈值不受材料厚度影响,约为70 W/cm²;两种纤维增强复合材料烧蚀前的反射率随激光功率增加而缓慢增大,芳纶纤维/环氧材料从0.40变化到0.45,碳纤维/环氧材料从0.15变化到0.20;当发生烧蚀时,芳纶纤维/环氧材料的反射率急剧下降,吸收率增大,碳纤维/环氧材料的反射率无明显变化,吸收率约为0.80。     

两种纤维增强复合材料连续激光烧蚀阈值测量及吸收特性分析

通过双积分球-光电管测试系统和摄像记录的方法,对芳纶纤维/环氧和碳纤维/环氧两种复合材料在1.319μm连续激光作用下的烧蚀阈值和烧蚀过程中材料对激光能量的吸收特性进行了实验研究。结果表明：芳纶纤维/环氧复合材料的平均烧蚀阈值随材料厚度增加而降低,碳纤维/环氧复合材料的平均烧蚀阈值不受材料厚度影响,约为70 W/cm2;两种纤维增强复合材料烧蚀前的反射率随激光功率增加而缓慢增大,芳纶纤维/环氧材料从0.40变化到0.45,碳纤维/环氧材料从0.15变化到0.20;当发生烧蚀时,芳纶纤维/环氧材料的反射率急剧下降,吸收率增大,碳纤维/环氧材料的反射率无明显变化,吸收率约为0.80。