Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan

Physical, Mechanical, and Morphological Properties of Woven Kenaf/Polymer Composites Produced Using a Vacuum Infusion Technique

Nowadays, due to renewable issues, environmental concerns, and the financial problems of synthetic fibres, the development of high-performance engineering products made from natural resources is increasing all over the world. Lately, kenaf fibre has been used among many different types of natural resources in various shapes. Unidirectional long fibres or randomly oriented short fibre shapes are the most common type of kenaf fibres that have been investigated in previous works. This work characterises and evaluates the physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of plain woven kenaf fabric and its composites with three types of thermoset resin at 0°/90° and 45°/−45° orientation, in order to assess their suitability as lignocellulosic reinforced polymer composites. A vacuum infusion manufacturing technique was used to prepare the specimens with fibre weight content of 35% ± 2%. Eight specimens were prepared for each test, and five replications were adopted. A total of 78 samples were tested in this study. The results show that the composites with 0°/90° had the highest tensile, flexural strengths, and modulus. The morphological properties of composite samples were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and these clearly demonstrated the better interfacial adhesion between the woven kenaf and the epoxy matrix.

High Velocity Impact Damage Analysis for Glass Epoxy-Laminated Plates

The ultimate objective of the current work is to examine the effect of thickness on fiberglass reinforced epoxy matrix subjected to high velocity impact loading. The composite material chosen for this research was from type C-glass/epoxy 200 g/m2 and type C-glass/epoxy 600 g/m2. This material is used as a composite reinforcement in high performance applications since it provides certain advantages of specific high strength and stiffness as compared to metallic materials. This study investigates the mechanical properties, damage characterisation and impact resistance of both composite structures, subjected to the changes of impact velocity and thickness. For mechanical properties testing, the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) was used while for the high velocity impact, a compressed gas gun equipped with a velocity measurement system was used. From the results, it is found that the mechanical properties, damage characterisation and impact resistance of type C-glass/Epoxy 600 g/m2 posses better toughness, modulus and penetration compared to type C-glass/Epoxy 200 g/m2. A general trend was observed on the overall ballistic test results which indicated that as the plate specimen thickness continues to increase, the damage at the lower skin decreases and could not be seen. Moreover, it is also found that, as the plate thickness increases, the maximum impact load and impact energy increases relatively. Impact damage was found to be in the form of perforation, fibre breakage and matrix cracking. Results from this research can be used as a reference in designing structural and body armour applications in developing a better understanding of test methods used to characterise impact behaviour.

A SEM-Based Study of Structural Impact Damage

The ultimate objective of the current programme of work is to detect and quantify low-velocity impact damage in structures made from composite materials. There are many situations in the use of composites where an impact does not result in perforation of the material but causes damage that may not be visible, yet still causes a substantial reduction in structural properties. Impacts that do not cause perforation are usually termed low-velocity. When a composite structure undergoes such impacts, it is important to know the type and level of damage and assess the residual strength. In this study, following a systematic series of experiments on the induction of impact damage in composite specimens, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to inspect the topographies of the specimens at high magnification. Matrix cracking, fibre fracture, fibre pullout and delamination were the types of damage observed in the composite laminates after the low-velocity impacts. The study also conducted a (very) preliminary correlation between the damage modes and the impact energy.

Influence of Fiber Content on Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Woven Kenaf Reinforced PVB Film Produced Using a Hot Press Technique

This work addresses the results of experimental investigation carried out on mechanical and morphological properties of plain woven kenaf fiber reinforced PVB film which was prepared by hot press technique. The composites were prepared with various fiber contents: 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% (by weight), with the processing parameters 165°C, 20 min, and at a pressure of 8 MPa applied on the material. Tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact properties were studied as well as morphological properties of impact fracture surface. With the increase in kenaf fibers content up to 40%, the PVB composites have shown lower tensile and flexural strength accompanied with reduction in the ultimate strain of the composite. The results showed that impact properties were affected in markedly different ways by using various kenaf contents and decrease with the increase in kenaf fiber content up to 40%; however, high impact strength was observed even with 40% kenaf fiber content. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy for impact samples was utilised to demonstrate the different failures in the fracture surfaces for various kenaf fibers contents.

The Effect of Thermooxidative Aging on the Durability of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy

Thin-skinned organic matrix composites within aeronautical structures are subjected to thermooxidative aging during their service life, leading to reductions in their durability. In this paper, a durability evaluation of fiberglass epoxy prepreg is performed on the original composite thickness before and after 800 h isothermal aging at 82°C. The characterization of both aged and unaged composites comprised tensile tests, DMA, FTIR, weight loss measurements, SEM, and DSC. The tensile strength and modulus of the composites increased after being exposed to pronounced aging conditions, whereas a decrease was observed in the toughness. DMA results revealed that the glass transition temperature and rubbery state modulus increased as a result of the thermooxidative aging. FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated the formation of carbonyl compounds due to oxidation of the chemical structure of the resin. SEM observations indicated the existence of minor superficial cracking and poor fiber-matrix adhesion after aging. In addition, a minor mass change was observed from mass loss monitoring methods. The overall findings suggest that postcuring and physical aging enhanced the brittleness of the resin, leading to a significant decline in the useful structural life of the thin-skinned composite.

Impact Characterisation of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Type C-600 and E-800 Using a Drop Weight Machine

In this study, the impact responses for GFRP type C-600 and GFRP type E-800 have been investigated. Impact tests were performed using a drop weight tester, IMATEK IM10T with eight different levels of energy ranging from 6 J to 48 J. The variation of impact characteristics such as peak displacement, peak force and energy absorbed versus impact energy and damaged area were investigated. From the experimental studies, it can be concluded that for each type of GFRP, the impact energy showed excellent correlation with the impact characterization and the damaged area. The difference in the thickness and mechanical properties for both types of GFRP do affect the impact characterization and the damaged area of the specimens tested. It can be concluded that GFRP type E-800 is higher in strength compared to GFRP type C-600.

A review on processing techniques of bast fibers nanocellulose and its polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites

The utilization of nanocellulose has increasingly gained attentions from various research fields, especially the field of polymer nanocomposites owing to the growing environmental hazardous of petroleum based fiber products. Meanwhile, the searching of alternative cellulose sources from different plants has become the interests for producing nanocellulose with varying characterizations that expectedly suit in specific field of applications. In this content the long and strong bast fibers from plant species was gradually getting its remarkable position in the field of nanocellulose extraction and nanocomposites fabrications. This review article intended to present an overview of the chemical structure of cellulose, different types of nanocellulose, bast fibers compositions, structure, polylactic acid (PLA) and the most probable processing techniques on the developments of nanocellulose from different bast fibers especially jute, kenaf, hemp, flax, ramie and roselle and its nanocomposites. This article however more focused on the fabrication of PLA based nanocomposites due to its high firmness, biodegradability and sustainability properties in developed products towards the environment. Along with this it also explored a couple of issues to improve the processing techniques of bast fibers nanocellulose and its reinforcement in the PLA biopolymer as final products.

Green Biocomposites for Structural Applications

The quest for the development of innovative materials having zero impact with high performance at affordable costs to meet the basic human and society demands results a dynamic composite materials. Green or biocomposites regarded as a high-performance or ‘advanced’ fourth generation engineered composite materials that are comparatively better and attractive in terms of environmentally friendly, composability and complete degradability of end use products. The reinforcement of renewable and environment-friendly plant based ‘lignocellulosic’ fibers with bio-based polymeric matrix (plastics) is the only ways to fabricate the green composites or to make them fully greener materials. Green composites offer a significant environmental key for both food and non-food market including the aerospace, automotive, decking and for others variety of structural applications over the past decades because of their relatively higher specific modulus and strength compared to metals. Developed bio-material undoubtedly delivers greater impact on the world economy by developing energy saving products for the improvement of life quality. Present study is designed to deliver an outline of the comprehensive recent research studies and works reported on sustainable “green” friendly biocomposites, focusing the concern on biopolymers, natural fibers, composite processing and their diverse structural applications. Currently, green composites considered as one of the emerging innovative products in materials and polymer composite science to expand the commercial application in the sectors ranging from packaging to the constructional industry.

Thermal properties of oil palm biomass based composites

Abstract Lignocellulosic oil palm biomass is a bioagricultural residue periodically left in the field during the replanting, pruning, and milling processes of palm oil, composed of oil palm trunk (OPT), oil palm frond (OPF), oil palm kernel shells (OPKS), and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibers. OPEFB and OPT fibers represent the most promising alternative to synthetic fibers with comparatively similar physical and mechanical properties like coir fibers to fabricate unique and cost-effective advanced composite materials with a variety of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers. The reinforcements of oil palm fibers significantly improve composite dynamic and thermal stability with a marked increase in storage modulus value, have better thermal degradation temperature, and lowered glass transition temperature. Present review article was designed to be a complementary source of contemporary literature on oil palm biomass, OPEFB, and OPF fibers with major emphasis on recent reported study on improved thermal properties of the OPEFB fiber-reinforced polymer composites including its different applications.

Ballistic impact velocity response of carbon fibre reinforced aluminium alloy laminates for aero-engine

Aerospace and other industries use fibre metal laminate composites extensively due to their high specific strength, stiffness and fire resistance, in addition to their capability to be tailored into different forms for specific purposes. The behaviours of such composites under impact loading is another factor to be considered due to the impacts that occur in take-off, landing, during maintenance and operations. The aim of the study is to determine the specific perforation energy and impact strength of the fibre metal laminates of different layering pattern of carbon fibre reinforced aluminium alloy and hybrid laminate composites of carbon fibre and natural fibres (kenaf and flax). The composites are fabricated using the hand lay-up method in a mould with high bonding polymer matrix and compressed by a compression machine, cured at room temperature for one day and post cure in an oven for three hours. The impact tests are conducted using a gun tunnel system with a flat cylindrical bullet fired using a helium gas at a distance of 14 inches to the target. Impact and residual velocity of the projectile are recorded by high speed video camera. Specific perforation energy of carbon fibre reinforced aluminium alloy (CF+AA) for both before and after fire test are higher than the specific perforation energy of the other composites considered before and after fire test respectively. CF +AA before fire test is 55.18% greater than after. The same thing applies to impact strength of the composites where CF +AA before the fire test has the highest percentage of 11.7%, 50.0% and 32.98% as respectively compared to carbon fibre reinforced aluminium alloy (CARALL), carbon fibre reinforced flax aluminium alloy (CAFRALL) and carbon fibre reinforced kenaf aluminium alloy (CAKRALL), and likewise for the composites after fire test. The considered composites in this test can be used in the designated fire zone of an aircraft engine to protect external debris from penetrating the engine shield due to higher values of impact strength and specific perforation energy as highlighted by the test results.