Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri

Comparative Study of Sound Absorption Coefficients of Coir/Kenaf/Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

This research focuses on the sound absorption coefficient of three different natural fibers reinforced epoxy composites. The natural fibers used are coconut coir, kenaf, and sugarcane bagasse. All of these fibers were mixed with epoxy resin and hardener with a ratio of 4:1. The mixtures were then poured into a circular mold and compressed by using compression molding technique. It was left for curing for 24 hours at standard room temperature. The results were obtained using the two-microphone transfer functions impedance tube method according to ASTM E1050-12. It is found that as the fiber loading increased, the sound absorption coefficient of the composites increased. 20wt% Coconut coir epoxy composites and 20wt% kenaf fiber epoxy composites have the highest sound absorption coefficient with almost similar sound absorption of 0.078 at 5000Hz. While, 20wt% sugarcane bagasse epoxy composites have sound absorption of 0.075 at 5000Hz.

Analysis of natural fiber polymer composites: Effects of alkaline treatment on sound absorption

This study is focused on the development of sound absorbing materials based on natural fiber polymer composites. The natural fibers were modified through the alkaline treatment and the natural fiber polymer composites were fabricated using hot and cold compression hydraulic press machine. The sound absorption coefficients of the composites were measured using two-microphone transfer function impedance tube method. Characterizations of the natural fiber polymer composites were analyzed using scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. It was found that in all measured composites, the sound absorption coefficients increased as the frequency increased. Also, as the fiber loading increased, the sound absorption coefficients of the natural fiber polymer composites were increased. It was found that the alkaline treated fiber reinforced composites increased the sound absorption coefficients due to removal of impurities and change in the structure of composites. The alkaline treatment of fibers showed better adhesion interface between fiber and polymer as compared to untreated fibers. This can be seen clearly under morphological and spectral studies of the natural fiber polymer composites.

Potential of Borneo Acacia wood in fully biodegradable bio-composites’ commercial production and application

This review paper explores the potential of commercial production and application of Acacia wood—polylactic acid (PLA), and Acacia wood—polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) bio-composites. The factors affecting the mechanical and physical properties of these materials were identified and deliberated. It was found that Acacia wood has the prospective to be efficiently produced and used in Borneo. It can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to: fire breaker, timber resource, furniture production, soil re-conditioning, and as reinforced materials. Since, today, there is heightened awareness regarding sustainability, manufacturers are driven towards producing completely biodegradable products that are created using PLA and PHA bio-composites. This review provides an overview on the performance of the existing composites and bio-composites, and their implementation and utilization, while focusing on the Borneo region.

Correction to: Potential of Borneo Acacia wood in fully biodegradable bio-composites’ commercial production and application

One of the co-authors Kok Heng Soon was unintentionally omitted from the author group in the original version of this article. The complete authors are given above.

Lignocellulosic Fibres Reinforced Polymer Composites for Acoustical Applications

In this chapter, an overview of various composites for sound absorption applications were reported. It includes composites made of a polymer matrix reinforced with synthetic fibres and natural fibres. New developments dealing with composites made of lignocellulosic fibre were discussed in detail and the merits and demerits of composite made of synthetic fibres and natural fibres have been discussed. In this chapter, procedures for estimating the sound absorption coefficients of various sound absorbing natural fibres were discussed with a mathematical model. Factors that may influence the sound absorption coefficients of porous materials, such as fibre size, porosity, flow resistivity, thickness, tortuosity and density were described. Empirical models to predict the flow resistivity and sound absorption coefficient were also discussed. This chapter also examines the critical issues and scientific challenges that require further research and development of polymer composite materials for their increased acceptance in the modern world for sound absorption purpose.

Durability and sustainability of the silica and clay and its nanocomposites

Abstract This part of the chapter discussed the durability and sustainability on the use of silica and clay and its nanocomposites within the wide area of industrial applications, especially with those involves in thermosetting and thermoplastics engineered polymer. It showed that the current progress, improvement, and development of silica and clay and its nanocomposites were given more impact on the advances properties toward the certain applications. Throughout this book chapter, the knowledge and fundamental understanding on the use of silica and clay properties and it challenges were observed morphologically, physically, mechanically, chemically. Thus, this chapter helps to evaluate the value of understanding of the development of silica and clay and its nanocomposites for better future applications and for those seeking for new functionality in the field of materials science.

Biomedical and packaging application of silica and various clay dispersed nanocomposites

Abstract This chapter explores the structures and characteristics of clay dispersed nanocomposites, their organic modification, nanocomposite structure, and finally the mechanical properties. Based on the understanding of the fundamentals of these clay dispersed nanocomposites, the applications for these materials were evaluated. With the low weight and high strength of these nanocomposites, a wide range of biomedical and packaging applications are made possible. This includes applications from food product packaging to splints, and a body of medical devices. With the additional advantage of flame retardance, these materials may also be used for packaging highly inflammable materials. Overall, clay dispersed nanocomposites show a promising future in materials engineering, especially in biomedical and packaging applications.

Heat Treated Luffa - PLA Composites: Effect of Cyclic Moisture Absorption and Desorption on the Mechanical Properties

The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of cyclic hot and cold water absorption and desorption on the flexural and impact strengths of luffa – PLA biocomposites. PLA was reinforced with heat treated luffa fibers with the fiber loadings: 5 vol.%, 10 vol.%, 15 vol.% and 20 vol.%. Based on the test results the biocomposite with the highest flexural and impact strengths was selected for water absorption and desorption cycles. The biocomposites were subjected to 56 cycles of hot and cold water absorption and desorption. The biocomposites were tested for their strengths after every 14 cycles. The absorption and desorption decreased the flexural and impact strengths, affecting the impact strength more than the flexural strength.

Short Review: Potential Production of Acacia Wood and its Biocomposites

In this short review paper, the physical and mechanical properties of acacia wood, poly lactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) were analyzed. Existing factors that affect the mechanical properties of natural fiber composites were investigated and identified. By knowing these factors, a possibility and potentiality in implementing the natural acacia wood reinforced material with hybrid polymer were discussed. It was found that the acacia wood had the potential to re-condition soil and have the potential to become reinforced materials in hybrid polymer composites. In addition, using fully biodegradable polymer such as PLA and PHA made it sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Comparative Study of Compressive Strength of Epoxy Based Bio-Composites

In this paper, the compressive strength of the natural fiber composites was investigated, especially on those epoxy based materials. Mulberry, cornhusk and commercialize weave jute reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated and the results were obtained through compressive test experiment. Comparison was made based on a Buransky model with the experimental results. Alkaline treatment was used to modify and alter the lumen structure of the natural fibers. It showed that the alkaline treated natural fiber composites gave promising improvement in the compressive strength compared with the raw natural fiber composites. It also showed that the misalignment angles played another vital role in in compressive strength performance. Buransky model can be used to predict the experimental results based on condition that failure occurs on the predicted misaligned angle.