• Composites Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.213-219
• /
• 2020

Recently, global facing environmental issues have been raised caused by plastic waste. Hence, increasing the demand for interest in environmentally friendly materials. In this row, research on engineering composite materials also replacing the synthetic reinforcement by introducing natural fibers. However, focus on the strength and interfacial adhesion between matrix and reinforcement is very essential in natural fiber composite, which is insufficient in the literature. There are number of approaches for improving the mechanical strength of the composites, one of the common methods is to reinforce additive nanoparticles. The present investigation, bio-additives were synthesized utilizing bio-waste, cheap, bio-degradable sea-weed powder that could replace expensive nanomaterials and reinforced into the CFRP composite through Hand lay-up followed by a vacuum process. Mechanical properties were evaluated and analyzed through microanalysis. The results concluded that synthesized additives are effective for improving mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, and shear strength. Overall, the results confirmed that the fabricated composites have potential applications in the field of engineering applications.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.196-200
• /
• 2014

A novel, simple and totally recyclable method has been developed for the synthesis of nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable bio-composite films from soy protein and silk protein. Bio films are defined as flexible films prepared from biological materials such as protein. These materials have potential application in medical and food as a packaging material. Their use depends on various parameters such as mechanical (strength and modulus), thermal, among others. In this study, prepare and characterization of bio films made from Soy Protein Isolate (SPI) (matrix) and Silk Fiber (SF) (reinforcement) through solution casting method by the addition of plasticizer and crosslinking agent. The obtained SPI and SPI/SF composites were subsequently subjected to evaluate their mechanical and thermal properties by using Universal Testing Machine and Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer respectively. The tensile testing showed significant improvements in strength with increasing amount of SF content and the % elongation at break of the composites of the SPI/SF was lower than that of the matrix. Though the interfacial bonding was moderate, the improvement in tensile strength and modulus was attributed to the higher tensile properties of the silk fiber.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.852-863
• /
• 2016

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) is a promising and sustainable material, and refers to a combination of wood and plastic along with some binding (adhesive) materials. In comparison to pure wood material, WPCs are in general have advantages of being cost effective, high durability, moisture resistance, and microbial resistance. The properties of WPCs come directly from the concentration of different components in composite; such as wood flour concentration directly affect mechanical and physical properties of WPCs. In this study, wood powder concentration in WPC was determined by Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The reflectance spectra from WPC in both powdered and tableted form with five different concentrations of wood powder were collected and preprocessed to remove noise caused by several factors. To correlate the collected spectra with wood powder concentration, multivariate calibration method of partial least squares (PLS) was applied. During validation with an independent set of samples, good correlations with reference values were demonstrated for both FT-NIR and FT-IR data sets. In addition, high coefficient of determination (${R^2}_p$) and lower standard error of prediction (SEP) was yielded for tableted WPC than powdered WPC. The combination of FT-NIR and FT-IR spectral region was also studied. The results presented here showed that the use of both zones improved the determination accuracy for powdered WPC; however, no improvement in prediction result was achieved for tableted WPCs. The results obtained suggest that these spectroscopic techniques are a useful tool for fast and nondestructive determination of wood concentration in WPCs and have potential to replace conventional methods.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2014

The chemical synthesis of anisotropic defective polyaniline/Ag composite (PANI/Ag) is explored using silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) as the precursor material. This study provides a simple method for the formation of PANI/Ag nanocomposites at two different aniline concentrations $5{\mu}l$ (PANC5) and $10{\mu}l$ (PANC10). The composite PANC5 exhibits UV-Visible absorption peaks at 436 nm and 670 nm whereas, PANC10 exhibits absorption peaks at 446 nm and 697 nm. This shift is caused by the strong interaction between polyaniline and silver. The characterized FTIR peaks observed at around $3410cm^{-1}$ (PANC5) and $3420cm^{-1}$ (PANC10) was due to the N-H stretching vibrations. The appearance of a broad band instead of a sharp peak can be attributed due to the presence of a high concentration of N-H groups in the nanocomposite. The TEM images show that the sample contains defective spherical, truncated triangular and rod shaped particles. The results showed that the PANI/Ag nanocomposites are composed of nano-sized particles of 43-53 nm that contain Ag domains of 33-37 nm with polymer thickness 5.7-11.2 nm at two different aniline concentrations.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.223-232
• /
• 2014

To make metalized wood composites of 10 different korean wood species, it was tested by Low temperature melting Bi-Sn alloy injection method at high temperature and high pressure condition. Metalized wood composite of each wood species had light ash color, but still maintained its own natural wood grain and wood figures. It was evaluated on coating properties. Furthermore, it also was check on effect of coating as like a changes of main color, wood grain and wood figures. The results of test were following as; a coating properties as like a cold resistance, heat resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance, durability of abrasion, and cross-cut test was proper on the conditions of the KS standard. And, In aspect of color changes, the metalized wood composites of 10 different korean wood species had a light ash color, but still maintained its own natural wood grain and wood figures. Also, the more weight per gain of alloy is, the more grey background of metalized wood composite is.

• Advanced Composite Materials
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.315-334
• /
• 2007

In the present study, chopped henequen natural fibers without and with surface modification by electron beam (E-beam) treatment were incorporated into a polypropylene matrix. Prior to composite fabrication, a bundle of raw henequen fibers were treated at various E-beam intensities from 10 kGy to 500 kGy. The effect of E-beam intensity on the interfacial, mechanical and thermal properties of randomly oriented henequen/polypropylene composites with the fiber contents of 40 vol% was investigated focusing on the interfacial shear strength, flexural and tensile properties, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability, and fracture behavior. Each characteristic of the material strongly depended on the E-beam intensity irradiated, showing an increasing or decreasing effect. The present study demonstrates that henequen fiber surfaces can be modified successfully with an appropriate dosage of electron beam and use of a low E-beam intensity of 10 kGy results in the improvement of the interfacial properties, flexural properties, tensile properties, dynamic mechanical properties and thermal stability of henequen/polypropylene composites.

• Advanced Composite Materials
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.299-314
• /
• 2007

In the present study, natural fibers (jute, kenaf and henequen) reinforced thermoplastic (poly(lactic acid) and polypropylene) and thermosetting (unsaturated polyester) matrix composites were well fabricated by a compression molding technique using all chopped natural fibers of about 10 mm long, respectively. Prior to green composite fabrication, natural fiber bundles were surface-treated with tap water by static soaking and dynamic ultrasonication methods, respectively. The interfacial shear strength, flexural properties, and dynamic mechanical properties of each green composite system were investigated by means of single fiber microbonding test, 3-point flexural test, and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The result indicated that the properties of the polymeric resins were significantly improved by incorporating the natural fibers into the resin matrix and also the properties of untreated green composites were further improved by the water treatment done to the natural fibers used. Also, the property improvement of natural fiber-reinforced green composites strongly depended on the treatment method. The interfacial and mechanical results agreed with each other.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2019

The natural fibre composites are termed as bio-composites. They have shown a promising replacement to the current carbon/glass fibre reinforced composites as environmental friendly materials in specific applications. Natural fibre reinforced composites are potential materials for various engineering applications in automobile, railways, building and Aerospace industry. The natural fibre selected to fabricate the composite material is plant-based fibre e.g., sisal fibre. Sisal fibre is a suitable reinforcement for use in composites on account of its low density, high specific strength, and high hardness. Epoxy is a thermosetting polymer which is used as a resin in natural fibre reinforced composites. Hand lay-up technique was used to fabricate the composites by reinforcing sisal fibres into the epoxy matrix. Composites were prepared with the unidirectional alignment of sisal fibres. Test specimens with different fibre orientations were prepared. The fabricated composites were tested for mechanical properties. Impact test, tensile test, flexural test, hardness test, compression test, and thermal test of composites had been conducted to assess its suitability in industrial applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) test revealed the microstructural information of the fractured surface of composites.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.6 s.134
• /
• pp.55-62
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to evaluate the application of a bio-composite made by the addition recycled fiber board flour as filler. Recycled fiber board (high density fiber board, HDF) flour was added to polyolefin polymer low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) for the preparation of bio-composite materials. The mechanical properties and processability of the recycled HDF flour filled LDPE and recycled HDF flour filled PP bio-composites were then measured and compared to those of wood flour (WF) and rice-husk flour (RHF) filled LDPE and PP bio-composites, respectively. The tensile and impact strengths of the recycled HDF flour filled LDPE and PP bio-composites had similar mechanical properties to those of the WF and RHF filled LDPE and PP bio-composites. To measure the processability, torques of the bio-composites were also measured. The torques of the HDF flour filled LDPE and PP bio-composites were lower than those of the WF and RHF filled polyolefin (PP and LDPE) bio-composites with a filler loading of 30 wt.%. This result showed definite processability, which was not related with the distribution of the particle size of the material added. The recycled fiber board flour filled bio-composites showed applicability as substitutes for the bio-composites currently used in the bio-composites industry.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2013

Wet-spun silk fibers have attracted the attention of many researchers because of 1) the unique properties of silk as a biomaterial, including good biocompatibility and cyto-compatability and 2) the various methods available to control the structure and properties of the fiber. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have typically been used as a reinforcing material for natural and synthetic polymers. In this study, CNF-embedded silk fibroin (SF) nanocomposite fibers were prepared for the first time. The effects of CNF content on the rheology of the dope solution and the characteristics of wet-spun CNF/SF composite fibers were also examined. A 5% SF formic acid solution that contained no CNFs showed nearly Newtonian fluid behavior, with slight shear thinning. However, after the addition of 1% CNFs, the viscosity of the dope solution increased significantly, and apparent shear thinning was observed. The maximum draw ratio of the CNF/SF composite fibers decreased as the CNF content increased. Interestingly, the crystallinity index for the silk in the CNF/SF fibers was sequentially reduced as the CNF content was increased. This phenomenon may be due to the fact that the CNFs prevent ${\beta}$-sheet crystallization of the SF by elimination of formic acid from the dope solution during the coagulation process. The CNF/SF composite fibers displayed a relatively smooth surface with stripes, at low magnification (${\times}500$). However, a rugged nanoscale surface was observed at high magnification (${\times}10,000$), and the surface roughness increased with the CNF content.