In the present investigation an alternative of recycling was evaluated for the residues derived from defective pieces of the ceramic industry, harnessing them as reinforcement in composite materials for the manufacture of parts used in the automotive sector. Sintered clay microparticles to 10% p/p were mixed in an unsaturated polyester resin matrix, through the cast molding technique. Bending tests were performed that showed an elastic-linear behavior, typical of a fragile material. The structure was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy, checking the fragile failure mechanism and a good dispersion of the microparticles. A simulation was carried out with the finite element method, for the design of a motorcycle brake lever, with results that demonstrate a better distribution of stresses and reduction in mass with respect to the original part. Finally, a prototype brake lever was manufactured using computationally validated geometry.

In this research work, samples of the biocomposite were manufactured using the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique, whose matrix is a polyester resin and the reinforcement is a biaxial fabric (90°) made with jute fiber. Then, tensile and flexural tests were carried out on standardized specimens under ASTM standards, in order to mechanically characterize the jute-polyester biocomposite. In both destructive tests, the results showed a linear-elastic behavior with brittle fracture and greater strength of the jute-polyester biocomposite, with respect to the thermosetting matrix’s properties. Subsequently, a finite element based static analysis was performed, with the help of the ANSYS software, to determine the mechanical behavior of interior opening handle for a car door. In it, a model sensitivity study was run to determine the influence of the mesh type and identify the convergence of mesh. Later, the static analysis results were obtained: critical zone, maximum operating stress and safety factors. The results obtained computationally validate the use of jute-polyester biocomposite, as a substitute for the manufacture of an interior opening handle for a car door. Finally, a scale model of the piece made with jute-polyester biocomposite was manufactured.

ResumenEste estudio se enmarca en el campo de la ciencia e ingeniería de materiales enfocada al desarrollo de nuevos compuestos amigables con el medio ambiente. En este contexto, se evaluaron cinco fibras naturales colombianas: damagua (Poulsenia armata), guérregue, palma estera (Astrocaryum malybo), caña flecha (Gynerium sagitatum) e iraca (Carludovica palmata), con el fin de estudiar su viabilidad como refuerzo en materiales compuestos. Mediante diversas mediciones se determinaron las propiedades térmicas, mecánicas y morfológicas de las fibras naturales. El análisis térmico se hizo utilizando termogravimetría (TGA), y se demostró el carácter hidrofílico de las fibras y su estabilidad a elevadas temperaturas. Se ensayó la resistencia de las fibras a la tracción bajo condiciones de fuerzas axiales estáticas, y se encontraron variaciones en las propiedades mecánicas de cada uno de los especímenes. Las fibras de guérregue y caña flecha registraron valores de resistencia máxima competitivos muy similares a los reportados en otras investigaciones con fibras naturales, en tanto que las otras tres fibras tuvieron bajo desempeño. La microestructura de las fibras se examinó mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM), y las imágenes revelaron una morfología compuesta por el lumen y la pared celular con variación entre los tamaños, comportamiento éste asociado a las propiedades mecánicas de las fibras naturales estudiadas. En conclusión, dos fibras presentaron las mejores propiedades y cumplieron con las condiciones de estabilidad térmica y resistencia mecánica que las hace aptas como refuerzo en la fabricación de biocompuestos con matrices poliméricas. © 2017. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex. Fis. Nat. Palabras clave: Fibras naturales; Refuerzo; Propiedades mecánicas; Termogravimetría; Microscopía electrónica de barrido. Thermal, mechanical, and morphological characterization of Colombian natural fibers as potential reinforcement for biocomposites AbstractThis study was conducted in the field of materials science and engineering and focused on the development of new eco-friendly components. For this purpose, we evaluated five Colombian natural fibers: damagua (Poulsenia armata), quérregue (Astrocaryum standleyanum), palm mat (Astrocaryum malybo), wild cane (Gynerium sagitatum) and iraca (Carludovica palmata), to evaluate their viability as reinforcement in composite materials. We measured the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of these natural fibers by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for the thermal analysis, which showed their hydrophilic character and their stability at high temperatures. We also tested their resistance to traction under static axial forces and we found variations in their mechanical properties. We found that guérregue and wild cane fibers showed maximum competitive strength values, similar to those found in other studies with natural fibers, while the other three fibers had a poor performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the microstructure of the fibers...

The characterization of natural fibres is currently used in the field of science and engineering of materials with the purpose of developing new bio-composites friendly to the environment. The goal of this research is to manufacture and characterize a bio-composite reinforced with Moriche palm fibre (Mauritia flexuosa) and to determine the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of the fibre. Subsequently, the tensile and flexion properties of the composite was evaluated, as well as its morphology. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the fibre has hydrophilic characteristics and good stability at temperatures close to 200 °C. In the tensile test under static axial forces, its modulus of elasticity, stress and maximum deformation was determined. Its morphology, composed of the small lumen and wide cell wall with size variations, was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the same way, the maximum tensile stress of the composite leads to the conclusion that it is viable to use this material for applications in non-structural elements, which are below 25 MPa. The results of maximum flexural strength (253.7 MPa) allow more extensive applications in doubly supported or overhanging parts subjected to concentrated or distributed loads. The microstructure obtained with SEM showed a poor adhesion between the matrix and the reinforcement.