Effect of fiber size, cyclic moisture absorption and fungal decay on the durability of natural fiber composites

There is more demand for natural fiber-reinforced composites in the energy sector, and their impact on the environment is almost zero. Natural fiber has plenty of advantages, such as easy recycling and degrading property, low density, and low price. Natural fiber’s thermal properties and flexural properties are less than conventional fiber. This work deals with the changes in the thermal properties and mechanical properties of S-glass reinforced with a sodium hydroxide-treated pineapple leaf (PALF) and banana stem fibers. Banana stem and pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) were used at various volume fractions, i.e., 30%, 40%, and 50%, and various fiber lengths of 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm with S-glass, and their effects on the thermal and mechanical properties were studied, and their optimum values were found. It was evidenced that increasing the fiber volume and fiber length enhanced the flexural and thermal properties up to 40% of the fiber volume, and started to decrease at 50% of the fiber volume. The fiber length provides an affirmative effect on the flexural properties and a pessimistic effect on the thermal properties. The PALF S-glass combination of 40% fiber load and 40 cm fiber length provides maximum flexural strength, flexural modulus, storage modulus, and lowest loss modulus based on hybrid Taguchi grey relational optimization techniques. PALF S-glass hybrid composite has been found to have 7.80%, 3.44%, 1.17% higher flexural strength, flexural modulus, and loss modulus, respectively, and 15.74% lower storage modulus compared to banana S-glass hybrid composite.

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“…e characteristics of natural composites are primarily subject to their particular fiber characteristics [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Fiber Volume and Fiber Length on Thermal and Flexural Properties of a Hybrid Natural Polymer Composite Prepared with Banana Stem, Pineapple Leaf, and S‐Glass

Prakash

Fageehi

Rajasekaran

et al. 2021

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering

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“…The impact of T sat , foaming method, and T foam on the cell size and cell density was determined using an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the significant difference was calculated using Tukey’s honestly significant difference (Tukey’s HSD) method with a significance level of 0.05. Tukey’s HSD test is used to determine whether the mean between two data sets is statistically significant Table shows Tukey’s HSD analysis of cell size and cell density.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scalable Fabrication of Anisotropic Nanocellular Foam by Hot-Press Foaming

Gebremedhin

Tseng

Demewoz

et al. 2022

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Nanocellular foam has raised much interest because its physical and mechanical properties are superior to those of microcellular foams. The hot-bath foaming method has been common on a laboratory scale due to its faster heat transfer rate. However, because of the nature of the free foaming process, the hot-bath foaming method may not be capable of making large, flat samples. This study uses the hot-press process to produce nanocellular foam. The results of hot-bath and hot-press foaming methods were compared with theoretical simulations. Both processes were able to produce cell sizes lower than 40 nm. The hot-press foamed samples exhibited larger cell size, higher expansion ratio, and higher aspect ratio (AR) than the hot-bath foamed samples. The hot-press foaming process demonstrated that it has the potential to create sizable and flat nanocellular samples. The AR of cells foamed in the hot-press method was as high as 1.93, creating a new manufacturing method for anisotropic nanocellular foam with a cell size of less than 100 nm.

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“…In the case of WPC composites, the addition of additional substances (e.g., a compatibilizer) has a significant impact on their physical and mechanical properties [ 28 ]. Yeh et al [ 39 ] revealed that the addition of a compatibilizer has a positive effect on reducing the degradation of WPC composites by fungi throughout improving the reduction of moisture penetration. In the present study, CaO was introduced as an additive—a moisture absorbing and biocidal agent to PLA composites [ 40 ], and the MAHPE was applied in HDPE composites [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PLA Biocomposites: Evaluation of Resistance to Mold

et al. 2021

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Due to the content of lignocellulosic particles, wood plastic composites (WPC) composites can be attacked by both domestic and mold fungi. Household fungi reduce the mechanical properties of composites, while mold fungi reduce the aesthetics of products by changing their color and surface decomposition of the wood substance. As part of this study, the impact of lignocellulosic fillers in the form of sawdust and bark in poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based biocomposites on their susceptibility to mold growth was determined. The evaluation of the samples fouled with mold fungi was performed by computer analysis of the image. For comparison, tests were carried out on analogous high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. Three levels of composites’ filling were used with two degrees of comminution of lignocellulosic fillers and the addition of bonding aids to selected variants. The composites were produced in two stages employing extrusion and flat pressing. The research revealed that PLA composites were characterized by a higher fouling rate by Aspergillus niger Tiegh fungi compared to HDPE composites. In the case of HDPE composites. The type of filler (bark, sawdust) affected this process much more in the case of HDPE composites than for PLA composites. In addition, the use of filler with smaller particles enhanced the fouling process.

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Effect of fiber size, cyclic moisture absorption and fungal decay on the durability of natural fiber composites

Cited by 26 publications

References 29 publications

Influence of Fiber Volume and Fiber Length on Thermal and Flexural Properties of a Hybrid Natural Polymer Composite Prepared with Banana Stem, Pineapple Leaf, and S‐Glass

Influence of Fiber Volume and Fiber Length on Thermal and Flexural Properties of a Hybrid Natural Polymer Composite Prepared with Banana Stem, Pineapple Leaf, and S‐Glass

Scalable Fabrication of Anisotropic Nanocellular Foam by Hot-Press Foaming

PLA Biocomposites: Evaluation of Resistance to Mold

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