Hyperelastic Properties of Bamboo Cellulosic Fibre–Reinforced Silicone Rubber Biocomposites via Compression Test

Abstract

Materials that exhibit highly nonlinear behaviour are intricate to study. This is due to their physical properties, as they possess a very large deformation. Silicone rubber is among the materials that can be classified as possessing such characteristics, despite their being soft and frequently applied in medical applications. Due to their low mechanical properties, however, it is believed that a filler addition could enhance them. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the effect of the addition of bamboo cellulosic filler to silicone rubber in terms of its compressive properties in order to quantify its material constants using the hyperelastic theory, specifically the Neo-Hookean and Mooney–Rivlin models. The specimens’ compressive properties were also compared between specimens immersed in seawater and those not immersed in seawater. The findings showed that the compressive properties, stiffness, and compressive strength of the bamboo cellulosic fibre reinforced the silicone rubber biocomposites, improved with higher bamboo filler addition. Specimens immersed in seawater showed that they can withstand a compressive load of up to 83.16 kPa in comparison to specimens not immersed in seawater (up to 79.8 kPa). Using the hyperelastic constitutive models, the Mooney–Rivlin model displayed the most accurate performance curve fit with the experimental compression data with an R2 of up to 0.9999. The material constant values also revealed that the specimens immersed in seawater improved in stiffness property, as the C1 material constant values are higher than for the specimens not immersed in seawater. From these findings, this study has shown that bamboo cellulosic filler added into silicone rubber enhances the material’s compressive properties and that the rubber further improves with immersion in seawater. Thus, these findings contribute significantly towards knowledge of bamboo cellulosic fibre–reinforced silicone rubber biocomposite materials.

Lemongrass Plant as Potential Sources of Reinforcement for Biocomposites: A Preliminary Experimental Comparison Between Leaf and Culm Fibers

“…The use of natural fibers as reinforcement of biodegradable and/or bio-based polymers has currently gained a huge interest from both academia and industry. In addition to common fibers such as flax, jute, sisal and hemp, which are the subject of extensive investigations since the 1970s, several researchers worldwide suggested in the last decade the use of less common natural fibers, extracted from local plants/ trees, due to their low cost, high availability and quite good physical properties [1][2][3][4]. Nowadays, the high demand for natural fibers requires finding out new lignocellulosic reinforcements from agriculture cheap sources, having adequate properties.…”

Binary Promoter Improving the Moderate-Temperature Adhesion of Addition-Cured Liquid Silicone Rubber for Thermally Conductive Potting

“…The poor mechanical properties of pure LSR limit its practical applications [ 9 ]. Researchers have expended great efforts to incorporate reinforcement fillers and functional fillers into LSR to improve its mechanical properties and introduce additional properties such as thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. LSR can be imparted with suitable thermal conductivity for efficient heat dissipation by doping with high thermal conductivity fillers such as carbon-based fillers, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) and so on [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Influence of Herbal Fillers Addition on Selected Properties of Silicone Subjected to Accelerated Aging

“…Multiple works reported the changes in the silicone matrix after incorporating it with different organic materials. Some studies proved their favorable impact on mechanical properties [ 22 , 23 ], and others, the opposite [ 24 ]. The results varied depending on the filler type, fraction, and structure.…”