Natural hemp fabric reinforced epoxy resin composites were prepared in flame retarded form.Fabrics were treated in three ways: the first method involved the immersion of preheated fabric into cold phosphoric acid solution (allowing penetration into the capillaries of the fibres) and subsequent neutralization, the second way was a reactive modification carried out with an aminosilane-type coupling agent, while the third treatment combined the sol-gel surface coating with the first method. The introduction of P-content into the reinforcing fibres resulted in decreased flammability of not only the hemp fabrics, but also of the flame retardancy of epoxy composites, comprising it changed advantageously. By applying aminetype phosphorus-containing curing agent (TEDAP) in combination with the treated fabrics, V-0 UL-94 rating was achieved. Composites of unexpectedly improved static and dynamic mechanical properties could be prepared only when the simple phosphorous fibre treatment and reactive flame retardancy was combined. . This problem can be solved or moderated by using flame retarded biofibres combined with matrix containing flame retardant additive, by which way the polymer concentration of the matrix and thus its strength can maintained [16,17,18].In this work the idea of flame retarded reinforcement was adapted to epoxy resin composites, by combining it with P-containing crosslinking agent as reactive flame retardant in the matrix.Hemp fabrics were selected for forming flame retarded reinforcement and a P-containing amine [19,20] was applied as curing agent in the FR matrix composites. Materials and methods MaterialsThe epoxy Fabric treatmentTwill woven hemp fabrics (HF) were washed with water to remove dust and impurities and then dried in oven at 70 °C for 12 h. The fibres were treated in three ways in order to render them flame retardant. In the first case, the so-called thermotex procedure [21] was applied.The high-temperature treatment of the fabrics allows better absorption of the treating solution to the capillaries of the fabric. For this purpose, the fabrics were preheated at 120 °C for 2 h, and then immersed in cold 17 mass% phosphoric acid solution for 5 min. The ratio of fabric to phosphoric acid solution was 1 g to 10 ml. As the acid may induce long-term degradation in cellulose fibre structure, it was neutralized by immersing the fabrics in 5% ammonium hydroxide solution. The excess of the treating and neutralizing solutions were removed by pressing the fabrics by a foulard. After treatment, the fabrics were dried in air. The amount of the absorbed phosphorus was determined by the mass increase of the treated fibres and by elemental analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (see section 2.3.3). The mass increase of the THF fibres was 8 mass%, which means the absorption of 1.7 mass% of P (1.65 mass% by elemental analysis).In the other case, sol-gel treatment of the fabrics was carried out using Geniosil GF-9 aminetype silane. The fabrics were immersed in 10 mass% toluene solution...

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A fluid mechanical model was elaborated for the formation of mineral wool in the Junkers production technology. The model is based on an analytical approach. The future aim of the model is to establish guidelines for the following improvement in mineral wool quality: reduction of the diameter of mineral wool fibers, improvement of the homogeneity of fiber diameter distribution, and reduction of gravel size. The mineral wool is considered herein as reinforcing material for polymer composites, and such modifications result in the quality improvement of the composites. The quality improvement can be carried out by modifications of the technological settings. The parameters of the model were approximated on the basis of electron-microscopic measurements on a mineral wool reference specimen.

This paper reported the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between kenaf fibre (KF) and polylactic acid (PLA) matrix which was measured using microbond tests device. The value of IFSS obtained in PLA-KF is comparable to other polymer with natural fibre reinforcements. The properties of single kenaf fibre was determined from tensile tests and also described in this paper. From single kenaf fibre properties, various mechanical properties can be estimated for various applications.

Abstract:The cylinder test, developed from the microdroplet test, was adapted to assess the interfacial adhesion strength between fiber and matrix. The sensitivity of cylinder test to pullout speed and specimen geometry was measured. It was established that the effect of test speed can be described as a superposition of two opposite, simultaneous effects which have been modeled mathematically by fitting two parameter Weibull curves on the measured datas.Effects of the cylinder size and its geometrical relation on the measured strength values have been analyzed by finite element method. It was concluded that the geometry has a direct influence on the stress formation. Based on the results achieved, recommendations were given on how to perform the novel single fiber cylinder test.