Epoxy-based biocomposites are a good alternative for metals in lightweight applications. This research has been focused on the effect of accelerated weathering on the mechanical, thermal, contact angle, and water absorption behavior of neat epoxy, individual kenaf and sisal, and kenaf/sisal hybrid epoxy composites. The composite was fabricated by hand layup method. Among the various composites studied, sisal/kenaf/sisal hybrid epoxy composites showed the best properties and retained the thermo-mechanical properties with the lowest water absorption properties even after the weathering test. Thus, composites with hybridized kenaf and sisal with sisal outer layer are encouraging semistructural materials in outdoor applications.
In this work, we prepared thermoresponsive shape memory epoxy thermosets by blending epoxy resin with poly(ethylene glycol-ran-propylene glycol) random copolymer (PEG-ran-PPG or RCP). Incorporation of RCP precisely tuned the temperature showing the shape memory effect of epoxy thermoset, which was established by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and fold-deploy test. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that the compatibility of the system is caused by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and only at high RCP concentration some phase separation starts. DMA and thermomechanical analysis provided evidence for the interactions of RCP chains with epoxy thermoset. The impact strength considerably increased especially for 30 and 40 wt % RCP modified blends. Furthermore, the blends exhibited good thermal stability in conjunction with excellent UV resistance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.