Betelnut fibres as an alternative to glass fibres to reinforce thermoset composites: A comparative study

Abstract

Abstract:For the current work, investigations were carried out using treated betelnut fibre reinforced polyester (T-BFRP) and chopped strand mat glass fibre reinforced polyester (CSM-GFRP) composites. Results revealed that T-BFRP showed competitive performance of about 1.16 %, 17.39 % and 4.92 % for tensile, flexural and compression tests as compared to the latter. Through tribological performance tests, T-BFRP composite showed superiority in wear for the dry and wet tests of about 98 % and 90.8 % while friction coefficient was reduced by about 9.4 % and 80 % respectively. Interface temperature was low by about 17 % for T-BFRP composite subjected to dry test as compared to the latter. SEM analysis revealed that the brittle effects observed on glass fibres during the tribo test enhanced the material removal rate which increased the thermo mechanical effects at the rubbing zone. As such, evidence of adhesive to abrasive wear transition was observed when the CSM-GFRP composite was subjected to the stainless steel counterface. On the contrary, T-BFRP composite formed a thin layer of shield (i.e. back film transfer) on its worn surface during the test which assisted to lower the material removal rate.http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/textile-research Through tribological performance tests, T-BFRP composite showed superiority in wear for the dry and wet tests of about 98 % and 90.8 % while friction coefficient was reduced by about 9.4 % and 80 % respectively. Interface temperature was low by about 17 % for T-BFRP composite subjected to dry test as compared to the latter. SEM analysis revealed that the brittle effects observed on glass fibres during the tribo test enhanced the material removal rate which increased the thermo mechanical effects at the rubbing zone. As such, evidence of adhesive to abrasive wear transition was observed when the CSM-GFRP composite was subjected to the stainless steel counterface. On the contrary, T-BFRP composite formed a thin layer of shield (i.e. back film transfer) on its worn surfaces during the test which assisted to lower the material removal rate.

Wear resistance and friction behavior of thermoset matrix reinforced with Musaceae fiber bundles

“…These same results of wear resistance and wear mechanisms of natural fiber composites compared with the glass fiber reinforced ones have been found by other researchers such as Nirmal et al [13][14][15]. He used chemically treated betelnut fibers as reinforcement, also appreciating the back transfer layer that reduced the wear previously mentioned by El-Tayeb [12].…”

“…In addition, a transfer layer of the polymeric matrix to the counter body can be appreciated. This layer has been described by Hutchings [25] and Bhushan [26], and has been evidenced in the works of El-Tayeb [12], Nirmal et al [13] and Yousif [16].…”

“…El-Tayeb [12], Nirmal et al [13], Yousif [16] mentioned in their work with natural fibers the formation of the back transfer layers of the resin to the composite reinforced with natural fibers preventing the wear of the samples. This back transfer layer is not evidenced in the micrographs presented in the Fig.…”

“…Material is removed from the surface by indentation and relative movement of asperities of the counter body [6,7,14,25,26,31,38] RC Resin cracks The fibrils of crazes break due to high stress levels in them and the crack grows [3,24, reported in the literature [13,27]; and its subsequent growth having the cracks that are evident in the Fig. 5c-d. A crack also may grow as the consequence of debonding of the fiber from the resin as observed in the micrographs of Fig.…”

Effect of kenaf particulate fillers in polymeric composite for tribological applications

“…This could be in applications involving sliding rails of window panels or sliding doors, where they are currently made of NE, glass fiber composites or aluminum panels, which are costly. 45 …”