Abstract:Summary
The feasibility of using sugar‐cane bagasse as a reinforcement for natural fiber composites and the performance of these composites under fire conditions was investigated. Plies were manufactured using a process, which involved alkali‐treating bagasse, blending, pressing, and drying. Soaking durations of 30 minutes and 24 hours were compared. Composites were then made with these plies using a light resin transfer molding process. The composites were characterized and compared to a commercial hemp fabri… Show more
“…Place mould top plate, and fit g-clamps over the arrangement.(vi) Tighten to apply pressure till water is strained from the mould.(vii) Remove g-clamps, and dry at ambient conditions.(viii) Once the required number of plies are manufactured, dry in an oven for 12 h at 40°C.Figure 1.Modified ply manufacturing process adapted from previous work. 20 …”
Section: Materials and Manufacturingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…28 This method has been implemented successfully in other studies conducted by the authors. 17,20,29 Specifications of all samples are shown in Table 2. The inclusion of fire retardants reduced the fibre volume fraction of the retardant layered composites.Figure 4.Converging direction of resin flow.…”
Section: Materials and Manufacturingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The thermal decomposition of the plies and the composites were characterised using TGA. As decomposition in TGA does not account for heat transfer at high temperatures, 20 Cone Calorimeter tests are conducted to study the behaviour of the material in fire scenarios. The TPS method supplements the fire behaviour study by providing thermal properties relevant to ignition.…”
Section: Materials Characterisationmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In that study, a rudimentary method was used to make a sugar-cane bagasse ply that was suitable for manufacturing fibre-reinforced polymer composites. 20 It also showed that minimal processing was sufficient for manufacturing a product with similar fire performance to a commercial product.…”
This study investigated suspending two fire retardants in sugar-cane bagasse plies used for manufacturing natural fibre reinforced composites. Sugar-cane bagasse was alkali treated, blended with either APP (Ammonium Polyphosphate) or ATH (Aluminium Hydroxide), pressed and dried to form plies. Composites were manufactured using a light resin transfer moulding process with epoxy resin. Composites manufactured with fire retardant suspended plies were compared to composites with plies layered with equivalent amounts of fire retardants. The composites were characterised using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal stability and char yield, isotropic hot disc method for thermal properties, and cone calorimeter for studying ignition and flammability. Plies suspended with APP had the highest char yield of 58% (in nitrogen), reducing to 26% in the composite form, with degradation driven by the epoxy matrix. The composite layered with ATH had the latest ignition times of 118 s when tested with a radiant heat flux of 35 kW/m2. The composite layered with APP displayed the lowest average heat release rate (179.7k W/m2), peak heat release rate (305.6k W/m2), and total heat released (135.5 MJ/kg). When assessing the fire growth, the composite layered with APP was again favourable. While the layering yielded more favourable results than the suspension of the same retardants, this study showed that a rudimentary process was able to suspend enough retardants to improve the behaviour of the resulting composites in a fire scenario.
“…Place mould top plate, and fit g-clamps over the arrangement.(vi) Tighten to apply pressure till water is strained from the mould.(vii) Remove g-clamps, and dry at ambient conditions.(viii) Once the required number of plies are manufactured, dry in an oven for 12 h at 40°C.Figure 1.Modified ply manufacturing process adapted from previous work. 20 …”
Section: Materials and Manufacturingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…28 This method has been implemented successfully in other studies conducted by the authors. 17,20,29 Specifications of all samples are shown in Table 2. The inclusion of fire retardants reduced the fibre volume fraction of the retardant layered composites.Figure 4.Converging direction of resin flow.…”
Section: Materials and Manufacturingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The thermal decomposition of the plies and the composites were characterised using TGA. As decomposition in TGA does not account for heat transfer at high temperatures, 20 Cone Calorimeter tests are conducted to study the behaviour of the material in fire scenarios. The TPS method supplements the fire behaviour study by providing thermal properties relevant to ignition.…”
Section: Materials Characterisationmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In that study, a rudimentary method was used to make a sugar-cane bagasse ply that was suitable for manufacturing fibre-reinforced polymer composites. 20 It also showed that minimal processing was sufficient for manufacturing a product with similar fire performance to a commercial product.…”
This study investigated suspending two fire retardants in sugar-cane bagasse plies used for manufacturing natural fibre reinforced composites. Sugar-cane bagasse was alkali treated, blended with either APP (Ammonium Polyphosphate) or ATH (Aluminium Hydroxide), pressed and dried to form plies. Composites were manufactured using a light resin transfer moulding process with epoxy resin. Composites manufactured with fire retardant suspended plies were compared to composites with plies layered with equivalent amounts of fire retardants. The composites were characterised using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal stability and char yield, isotropic hot disc method for thermal properties, and cone calorimeter for studying ignition and flammability. Plies suspended with APP had the highest char yield of 58% (in nitrogen), reducing to 26% in the composite form, with degradation driven by the epoxy matrix. The composite layered with ATH had the latest ignition times of 118 s when tested with a radiant heat flux of 35 kW/m2. The composite layered with APP displayed the lowest average heat release rate (179.7k W/m2), peak heat release rate (305.6k W/m2), and total heat released (135.5 MJ/kg). When assessing the fire growth, the composite layered with APP was again favourable. While the layering yielded more favourable results than the suspension of the same retardants, this study showed that a rudimentary process was able to suspend enough retardants to improve the behaviour of the resulting composites in a fire scenario.
This study investigates the utilization of sugarcane bagasse and glass fiber to reinforce epoxy composites, enhancing both mechanical and fire resistance properties. Initially, bagasse is collected, sun‐dried, and finely ground before being treated with lime water at concentrations of 3%, 5%, and 7% by weight. The treated bagasse is then mixed with epoxy resin and a hardening agent, followed by a curing process. For samples incorporating glass fibers, the fibers are manually integrated and cured similarly. The methodology involved detailed preparation of the bagasse, its treatment, and subsequent integration with epoxy resin. The mixture was processed under controlled conditions to ensure uniformity and quality. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength, and impact resistance were measured. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to assess thermal stability, while fire resistance was evaluated using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and the 94‐V test method. Results demonstrated significant improvements in both mechanical and thermal properties with the addition of bagasse and glass fibers. The optimal treatment was identified at a 5% lime water concentration, yielding a tensile strength of 295.08 MPa, flexural strength of 371.24 MPa, compressive strength of 255.39 MPa, and Izod impact strength of 157.04 kJ/m2. TGA results showed the highest thermal stability at 5% concentration, with decomposition temperatures peaking at 402.52 °C. Fire resistance was markedly enhanced, achieving an LOI of 29.8% and meeting V2 level standards according to the 94‐V test method. In conclusion, treating sugarcane bagasse with a 5% lime water solution significantly enhances the mechanical and fire‐resistant properties of epoxy composites. The combination of sugarcane bagasse and glass fiber creates a robust material with high thermal stability and fire resistance, making it a viable option for applications requiring these enhanced properties.
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.
