Nanomechanical behaviour of ZrO₂ dispersed sisal-based polymeric composites

Abstract

Alkali-treated sisal fibre-incorporated silanized ZrO2 dispersed unsaturated polyester composites were fabricated with a filler loading of 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 wt%, respectively. The mechanical characterization of the composites was suitably executed at the sub-micron scale using the nanoindentation technique. Various mechanical properties were derived from the standard nanoindentation measurements namely, nanohardness, reduced modulus, recovery index, residual depth, wear rate and indentation creep, respectively. A marked improvement in the mechanical properties of the unsaturated polyester matrix due to the incorporation of the fillers (sisal and/or ZrO2) was observed through indentation-derived parameters namely, nanohardness (∼186%), reduced modulus (∼175%), recovery index (∼62%), wear rate (∼63%) and indentation creep (∼33%), respectively. A simulated dynamic mechanical analysis was performed using the sinus mode of the nanoindentation technique. A similar enhancement in the dynamic mechanical properties of the matrix was further observed through dynamic mechanical analysis as storage modulus (∼71%), loss modulus (∼60%), loss factor (∼150%) and specific damping coefficient (∼200%), respectively.

Effect of alkaline treatment on mechanical properties of composites: Unsaturated polyester reinforced ZrO2/jute and sisal

“…Moreover, it was evident from the profiles that a significant effect of incorporation of fillers was visible with respect to depth recovery after unloading. Such effect was in similar agreement with the results reported by Biswas et al 17 The depth recovery was more for UP/Jute/Sisal composite than UP matrix during various holding times. This that may be due to presence of jute fiber that provides hindrance toward the movement of the UP chains.…”

“…The ability of recovery is enumerated from the tendency to recover the depth after unloading at peak load. It is worthwhile to mention here that such a tendency of depth recovery is in similar accord to the outcome reported by Biswas et al17 In the present investigation, the tendency of depth recovery at peak load was quite significant in the case of UP matrix incorporated with jute, sisal fiber, and ZrO 2 particles all together as fillers. Such recovery was more for UP-based composites than the UP matrix.…”

Calotropis gigantea stem fiber reinforced thermoset plastics: Interlaminar shear strength and related tribo-mechanical properties

“…1,2 Moreover, natural fiber polymer composites have received much interest in the last two decades in a variety of applications like construction, packaging, vehicles, and furniture. [3][4][5][6][7] Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite products pose less of an environmental threat than synthetic fibers and require less tooling. 8 Among the various fibers investigated, bast fibers are predominant.…”