Surface Energetics Effects on Mechanical Strength of Fibre Reinforced Polymer Matrix

Abstract

Surface energetics effects on the mechanical strength of fibre reinforced polymer matrix been studied employed the manual scraper mechanism in extracting fibre from plantain pseudo-stem and was treated with nine different treatments. Cylindrical shape mould was prepared for mechanical test samples with continuous and unidirectional aligned fibres. Two probe liquids; water and glycerol were used in contact angle measurement for all the treated and untreated samples. The contact angle data was used for the interfacial energetics computations using Neumann and Fowkes models and the mathematical analysis were carried out using Matlab software tools. van der Waals notion of particle-particle interaction was employed to explain the physiochemical properties such as the surface interfacial energies. The average value for the interfacial free energy of adhesion for fibre-water and fibre-glycerol are -10mJ/m2 and -16MJ/m2 respectively signifying attractive van der Waal forces. The tensile test results unveil that the average value for treated fibres is greater than the average value of 171.29N/mm2 for untreated fibre except for potassium permanganate and phosphoric acid. These results reveal that an increase in tensile strength leads to an increase in the interfacial surface energy of adhesion. The treated fibres show a significant increase in interfacial surface energy and change in free energy of adhesion which suggests a better bonding mechanism of interaction between the fibre and matrix except for phosphoric acid which reveals otherwise, it may be as a result of the chemical chopped off the fibre during the treatment. The average strain rate of about 0.003 per seconds, 0.002 per seconds and 0.005 per seconds were deduced from the treated Mercerization, Acetone and MEKP respectively which reveals the lower strain rate as compared to the untreated fibre of 0.008 per seconds. The negative strain rate for the potassium permanganate and phosphoric acid was found to be -0.002 and -0.001 respectively reveals that the treatments will debond faster than other treated fibres..

Performance of Citric Acid-Bonded Oriented Board from Modified Fibrovascular Bundle of Salacca (Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss) Frond

“…The contact angle was measured to determine when the modified FVB is easily wetted by a liquid; meanwhile, the value obtained is 24.02° with treatment H ( Table 2 ), which is much lower than the contact angle of bamboo, jute, ramie, and kenaf [ 4 , 32 ]. The modification of the combination of NaOH+Na 2 SO 3 decreased the contact angle compared to the water immersion treatment.…”

“…Several types of research studies have been carried out on natural fibers using a chemical treatment to modify the surface structure and improve the compatibility between adhesive and raw material. This includes the use of alkali modification in natural fibers due to the convenience and simplicity of its application [ 4 , 5 ]. Previous research studies have used sodium hydroxide (NaOH); however, the combination of NaOH+Na 2 SO 3 as a chemical for modification has not been widely reported.…”

Strength Analysis and Variation of Elastic Properties in Plantain Fiber/Polyester Composites for Structural Applications

“…It is therefore important to assess the extent of variation of elastic properties in plantain fiberreinforced polyester composites to guard against out of plane failure during structural applications. Unfortunately most studies involving plantain fiber-reinforced composites has dwelt on assessment of tensile, flexural and hardness properties [32], optimization of hardness strengths [33], effect of water and organic extractives removal [34], effects of fiber extraction techniques [35], optimization of flexural strength [36], compressive and impact strength evaluation [37][38][39], effect of high-frequency microwave radiation [40], effect of chemical treatment on the morphology [41], implications of interfacial energetics on mechanical strength [42]. Although Ihueze, Okafor and Okoye [43] has reported the longitudinal (1) and transverse (2) properties of plantain fiber-reinforced composites in Figure 1, there is still need to establish the essential elastic constants at directions other than the material axis directions 1-2.…”

Production and thermo-structural analysis of a hybridized natural fibre-based ceiling board for building applications

“…These products include palm trees, rice, sugar cane, bagasse, coconut fibre and so on. [1][2][3] To get these products to the final consumers, several agricultural activities are involved; cultivation, harvesting and processing. These activities are accompanied by the generation of quite a chunk of agricultural waste.…”

“…The current research trend is to use industrial and agricultural waste as a raw material source for composite development. 18,19 Further studies have shown that natural fibres pose good engineering properties for application in almost all engineering sectors. 20 Ceiling boards are needed in houses to reduce heat and sound while also adding aesthetic value.…”