Fabrication and Characterization of Bamboo—Epoxy Reinforced Composite for Thermal Insulation

As global warming intensifies, researchers worldwide strive to develop effective ways to reduce heat transfer. Among the natural fiber composites studied extensively in recent decades, bamboo has emerged as a prime candidate for reinforcement. This woody plant offers inherent strengths, biodegradability, and abundant availability. Due to its high cellulose content, its low thermal conductivity establishes bamboo as a thermally resistant material. Its low thermal conductivity, enhanced by a NaOH solution treatment, makes it an excellent thermally resistant material. Researchers incorporated Hollow Glass Microspheres (HGM) and Kaolin fillers into the epoxy matrix to improve the insulating properties of bamboo composites. These fillers substantially enhance thermal resistance, limiting heat transfer. Various compositions, like (30% HGM + 25% Bamboo + 65% Epoxy) and (30% Kaolin + 25% Bamboo + 45% Epoxy), were compared to identify the most efficient thermal insulator. Using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) ensures uniform distribution of fillers and resin, creating a structurally sound thermal barrier. These reinforced composites, evaluated using the TOPSIS method, demonstrated their potential as high-performance materials combating heat transfer, offering a promising solution in the battle against climate change.

Development of Morus alba Reinforced Poly-Lactic Acid with Elevated Mechanical and Thermal Properties

This research investigates the mechanical and thermal properties of Morus alba combined with polylactic acid in comparison with other natural fibers. The study uses three different fiber and PLA compositions - 20%, 30%, and 40% respectively - to produce composite materials. In addition, another composite with the same fiber volume is treated with a 4% NaOH solution to improve mechanical properties. The composites are processed by twin-screw extrusion, granulation, and injection molding. Tensile strength measurements of raw fibers and NaOH-treated fibers were carried out using a single-fiber tensile test with a gauge length of 40 mm. It was observed that the NaOH surface treatment increases the resistance against tensile loading and exhibited improved properties for raw fiber strands. The diameter of the fibers was measured using optical microscopy. During this research, flexural tests, impact tests, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and heat deflection temperature measurements (HDT) were conducted to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of the developed composite samples. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of NaOH-treated Morus alba-reinforced polylactic acid outperform both virgin PLA samples and untreated Morus alba samples.

Development of Kaolin and Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites for Thermal Insulating Panels

In our modern world, where conserving energy is highly valued, thermal insulation panels play a crucial role in reducing heat transfer between two spaces, surfaces, or materials. They are used to enhance the energy efficiency of various industrial applications by minimizing heat loss and temperature control. These panels function as silent protectors, aiding in reducing energy consumption and making things more sustainable and better for the environment. This is where composite materials come in;they are known for their lightweight nature, high strength-to-weight ratio, and excellent thermal insulation properties and have gained significant attention. Researchers are actively engaged in various studies aimed at enhancing these materials further. This research project focuses on the development of kaolin and glass fiber-reinforced composites for thermally insulating panels, to which natural strengthening materials like corn husk and bamboo fibers are added. The aim is to create cost-effective and efficient composite materials for thermal insulation applications by incorporating these components with a binder consisting of potassium silicate, hydroxide, and distilled water. This project involves conducting compression tests, bending tests, impact tests, thermal conductivity measurements, and microscopic analysis to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of the developed composites. The profound impact of these engineered composites on thermal insulation panels stands to revolutionize energy conservation efforts, offering a potent avenue to minimize heat loss and enhance overall energy efficiency across an array of industrial sectors.

Enhancing Stress Intensity Factor Reduction in Cracks Originating from a Circular Hole in a Rectangular Plate under Uniaxial Stress through Piezoelectric Actuation

Circular holes are commonly employed in engineering designs;however, they often serve as locations where cracks initiate and propagate. This paper explores a novel approach to structural repair by utilizing piezoelectric actuators. The primary focus of this study is to investigate the influence of an adhesively bonded piezoelectric actuator patch placed above a circular hole on the stress intensity factor (SIF) in an aluminium plate. The plate is subjected to uniaxial tensile stress, while the piezoelectric actuator is excited with varying voltage levels. The analysis is conducted using the finite element method (FEM), a powerful numerical technique for simulating complex structures. The study assesses the stress distribution and employs the SIF as an adequate criterion for evaluating the impact of different patch configurations. The results indicate a strong correlation between the applied voltage and the SIF. Whether the SIF increases or decreases depends on the polarization of the piezoelectric actuator. Particularly noteworthy is the finding that rectangular patches in a horizontal orientation significantly reduce the SIF compared to other patch geometries. Moreover, double-sided patches exhibit a pronounced decrease in the SIF compared to single-sided patches. In summary, this research underscores the potential of piezoelectric actuators in mitigating stress intensity in structures with circular hole with crack initiation. It offers valuable insights into the influence of applied voltage, patch geometry, and patch placement on the SIF, thereby contributing to developing effective strategies for enhancing structural integrity.

Development of a Side Door Composite Impact Beam for the Automotive Industry

The automobile industry has been searching for vehicles that use less energy and emit fewer pollutants, which has resulted in a high demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Because of their higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to traditional steel, using fiber-reinforcement composite materials in automobile bodies has emerged as the most effective strategy for improving fuel efficiency while maintaining safety standards. This research paper examined the utilization of fiber-reinforced composite materials in car bodies to meet the increasing consumer demand for fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicles. It particularly focused on a carbon-aramid fiber-reinforced composite impact beam for passenger car side door impact protection. Despite the encouraging prospects of the carbon-aramid fiber-reinforced beam, the research uncovered substantial defects in the fabrication process, resulting in diminished load-bearing capacity and energy absorption. As a result, the beam was un-successful in three-point bending tests. This was accomplished by using an I cross-section design with varying thickness because of the higher area moment of inertia. Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) manufacturing process was used and the finished beam underwent to three-point bending tests.

Increased Elongation at Breaking Point with Improved Mechanical Characteristics in PLA

The main goal of this research was to increase the strength of Polylactic acid (PLA), an entirely biodegradable thermoplastic polyester, and an increase in elongation at the breaking point compared to neat PLA. To this end, S1, S2, and S3 were melt blended with various percentages of Zeolite, Glycerol, White vinegar, green camphor, Eucalyptus, and Carom seed oils. Here, the addition of glycerol, eucalyptus, and carom seed oils demonstrated an average improvement in impact and tensile strength of 13.44% and 14.55% respectively. Zeolite and glycerol work together as binding agents to improve stress transfer in the matrix, which increases tensile and flexural modulus as well as toughness elongation (>10%). The addition of the aforementioned materials led to an increase in the glass transition temperature and melting temperature, according to further DSC investigation. The thermal stability increased gradually, according to TGA data.

Manufacturing and Product Analysis of Non-Woven and Paper Based Epoxy Composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are used in a wide variety of applications due to their many advantages, such as relatively low production costs, ease of fabrication, and superior strength compared to pure polymer resins. Polymer reinforcement can be either synthetic or natural. Synthetic fibers such as carbon have high specific strength, but their application fields are limited due to their high manufacturing cost. Recently, interest in recycled fiber-based composites has increased due to their many advantages. In this context, research has been carried out to better utilize non-woven and paper-based materials to make value-added products. The aim of the current research work is to compare the mechanical performance of non-woven and paper-based reinforced epoxy composites manufactured by the VARTM process. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength (using three-point bending), impact strength, hardness strength, and water absorption were measured. A multi-criteria decision approach called TOPSIS (The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was used to select the best alternative from the investigated materials.

Development of Ecological Absorbent Core Sanitary Pads in Combination of Kenaf and Chitosan Fibers

The menstrual cycle is always considered as a big nightmare by many women. This research aims to make this process smooth and safe by developing natural sanitary pads which are used to absorb and retain menstrual blood from the body. Some existing sanitary pads contain 90% plastics made of non-woven polypropylene/polyethylene sheets, super absorbent polymers, and polyethylene back sheets that will take up to 600 - 800 years to decompose. So, biodegradable sanitary pads using natural fibers are the best alternative to eliminate the pads which contain non-biodegradable materials. In this research, nonwoven bamboo will be used as the top layer, nonwoven cotton will be used as the second layer, the absorbent core is to be made by the combination of kenaf and chitosan fibers as the third layer, cotton as the fourth layer, and cornstarch-based bioplastic sheets as the bottom layer. These biodegradable natural materials will change the menstrual process into a healthy one as well as create a robust ecological community.

Fabrication and Characterization of Glass Fiber with SiC Reinforced Polymer Composites

Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymeric (GFRP) Composites are most commonly used as bumpers for vehicles, electrical equipment panels, and medical devices enclosures. These materials are also widely used for structural applications in aerospace, automotive, and in providing alternatives to traditional metallic materials. The paper fabricated epoxy and polyester resin composites by using silicon carbide in various proportions along with GFRP. The hand lay-up technique was used to fabricate the laminates. To determine the properties of fabricated composites, the tensile, impact, and flexural tests were conducted. This method of fabrication was very simple and cost-effective. Their mechanical properties like yield strength, yield strain, Young’s modulus, flexural modulus, and impact energy were investigated. The mechanical properties of the GFRP composites were also compared with the fiber volume fraction. The fiber volume fraction plays a major role in the mechanical properties of GFRP composites. Young’s modulus and tensile strength of fabricated composites were modelled and compared with measured values. The results show that composites with epoxy resin demonstrate higher strength and modulus compared to composites with polyester resin.