Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter March 1, 2019

Could Alfa Fibers Substitute Glass Fibers in Composite Materials?

  • Y. Abdallah , R. Ben Cheikh and M. C. Paiva

Abstract

In the present work polyester resin composites with Alfa fibers in the form of pulp were prepared and their properties were compared with those of polyester resin reinforced with glass fibers, the latter composites being widely used for structural applications. The composites were prepared using two manufacturing processes, namely hand lay-up and vacuum molding, to assess the influence of the process on the composites properties. Firstly, the tensile properties for the two composites were evaluated. The composites thermal properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, the morphology of a glass fiber composite (GFC) and Alfa pulp composite (APC) was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, to characterize the composites surface and cross-sections.


*Correspondence address, Mail address: Yousra Abdallah, Laboratoire de Matériaux, d'Optimisation et d'Energie pour la Durabilité, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, BP 37, Le Belvédère 1002, Tunis, Tunisie, E-mail:

References

Albano, C., Gonzalez, J., Ichazo, M. and Kaiser, D., “Thermal Stability of Blends of Polyolefins and Sisal Fiber”, Polym. Degrad. Stab., 66, 17990 (1999) 10.1016/S0141-3910(99)00064-6Search in Google Scholar

Ammar, I., Ben Cheikh, R., Campos, A. R. and Cunha, A. M., “Injection Molded Composites of Short Alfa Fibres and Biodegradable Blends”, Polym. Compos., 27, 341348 (2006) 10.1002/pc.20196Search in Google Scholar

Baley, C., Busnel, F., Grohens, Y. and Sire, O., “Influence of Chemical Treatments on Surface Properties and Adhesion of Flax Fibre-Polyester Resin”, Composites Part A, 37, 16261637 (2006) 10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.10.014Search in Google Scholar

Belgacem, M. N., Bataille, P. and Sapieha, S., “Effect of Corona Modification on the Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/Cellulose Composites”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 53, 379385 (1994) 10.1002/app.1994.070530401Search in Google Scholar

Ben Brahim, S., Ben Cheikh, R. and Baklouti, M., “The Alfa Fibers in Composite Materials”, ICCM-13 Conference, Beijing, PRC (2001)Search in Google Scholar

Ben Brahim, S., Ben Cheikh, R., “Influence of Fibre Orientation and Volume Fraction on the Tensile Properties of Unidirectional Alfa-Polyester Composite”, Compos. Sci. Technol., 67, 140147 (2007) 10.1016/j.compscitech.2005.10.006Search in Google Scholar

Campos, A. R., Cunha, A. M. and Ben Cheikh, R., “Injection Molding of a Starch Based Polymer Reinforced with Natural Fibres”, ANTEC Conference, Nashville, USA (2003)Search in Google Scholar

Chuai, C., Almdal, K., Poulsen, L. and Plackett, D., “Conifer Fibers as Reinforcing Materials for Polypropylene-Based Composites”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 80, 28332841 (2001) 10.1002/app.1400Search in Google Scholar

Ellouze, A., Jesson, D. and Ben Cheikh, R., “Do Production Process Influence the Mechanical Propreties of Bleached Alfa Pulpboard?, Cellulose, 24, 23132329 (2017) 10.1007/S10570-017-1261-6Search in Google Scholar

Farag, M. M., “Quantitative Methods of Materials Substituion: Application to Automotive Component”, Mater. Des., 29, 374380 (2008) 10.1016/j.matdes.2007.01.028Search in Google Scholar

Felix, J. M., Carlsson, C. M. G. and Gatenholm, P., “Adhesion Characteristics of Oxygen Plasma-Treated Rayon Fibers”, J. Adhes. Sci. Technol., 8, 163180 (1994) 10.1163/156856194X00131Search in Google Scholar

Garcia-Fayos, P., Gasque, M., “Seed vs. Microsite Limitation for Seedling Emergence in the Perennial Grass Stipatenacissima L. (Poaceae)”, Acta. Oecol., 30, 276282 (2006) 10.1016/j.actao.2006.05.003Search in Google Scholar

Gassan, J., Gutowski, V. S., “Effects of Corona Discharge and UV Treatment on the Properties of Jute- Fiber Epoxy Composites”, Compos. Sci. Technol., 60, 28572863 (2000) 10.1016/S0266-3538(00)00168-8Search in Google Scholar

Gloria, G. O., Teles, M. C. A., Lopes, F. P. D., Vieira, C. M. F., Margem, F. M., Gomes, M. A. and Monterio, S. N., “Tensile Strength of Polyester Composites Reinforced with PALF”, J. Mater. Res. Technol., 6, 401405(2017) 10.1016/j.jmrt.2017.08.006Search in Google Scholar

Halpin, J. C., “Stiffness and Expansion Estimates for Oriented Short Fiber Composites”, J. Compos. Mater., 3, 732734 (1969) 10.1177/002199836900300419Search in Google Scholar

15a Halpin, J. C., Tsai, S. W., “Effects of Environmental Factors on Composite Materials”, AFML-TR-67-423 (1969)10.21236/AD0692481Search in Google Scholar

Holbery, J., Houston, D., “Natural-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites in Automative Applications”, JOM, 58, 8086 (2006) 10.1007/S11837-006-0234-2Search in Google Scholar

Jacob John, M., Thomas, S., “Biofibers and Biocomposites”, Carbohydr. Polym., 71, 343364 (2008) 10.1016/j.carbpol.2007.05.040Search in Google Scholar

Joffe, R., Andersons, J. and Wallstrom, L., “Strength and Adhesion Characteristics of Elementary Flax Fibres with Different Surface Treatments”, Composites Part A, 34, 603612 (2003) 10.1016/S1359-835X(03)00099-XSearch in Google Scholar

Kaddami, H., Dufresne, A., Khelifi, B., Bendahou, A., Taourirte, M., Raihane, M., Issartel, N., Sautereau, H., Gérard, J. F. and Sami, N., “Short Palm Tree Fibers – Thermoset Matrices Composites”, Composites Part A, 37, 14131422 (2006) 10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.06.020Search in Google Scholar

Karmaker, A. C., Hoffmann, A. and Hinrichsen, G., “Influence of Water Uptake on the Mechanical Properties of Jute Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 54, 18031807 (1994) 10.1002/app.1994.070541203Search in Google Scholar

Khiari, R., Mhenni, M. F., Belgacem, M. N and Mauret, E. E., “Chemical Composition and Pulping of Date Palm Rachis and Posidoniaoceanica – A Comparison with other Wood and Non-Wood Fiber Sources”, Bioresour. Technol., 101, 775780 (2010)PMid:19766481; 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.079Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Kostic, M., Pejic, B. and Skundric, P., “Quality of Chemically Modified Hemp Fibers”, Bioresour. Technol., 99, 9499 (2008)PMid:17240139; 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.11.050Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Liu, F. P., Wolcott, M. P., Gardner, D. J. and Rials, T. G., “Characterisation of the Interface between Cellulosic Fibres and a Thermoplastic Matrix”, Compos. Interface., 2, 419432 (1994) 10.1163/156855494X00319Search in Google Scholar

Mohanty, A. K., Misra, M. and Hinrichsen, G., “Biofibres, Biodegradable Polymers and Biocomposites: An Overview”, Macromol. Mater. Eng., 276/277, 124 (2000) 10.1002/(SICI)1439-2054(20000301)276:1<1::AID-MAME1>3.0.CO;2-WSearch in Google Scholar

Ouajai, S., Shanks, R. A., “Composition, Structure and Thermal Degradation of Hemp Cellulose after Chemical Treatments”, Polym. Degrad. Stab., 89, 32735(2005) 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2005.01.016Search in Google Scholar

Paiva, M. C., Ammar, I., Campos, A. R., Ben Cheikh, R. and Cunba, A. M., “Alfa Fibers: Mechanical, Morphological and Interfacial Characterization”, Compos. Sci. Technol., 67, 11321138 (2007) 10.1016/j.compscitech.2006.05.019Search in Google Scholar

Rana, A. K., Basak, R. K., Mitra, B. C., Lawther, M. and Banerjee, A. N., “Studies of Acetylation of Jute Using Simplified Procedure and Its Characterization”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 64, 15171523 (1997) 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4628(19970523)64:8<1517::AID-APP9>3.0.CO;2-KSearch in Google Scholar

Satyanarayana, K. G., Sukumaran, K., Mukherjee, P. S. and Pillai, S. G. K., “Materials Science of Some Lignocellulosic Fibers”, Metallography, 19, 389400 (1986) 10.1016/0026-0800(86)90073-XSearch in Google Scholar

Satyanarayana, K. G., Sukumaran, K., Mukherjee, P. S., Pavithran, C. and Pillai, S. G. K., “Natural Fiber–Polymer Composites”, Cement. Concrete. Compos., 12, 117136 (1990) 10.1016/0958-9465(90)90049-4Search in Google Scholar

Seth, R. S., “The Importance of Fibre Straightness for Pulp Strength”, Pulp. Pap. Can., 107, 19 (2006) 200902299298131410Search in Google Scholar

Thomsen, A. B., Thygesen, A., Bohn, V., Nielsen, K. V., Pallensen, B. and J⊘rgensen, M. S., “Effects of Chemical Physical Pre-Treatment Processes on Hemp Fibres for Reinforcement of Composites and for Textiles”, Ind. Crop. Prod., 24, 113118 (2006) 10.1016/j.indcrop.2005.10.003Search in Google Scholar

Troedec, M. L., Sedan, D., Peyratout, C., Bonnet, J. P., Smith, A., Guinebretiere, R., Gloaguen, V. and Krausz, P., “Influence of Various Chemical Treatments on the Composition and Structure of Hemp Fibres”, Composites Part A, 39, 514522 (2008) 10.1016/j.compositesa.2007.12.001Search in Google Scholar

Van De Weyenberg, I., Truong, T. C., Vangrimde, B. and Verpoest, I., “Improving the Properties of UD Flax Fibre Reinforced Composites by Applying an Alkaline Fibre Treatment”, Composites Part A, 37, 13681376, (2006) 10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.08.016Search in Google Scholar

Wambua, P., Ivens, J. and Verpoest, I., “Natural Fibers: Can they Replace Glass in Fibre Reinforced Plastics?”, Compos. Sci. Technol., 63, 125964 (2003) 10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.08.016Search in Google Scholar

Zafeiropoulos, N. E., Dijon, G. G. and Baillie, C. A., “A Study of the Effect of Surface Treatments on the Tensile Strength of Flax Fibres”, Composites Part A, 38, 621628 (2007) 10.1016/j.compositesa.2006.02.004Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2018-01-09
Accepted: 2018-05-26
Published Online: 2019-03-01
Published in Print: 2019-03-07

© 2019, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

Downloaded on 24.5.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.3139/217.3652/html
Scroll to top button