Hybrid nanocomposites combining biopolymer fibers incorporated with nanoparticles (NPs) have received increasing attention due to their remarkable characteristics. Inorganic NPs are typically chosen for their properties, such as magnetism and thermal or electrical conductivity, for example. Meanwhile, the biopolymer fiber component is a backbone, and could act as a support structure for the NPs.
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August 2023
Seeking to improve personal armor equipment by providing mobility and resistance to penetration, this research aimed to explore the potential of sustainable materials in order to assess their ability in ballistic applications. Titica vine fibers (TVFs) extracted from aerial roots of from the Amazon region were incorporated at 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol% into an epoxy matrix for applications in ballistic multilayered armor systems (MASs) and stand-alone tests for personal protection against high-velocity 7.62 mm ammunition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNatural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) have been used as a reinforcement for polymer matrix composites in the past couple of decades. Their biodegradability, renewability, and abundance make them appealing for sustainable materials. However, synthetic fibers surpass NLFs in mechanical and thermal properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFiber-reinforced composites are among the most investigated and industrially applied materials. Many studies on these composites using fibers, especially with natural fibers, were made in response to an urgent action for ambient preservation. A particularly relevant situation exists nowadays in the area of materials durability.
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August 2022
Replacing synthetic fibers with natural ones as reinforcement in polymeric composites is an alternative to contribute to sustainability. Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) have specific mechanical properties that allow their use as reinforcement. Further, graphene oxide (GO) has aroused interest due to its distinctive properties that allow the improvement of fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGraphene oxide (GO) functionalized curaua fiber (CF) has been shown to improve the mechanical properties and ballistic performance of epoxy matrix (EM) nanocomposites with 30 vol% fiber. However, the possibility of further improvement in the property and performance of nanocomposites with a greater percentage of GO functionalized CF is still a challenging endeavor. In the present work, a novel epoxy composite reinforced with 40 vol% CF coated with 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe coating of natural fiber by graphene oxide (GO) has, over, this past decade, attracted increasing attention as an effective way to improve the adhesion to polymer matrices and enhance the composite properties. In particular, the GO-functionalized 30 vol% curaua fiber () reinforcing epoxy composite was found to display superior tensile and thermogravimetric properties as well as higher fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength. In this brief report, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was conducted in up to 50 vol% GO-functionalized curaua fiber reinforced epoxy matrix (EM) composites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGraphene oxide (GO) incorporation in natural fiber composites has recently defined a novel class of materials with enhanced properties for applications, including ballistic armors. In the present work, the performance of a 0.5 vol % GO-incorporated epoxy matrix composite reinforced with 30 vol % fabric made of ramie fibers was investigated by stand-alone ballistic tests against the threat of a 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKnowledge about the curing behavior of a thermosetting resin and its composites includes the determination of kinetic parameters and constitutes an important scientific and technological tool for industrial process optimization. In the present work, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique was used to determine several curing parameters for pure epoxy and its composite reinforced with 20 vol % mallow fibers. Analyses were performed with heating rates of 5, 7.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComposites with sustainable natural fibers are currently experiencing remarkably diversified applications, including in engineering industries, owing to their lower cost and density as well as ease in processing. Among the natural fibers, the fiber extracted from the leaves of the Amazonian curaua plant () is a promising strong candidate to replace synthetic fibers, such as aramid (Kevlar™), in multilayered armor system (MAS) intended for ballistic protection against level III high velocity ammunition. Another remarkable material, the graphene oxide is attracting considerable attention for its properties, especially as coating to improve the interfacial adhesion in polymer composites.
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