Dynamic mechanical behavior of short coir fiber reinforced natural rubber composites

Published Date
November 2005, Vol.36(11):1499–1506, doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.03.004

• Author 

• V.G. Geethamma ^a
• G. Kalaprasad ^b
• Gabriël Groeninckx ^c
• Sabu Thomas ^d,,

• aUniversity College of Engineering, Muttom, Thodupuzha 685 587, Kerala, India
• bDepartment of Chemical Engineering, W.De.Croylaan 46, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
• cLaboratory of Macromolecular Structure Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Katholieke, University of Leuven, 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
• dSchool of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills PO, Kottayam 686 560, Kerala, India

Received 17 May 2004. Revised 25 January 2005. Accepted 3 March 2005. Available online 3 May 2005.

Abstract

Dynamic mechanical behavior of natural rubber and its composites reinforced with short coir fibers has been studied. Maxima in tan δ, E″ and the middle point of E′ vs. temperature curves of the gum natural rubber compound at different frequencies almost coincide with one another. But the maxima in tan δ and E″ do not coincide in the case of composites. It is observed that as frequency increases the values of tan δand E″ decrease whereas the values of E′ increase in the case of both gum and the composites. The values of E″ and tan δ increase with fiber incorporation, which indicates lower heat dissipation in the gum. Two prominent peaks are observed in the tan δ vs. temperature curve of these composites due to the dynamic mechanical behavior of matrix and fiber. The additional small peak represents the dynamic mechanical behavior at the interface. The effect of chemical treatment of coir fiber on damping of composites was studied and it was found that composite with poor interfacial bonding tend to dissipate more energy than that with good interfacial bonding.

Keywords

A. Polymer – matrix composites

A Discontinuous reinforcement

A Fibres

B Adhesion

Dynamic mechanical analysis

---

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

 Table 4

Table 4.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 481 273 0003; fax: +91 481 273 1002.
  
  

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X05001004

Natural fibres: can they replace glass in fibre reinforced plastics?

Published Date

doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00096-4

Eco-Composites

Author 

Paul Wambua ^,

Jan Ivens

Ignaas Verpoest

• Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44 B-3001 Leuven, Belgium

Accepted 21 February 2003. Available online 15 May 2003.

Abstract

In this work, natural fibres (sisal, kenaf, hemp, jute and coir) reinforced polypropylene composites were processed by compression moulding using a film stacking method. The mechanical properties of the different natural fibre composites were tested and compared. A further comparison was made with the corresponding properties of glass mat reinforced polypropylene composites from the open literature. Kenaf, hemp and sisal composites showed comparable tensile strength and modulus results but in impact properties hemp appears to out-perform kenaf. The tensile modulus, impact strength and the ultimate tensile stress of kenaf reinforced polypropylene composites were found to increase with increasing fibre weight fraction. Coir fibre composites displayed the lowest mechanical properties, but their impact strength was higher than that of jute and kenaf composites. In most cases the specific properties of the natural fibre composites were found to compare favourably with those of glass.

Keywords

B. Mechanical properties

A. Glass fibres

Natural fibres

B. Interfacial strength

---

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 1.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

• ∗ 
  Corresponding author. Fax: +32-16-321-990
  
  

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X10000126

Biofibres and biocomposites

Published Date
8 February 2008, Vol.71(3):343–364, doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2007.05.040

Review

• Author 

• Maya Jacob John
• Sabu Thomas ^,,

• School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills P.O., Kottayam, Kerala 686 560, India

Received 14 February 2007. Revised 22 May 2007. Accepted 24 May 2007. Available online 10 June 2007.

Abstract

This review deals with a recent study of the literature on the various aspects of cellulosic fibres and biocomposites. Cellulosic fibre reinforced polymeric composites are finding applications in many fields ranging from construction industry to automotive industry. The pros and cons of using these fibres are enumerated in this review. The classification of composites into green composites, hybrid biocomposites and textile biocomposites are discussed. New developments dealing with cellulose based nanocomposites and electrospinning of nanofibres have also been presented. Recent studies pertaining to the above topics have also been cited. Finally, the applications of cellulosic fibre reinforced polymeric composites have been highlighted.

Keywords

Biocomposite

Biofiber

Green composite

Textile

Hybrid

---

Fig. 1.

 Table 1

Table 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.

Fig. 12.

Fig. 13.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 481 2730003; fax: +91 481 2561190.
  
  

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X10000126