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Polymers
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Reinforced Polymer Composites III
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Reinforced Polymer Composites III

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2022) | Viewed by 46419

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Victor Tcherdyntsev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Leninskii Prosp, 4, 119049 Moscow, Russia
Interests: polymers; composites; graphite; nanotubes; nanoclay
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Further to the success of the Special Issue of Polymers "Reinforced Polymer Composites" and "Reinforced Polymer Composites II", we are delighted to reopen the Special Issue, now entitled "Reinforced Polymer Composites III".

This Special Issue focuses on the recent advances in reinforced polymer composites. Polymer materials are widely used in human life, medicine, and industry. Despite their popularity, polymers have numerous disadvantages, such as insufficient strength, stiffness, creep, and low usage temperature. That is why reinforcing fillers are widely used to improve polymer properties. The following factors should be taken into account to achieve favorable mechanical properties: (a) that uniform distribution of the filler in the polymer matrix of a bulk sample will result in a composite physical and chemical properties uniformity over its volume; (b) the filler should not agglomerate inside the polymer bulk sample because it might act as a stress concentrator; (c) the interaction between fillers and polymer matrix should result in composite supramolecular structure improvement. Strong interfacial interaction between polymer matrix and filler surface can improve load transfer from the matrix to the reinforcing filler.

This Special Issue covers all fields related to reinforced polymer composites, but special attention will be paid to the following aspects:

  • Effect of polymer–filler interface interactions on the composite properties;
  • Carbon fillers for polymers, including fibers, nanotubes, graphene, etc.;
  • Solid-state techniques for polymer composite formation, such as ball-milling, extrusion, molding, etc.;
  • Polymer composites produced by additive manufacturing;
  • Use of recycling materials in polymer composites;
  • Structure of reinforced polymer composites, including the structure of interfaces;
  • Thermal, mechanical, and tribological properties of reinforced polymer composites;
  • Thermal and electrical conductivity of reinforced polymer composites;
  • Computer simulation of reinforced polymer composites mechanical and thermal behavior.

Authors are welcome to submit their latest research in the form of original full articles, communications, or reviews on this topic.

Prof. Dr. Victor Tcherdyntsev
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • composites
  • reinforcers
  • interfaces
  • surfactants
  • carbon
  • thermoplastics
  • thermosets
  • agglomeration
  • orientation
  • additive manufacturing
  • recycling

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (18 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

7 pages, 196 KiB  
Editorial
Reinforced Polymer Composites III
by Victor V. Tcherdyntsev
Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2069; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym15092069 - 27 Apr 2023
Viewed by 3166
Abstract
The development of modern technology requires the development of new materials with improved operational and technological properties [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 1893 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Thermal Properties of Zr-Based Metallic Glass–Polymer Composite with the Addition of Silane
by Adit Sharma, Dmitry Muratov, Mikhail Zadorozhnyy, Andrey Stepashkin, Andrey Bazlov, Artem Korol, Ruslan Sergiienko, Victor Tcherdyntsev and Vladislav Zadorozhnyy
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3548; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14173548 - 29 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1787
Abstract
Composites based on Zr65Cu17.5Ni10Al7.5/PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) with silane were prepared by ball milling with subsequent thermal pressing. Silanization was performed in the alcoholic solution with metallic glass powder. Different composites, 30/70 and 50/50 with silane, were [...] Read more.
Composites based on Zr65Cu17.5Ni10Al7.5/PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) with silane were prepared by ball milling with subsequent thermal pressing. Silanization was performed in the alcoholic solution with metallic glass powder. Different composites, 30/70 and 50/50 with silane, were prepared. During ball milling, Zr2Cu and Zr2Ni intermetallic phases were formed. The Zr-based metallic glass had a large supercooled region, and the melting point of the 30/70 and 50/50 composites with silane was near to the melting point of PTFE. The 50/50 composite (silane) had the highest thermal conductivity compared to the 30/70 composite samples. The incorporation of silane in metallic glass/polymer was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the thermal stability of the composite samples up to 450–460 °C. It was also concluded that the 50/50 composite with silane has better thermal stability than the 30/70 composite with silane. The addition of silane in 30/70 and 50/50 composites increased the thermal conductivity compared to the composites without silane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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20 pages, 6652 KiB  
Article
Mechanical and Thermophysical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyethersulfone
by Valerii G. Torokhov, Dilyus I. Chukov, Victor V. Tcherdyntsev, Galal Sherif, Mikhail Y. Zadorozhnyy, Andrey A. Stepashkin, Ilya I. Larin and Elena V. Medvedeva
Polymers 2022, 14(14), 2956; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14142956 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3873
Abstract
In this study, the mechanical and thermophysical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polyethersulfone are investigated. To enhance the interfacial interaction between carbon fibers and the polymer matrix, the surface modification of carbon fibers by thermal oxidation is conducted. By means of AFM and X-ray [...] Read more.
In this study, the mechanical and thermophysical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polyethersulfone are investigated. To enhance the interfacial interaction between carbon fibers and the polymer matrix, the surface modification of carbon fibers by thermal oxidation is conducted. By means of AFM and X-ray spectroscopy, it is determined that surface modification changes the morphology and chemical composition of carbon fibers. It is shown that surface modification dramatically increases the mechanical properties of the composites. Thus, flexural strength and the E-modulus of the composites reinforced with modified fibers reached approximately 962 MPa and 60 GPa, respectively, compared with approximately 600 MPa and 50 GPa for the composites reinforced with the initial ones. The heat deflection temperatures of the composites reinforced with the initial and modified fibers were measured. It is shown that composites reinforced with modified fibers lose their stability at temperatures of about 211 °C, which correlates with the glass transition temperature of the PES matrix. The thermal conductivity of the composites with different fiber content is investigated in two directions: in-plane and transverse to layers of carbon fibers. The obtained composites had a relatively high realization of the thermal conductive properties of carbon fibers, up to 55–60%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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16 pages, 4653 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties of Bambusa Oldhamii and Yushania-Alpina Bamboo Fibres Reinforced Polypropylene Composites
by Yalew Dessalegn, Balkeshwar Singh, Aart W. van Vuure, Ali A. Rajhi, Alaauldeen A. Duhduh, Nazia Hossain and Gulam Mohammed Sayeed Ahmed
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2733; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14132733 - 04 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1768
Abstract
The current studies aim to measure the mechanical strength based on age, harvesting season and bamboo species in Ethiopia. The bamboo fibres are extracted using a roll milling machine, which was developed by the author. The age groups (1, 2 and 3 years), [...] Read more.
The current studies aim to measure the mechanical strength based on age, harvesting season and bamboo species in Ethiopia. The bamboo fibres are extracted using a roll milling machine, which was developed by the author. The age groups (1, 2 and 3 years), harvesting months (February and November), and bamboo species (Yushania alpina and Bambusa oldhamii) are the parameters of the current research studies. Prepregs and composites were produced from bamboo fibres and polypropylene. The mechanical properties of bamboo fibres and their composites in Ethiopia have not been investigated by researchers for the composite application so far. The tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and impact strength of injibara (Y. alpina) bamboo fibres reinforced PP composites from the ages of 1– 3 years old in November is 111 ± 9–125 ± 8 MPa, 15 ± 0.9–25 ± 0.72 GPa, and 47 ± 5 KJ/m2–57 ± 6 KJ/m2, whereas, in February, it is 86 ± 3.86–116 ± 10 MPa, 11 ± 0.71–23 ± 1.5 GPa, and 34 ± 4–52 ± 6 KJ/m2, respectively. Moreover, Kombolcha (B. oldhamii), bamboo fibres reinforced PP composites in November are 93 ± 7–111 ± 8 MPa, 7 ± 0.51–17 ± 2.56 GPa, and 39 ± 4–44 ± 5 KJ/m2, whereas, in February, it is 60 ± 5–104 ± 10 MPa, 12 ± 0.95–14 ± 0.92 GPa, and 26 ± 3 KJ/m2–38 ± 4 KJ/m2, respectively. Furthermore, Mekaneselam (Y. alpina) bamboo fibres reinforced PP composites in November are 99 ± 8–120 ± 11 MPa, 9 ± 0.82–16 ± 1.85 GPa, and 37 ± 4 KJ/m2–46 ± 5 KJ/m2, whereas, in February, it is 91 ± 8–110 ± 9 MPa, 8 ± 0.75–14 ± 1.86 GPa, and 34 ± 3 KJ/m2–40 ± 4 KJ/m2, respectively. At two years, November and Injibara bamboo have recorded the highest mechanical properties in the current research studies. Bamboo fiber strength in Ethiopia is comparable to the previous study of bamboo fibres and glass fibres used for composite materials in the automotive industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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18 pages, 6952 KiB  
Article
Comparative Investigation on Improved Aerodynamic and Acoustic Performance of Abnormal Rotors by Bionic Edge Design and Rational Material Selection
by Wenda Song, Zhengzhi Mu, Yufei Wang, Zhiyan Zhang, Shuang Zhang, Ze Wang, Bo Li, Junqiu Zhang, Shichao Niu, Zhiwu Han and Luquan Ren
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2552; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14132552 - 23 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2036
Abstract
Rotor plays a vital role in the dynamical system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Prominent aerodynamic and acoustic performance are a long-term pursuit for the rotor. Inspired by excellent quiet flight characteristics of owls, this work adopted bionic edge design and rational [...] Read more.
Rotor plays a vital role in the dynamical system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Prominent aerodynamic and acoustic performance are a long-term pursuit for the rotor. Inspired by excellent quiet flight characteristics of owls, this work adopted bionic edge design and rational material selection strategy to improve aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the rotor. A reference model of rotor prototype with streamlined edges was firstly generated by reverse engineering method. With inspiration from owl wings and feathers, bionic rotors with rational design on leading and trailing edges were obtained. Original and bionic rotors were fabricated with polyamide PA 12 and Resin 9400 by 3D printing technique. Aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the as-fabricated rotors were experimentally measured and analyzed in detail using a self-established test system. Comparative experimental results indicated that the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the rotors was closely related to the bionic structures, material properties, and rotational speeds. At the same rotational speed, bionic rotor fabricated with Resin 9400 can produce a higher thrust than the prototype one and its power consumption was also reduced. The resulting noise of different bionic rotors and their directivities were comparatively investigated. The results verified the bionic edge design strategy can effectively control the turbulent flow field and smoothly decompose the airflow near the tailing edge, which resulting in enhancing the thrust and reducing the noise. This work could provide beneficial inspiration and strong clues for mechanical engineers and material scientists to design new abnormal rotors with promising aerodynamic and acoustic performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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12 pages, 4123 KiB  
Article
Fracture Toughness of Moldable Low-Temperature Carbonized Elastomer-Based Composites Filled with Shungite and Short Carbon Fibers
by Semen D. Ignatyev, Eugene S. Statnik, Dmitriy Yu. Ozherelkov, Dmitry D. Zherebtsov, Alexey I. Salimon, Dilyus I. Chukov, Victor V. Tcherdyntsev, Andrey A. Stepashkin and Alexander M. Korsunsky
Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1793; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14091793 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
This work evaluated the fracture toughness of the low-temperature carbonized elastomer-based composites filled with shungite and short carbon fibers. The effects of the carbonization temperature and filler content on the critical stress intensity factor (K1c) were examined. The K [...] Read more.
This work evaluated the fracture toughness of the low-temperature carbonized elastomer-based composites filled with shungite and short carbon fibers. The effects of the carbonization temperature and filler content on the critical stress intensity factor (K1c) were examined. The K1c parameter was obtained using three-point bending tests for specimens with different l/b ratio (notch depth to sample thickness) ranging from 0.2 to 0.4. Reliable detection of the initiation and propagation of cracks was achieved using an acoustic sensor was attached to the samples during the bending test. The critical stress intensity factor was found to decrease linearly with increasing carbonization temperature. As the temperature increased from 280 to 380 °C, the K1c parameter was drastically reduced from about 5 to 1 MPa·m1/2 and was associated with intense outgassing during the carbonization step that resulted in sample porosity. The carbon fiber addition led to some incremental toughening; however, it reduced the statistical dispersion of the K1c values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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18 pages, 4170 KiB  
Article
Expandable Graphite as a Multifunctional Flame-Retarding Additive for Highly Filled Thermal Conductive Polymer Formulations
by Florian Tomiak, Kevin Schneider, Angelina Schoeffel, Klaus Rathberger and Dietmar Drummer
Polymers 2022, 14(8), 1613; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14081613 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
Expandable graphite (EG) and graphite (G) were assessed as multifunctional additives improving both flame retardancy and thermal conductivity in highly filled, thermal conductive polymeric materials based on polyamide 6 (PA6). Fire testing was conducted using modern UL-94, LOI and cone calorimeter test setups. [...] Read more.
Expandable graphite (EG) and graphite (G) were assessed as multifunctional additives improving both flame retardancy and thermal conductivity in highly filled, thermal conductive polymeric materials based on polyamide 6 (PA6). Fire testing was conducted using modern UL-94, LOI and cone calorimeter test setups. It is demonstrated that thermal conductivity can significantly influence the time to ignition, although offering little fire resistance once ignited even in highly filled systems. Thus, for PA6 formulations containing solely 70 wt.% G, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) measured in cone calorimeter tests was 193 kW/m², whereas PA6 formulations containing 20 wt.% EG/50 wt.% G did not exhibit a measurable heat development. Particular attention was paid to effect separation between thermal conductivity and residue formation. Good thermal conductivity properties are proven to be particularly effective in test scenarios where the heat impact is comparatively low and the testing environment provides good heat dissipation and convective cooling possibilities. For candle-like ignition scenarios (e.g., LOI), filling levels of >50 wt.% (G or EG/G) are shown to be sufficient to suppress ignition exclusively by thermal conductivity. V0 classifications in UL-94 vertical burning tests were achieved for PA6 formulations containing ≥70 wt.% G, ≥25 wt.% EG and ≥20 wt.% EG/25 wt.% G. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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20 pages, 3882 KiB  
Article
Expandable Graphite, Aluminum Diethylphospinate and Melamine Polyphosphate as Flame Retarding System in Glass Fiber-Reinforced PA6
by Florian Tomiak, Angelina Schoeffel, Klaus Rathberger and Dietmar Drummer
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1263; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14061263 - 21 Mar 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2379
Abstract
A flame retardant system based on expandable graphite (EG), aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPI) and melamine polyphosphate (MPP) was investigated in glass fiber- (GF) reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6). Burning characteristics were evaluated via cone calorimeter, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 tests. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) [...] Read more.
A flame retardant system based on expandable graphite (EG), aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPI) and melamine polyphosphate (MPP) was investigated in glass fiber- (GF) reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6). Burning characteristics were evaluated via cone calorimeter, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 tests. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and coupled Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate the decomposition process as well as flame retardant modes of actions. Specifically, in the cone calorimeter tests, formulations containing EG showed excellent flame retardant properties for non-reinforced and reinforced PA6. The best performance was achieved for 25 wt.% glass fiber-reinforced PA6 containing solely 20 wt.% EG, corresponding to a measured pHRR of 134 kW/m2 and a total smoke production of 1.2 m2. Higher glass fiber contents of 45 wt.% (30 vol.%) revealed a lower char volume, which was attributed to both the limited space available for expansion and the sheer-induced reduction in particle size during processing. All of the reinforced PA6 formulations only achieved V2 classifications, but this was at low filling degrees (10 wt.%) for both net EG or EG/AlPi/MPP combinations. For GF-reinforced PA6 containing EG/AlPi/MPP mixtures, a synergistic effect was found to improve the oxygen index up to 30.6%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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17 pages, 3725 KiB  
Article
Characterizing the Structural Behavior of FRP Profiles—FRCM Hybrid Superficial Elements: Experimental and Numerical Studies
by Amir Reza Eskenati, Amir Mahboob, Ernest Bernat-Maso and Lluís Gil
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1076; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14061076 - 08 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1613
Abstract
Composite materials have been increasingly used to produce hybrid structures together with concrete. This system is commonly applied to bridges and roof structures. The main idea of the current research was to extend this approach by replacing the concrete with a fabric-reinforced cementitious [...] Read more.
Composite materials have been increasingly used to produce hybrid structures together with concrete. This system is commonly applied to bridges and roof structures. The main idea of the current research was to extend this approach by replacing the concrete with a fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composite, resulting in a combination of composite materials. The main aim was to characterize the structural behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) profiles and FRCM hybrid superficial elements. Two different prototypes of the hybrid superficial structural typology were tested to cover bidimensional and three-dimensional application cases of the proposed technology. After mortar cracking, the experimental results revealed a ductile response and a high mechanical capacity. A finite element model was implemented, calibrated, and validated by comparing numerical data with experimental results of the two prototypes. The output was a validated model that correctly captured the characteristic response of the proposed technology, which consisted of changing the structural response from a stiff plate configuration to a membrane type due to cracking of the FRCM composite part of the full solution. The suggested numerical model adequately reflected the experimental response and proved valuable for understanding and explaining the resistive processes established along this complicated FRP-FRCM hybrid structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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19 pages, 3819 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Study of Adhesively and Bolted Connections of Pultruded GFRP I-Shape Profiles
by Amir Reza Eskenati, Amir Mahboob, Ernest Bernat-Maso and Lluís Gil
Polymers 2022, 14(5), 894; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14050894 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1835
Abstract
Recent developments indicate that the application of pultruded FRP profiles has been continuously growing in the construction industry. Generating more complex structures composed of pultruded FRP profiles requires joining them. In particular, I-shape glass fiber pultruded profiles are commonly used and the possible [...] Read more.
Recent developments indicate that the application of pultruded FRP profiles has been continuously growing in the construction industry. Generating more complex structures composed of pultruded FRP profiles requires joining them. In particular, I-shape glass fiber pultruded profiles are commonly used and the possible joints to connect them should be specifically studied. The mechanical behavior of adhesively and bolted joints for pultruded Glass FRP (GFRP) profiles has been experimentally addressed and numerically modeled. A total of nine specimens with different configurations (bolted joints, adhesive joints, web joints, web and flange joints, and two different angles between profiles) were fabricated and tested, extending the available published information. The novelty of the research is in the direct comparison of joint technologies (bolted vs. adhesive), joint configuration (web vs. flange + web) and angles between profiles in a comprehensive way. Plates for flange joints were fabricated with carbon fiber FRP. Experimental results indicate that adding the bolted flange connection allowed for a slight increase of the load bearing capacity (up to 15%) but a significant increase in the stiffness (between 2 and 7 times). Hence, it is concluded that using carbon FRP bolted flange connection should be considered when increasing the joint stiffness is sought. Adhesively connections only reached 25% of the expected shear strength according to the adhesive producer if comparing the numerically calculated shear strength at the failure time with the shear strength capacity of the adhesive. Apart from assessing adhesive connections, the implemented 3D numerical model was aimed at providing a simplified effective tool to effectively design bolted joints. Although the accurate fitting between experimental and numerical results of the mechanical response, especially the stiffness of the joint, the local failure experimentally observed was not automatically represented by the model, because of the simplified definition of the materials oriented to make the model available for a wide range of practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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18 pages, 5051 KiB  
Article
Ductility Enhancement of Sustainable Fibrous-Reinforced High-Strength Lightweight Concrete
by Md. Akter Hosen, Mahaad Issa Shammas, Sukanta Kumer Shill, Safat Al-Deen, Mohd Zamin Jumaat and Huzaifa Hashim
Polymers 2022, 14(4), 727; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14040727 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2498
Abstract
To limit the cross-sectional size of concrete structures, high-strength, lightweight concrete is preferred for the design and construction of structural elements. However, the main drawback of high-strength, lightweight concrete is its brittleness over normal-weight concrete. The ductility of concrete is a crucial factor, [...] Read more.
To limit the cross-sectional size of concrete structures, high-strength, lightweight concrete is preferred for the design and construction of structural elements. However, the main drawback of high-strength, lightweight concrete is its brittleness over normal-weight concrete. The ductility of concrete is a crucial factor, which plays an important role when the concrete structures are subjected to extreme situations, such as earthquakes and wind. This study aims to improve the ductility of high-strength, lightweight concrete by incorporating steel fibers. The palm oil clinker (POC)-based, high-strength, lightweight concrete specimens reinforced with steel fibers were prepared and their ductility was systematically examined. POC was used as aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials. Steel fibers from 0–1.50% (by volume), with an increment of 0.5%, were used in the concrete mix. Compression ductility, displacement ductility and energy ductility were used as indicators to evaluate the enhancement of ductility. Moreover, the compressive strength, flexural strength, stress-strain behavior, modulus of elasticity, load-displacement characteristics, energy absorption capacity and deformability of the concrete samples were investigated. The compression ductility, displacement ductility and energy ductility indexes were found to be increased by up to 472%, 140% and 568% compared to the control specimens (concrete with 0% steel fibers), respectively. Moreover, the deformability and energy absorption capacity of the concrete were increased by up to 566% and 125%, respectively. Therefore, POC-based, high-strength, fibrous, lightweight concrete could perform better than conventional concrete under extreme loading conditions as it showed significantly higher ductility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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16 pages, 7745 KiB  
Article
Performance Investigation and Cost–Benefit Analysis of Recycled Tire Polymer Fiber-Reinforced Cemented Paste Backfill
by Zhuoqun Yu, Yongyan Wang and Jianguang Li
Polymers 2022, 14(4), 708; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14040708 - 12 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1946
Abstract
To alleviate the environmental problems caused by scrap tire and tailings disposal, the performance of recycled tire polymer fiber (RTPF)-reinforced cemented paste backfill (CPB) was investigated. Ordinary CPB, commercial poly-propylene fiber (CPPF) and reinforced CPB were also investigated for comparison. Slump tests, unconfined [...] Read more.
To alleviate the environmental problems caused by scrap tire and tailings disposal, the performance of recycled tire polymer fiber (RTPF)-reinforced cemented paste backfill (CPB) was investigated. Ordinary CPB, commercial poly-propylene fiber (CPPF) and reinforced CPB were also investigated for comparison. Slump tests, unconfined compression tests and a cost–benefit analysis were conducted. The results indicate that the flowability of the RTPF-reinforced CPB decreased with the increasing fiber content. The failure strain, unconfined compressive strength, and toughness values were generally higher than that of ordinary CPB (i.e., CPB without any fiber reinforcement). However, the mechanical properties would not be improved continuously with increasing RTPF content. It was found that the inclusion of RTPFs achieved the best improvement effect with the best mechanical properties of CPB at the fiber content of 0.6%. The failure mode of the RTPF-reinforced CPB was safer than that of the ordinary CPB. Microscopic observations indicated that the bond between RTPFs and the CPB matrix could affect the mechanical properties of the RTPF-reinforced CPB. From the cost–benefit analysis, the inclusion of RTPFs to reinforce CPB could gain relatively high mechanical properties with a low material cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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17 pages, 5859 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigation of the Orientability of Single Reinforcement Fibers in Polymer Matrices
by Anja Winkler, Niels Modler, Maik Gude, Yun Xu, Martin Helwig, Eike Dohmen, Axel Dittes, Dominik Höhlich and Thomas Lampke
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 534; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14030534 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2185
Abstract
Fiber-reinforced polymers are increasingly being used, especially in lightweight structures. Here, the effective adaptation of mechanical or physical properties to the necessary application or manufacturing requirements plays an important role. In this context, the alignment of reinforcing fibers is often hindered by manufacturing [...] Read more.
Fiber-reinforced polymers are increasingly being used, especially in lightweight structures. Here, the effective adaptation of mechanical or physical properties to the necessary application or manufacturing requirements plays an important role. In this context, the alignment of reinforcing fibers is often hindered by manufacturing aspects. To achieve graded or locally adjusted alignment of different fiber lengths, common manufacturing technologies such as injection molding or compression molding need to be supported by the external non-mechanical process. Magnetic or electrostatic fields seem to be particularly suitable for this purpose. The present work shows a first simulation study of the alignment of magnetic particles in polymer matrices as a function of different parameters. The parameters studied are the viscosity of the surrounding polymer as a function of the focused processing methods, the fiber length, the thickness and permeability of the magnetic fiber coatings, and the magnetic flux density. The novelty of the presented works is in the development of an advanced simulation model that allows the simulative representation and reveal of the fluid–structure interaction, the influences of these parameters on the inducible magnetic torque and fiber alignment of a single fiber. Accordingly, the greatest influence on fiber alignment is caused by the magnetic flux density and the coating material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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18 pages, 3816 KiB  
Article
Effect of Graphite Filler Type on the Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Behavior of Polysulfone-Based Composites
by Hussam Mohammad, Andrey A. Stepashkin and Victor V. Tcherdyntsev
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 399; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14030399 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3286
Abstract
The goal of this study was to create a high-filled composite material based on polysulfone using various graphite materials. Composite material based on graphite-filled polysulfone was prepared using a solution method which allows the achievement of a high content of fillers up to [...] Read more.
The goal of this study was to create a high-filled composite material based on polysulfone using various graphite materials. Composite material based on graphite-filled polysulfone was prepared using a solution method which allows the achievement of a high content of fillers up to 70 wt.%. Alongside the analysis of the morphology and structure, the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the composites obtained were studied. Structural analysis shows how the type of filler affects the structure of the composites with the appearance of pores in all samples which also has a noticeable effect on composites’ properties. In terms of thermal conductivity, the results show that using natural graphite as a filler gives the best results in thermal conductivity compared to artificial and expanded graphite, with the reduction of thermal conductivity while increasing temperature. Flexural tests show that using artificial graphite as a filler gives the composite material the best mechanical load transfer compared to natural or expanded graphite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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17 pages, 5337 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Performance of Granite Fine Fly Dust-Filled Basalt/Glass Polyurethane Polymer Hybrid Composites
by Napisah Sapiai, Aidah Jumahat, Mohammad Jawaid, Md Zin Abu and Mochamad Chalid
Polymers 2021, 13(18), 3032; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13183032 - 08 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2095
Abstract
The granite processing industry generates large amounts of bottom granite dust waste every day. After the drying and heating process of concrete mixture production, the granite dust is blown and collected in the filtering nozzle. This very fine particle granite dry fly dust, [...] Read more.
The granite processing industry generates large amounts of bottom granite dust waste every day. After the drying and heating process of concrete mixture production, the granite dust is blown and collected in the filtering nozzle. This very fine particle granite dry fly dust, with a particle size maximum distribution of 500 μm, can easily be blown away by wind and cause serious environmental impacts. The use of this waste material would be an effective way to reduce such impacts. Therefore, this paper presents an experimental study on the potential of granite dust as a filler in enhancing the mechanical performance of a hybrid basalt/glass (WB/GCSM) composite. The unhole and open hole tensile (UHT and OHT) properties, low velocity impact (LVI) properties, quasi-static indentations (QSI) properties, flexural properties, interlaminar shear stress (ILSS) properties, and morphology of the developed WB/GCSM composites were evaluated. To meet the objective of this study, composite specimens were produced using 1.5–60 μm granite fly dust at three (3) different loadings (1, 3 and 5 wt%). This granite fly dust was incorporated into polyurethane resin using a mechanical stirring technique. The production of FRP laminates then completed using a hand lay-up and vacuum bagging technique. Four types of the WB/GCSM composites systems, i.e., [WB/GCSM], [WB/GCSM/1GD], [WB/GCSM/3GD] and [WB/GCSM/5GD] were fabricated and compared. The analysis results for the mechanical tests revealed that the incorporation of granite dust of up to 3 wt% had increased the UHT, OHT, LVI, QSI, flexural and ILSS properties of all WB/GCSM composites systems. Higher levels of damage tolerance in UHT and OHT tests, and increased ductility index in the LVI test were obtained when granite dust was added up to 5 wt%. However, a remarkable improvement in all mechanical properties was noticed for [WB/GCSM/1GD], which recorded the highest mechanical performance among all WB/GCSM composite systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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11 pages, 3172 KiB  
Article
Toward Physicochemical and Rheological Characterization of Different Injectable Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers Cross-Linked with Polyethylene Glycol Diglycidyl Ether
by Nicola Zerbinati, Sabrina Sommatis, Cristina Maccario, Maria Chiara Capillo, Giulia Grimaldi, Giuseppe Alonci, Marina Protasoni, Raffaele Rauso and Roberto Mocchi
Polymers 2021, 13(6), 948; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13060948 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4176
Abstract
(1) Background: Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers are used to restore volume, hydration and skin tone in aesthetic medicine. HA fillers differ from each other due to their cross-linking technologies, with the aim to increase mechanical and biological activities. One of the [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers are used to restore volume, hydration and skin tone in aesthetic medicine. HA fillers differ from each other due to their cross-linking technologies, with the aim to increase mechanical and biological activities. One of the most recent and promising cross-linkers is polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE), used by the company Matex Lab S.p.A., (Brindisi, Italy) to create the HA dermal filler PEGDE family. Over the last few years, several studies have been performed to investigate the biocompatibility and biodegradability of these formulations, but little information is available regarding their matrix structure, rheological and physicochemical properties related to their cross-linking technologies, the HA content or the degree of cross-linking. (2) Methods: Seven different injectable HA hydrogels were subjected to optical microscopic examination, cohesivity evaluation and rheological characterization in order to investigate their behavior. (3) Results: The analyzed cross-linked dermal fillers showed a fibrous “spiderweb-like” matrix structure, with each medical device presenting different and peculiar rheological features. Except for HA non cross-linked hydrogel 18 mg/mL, all showed an elastic and cohesive profile. (4) Conclusions: The comparative analysis with other literature works makes a preliminary characterization of these injectable medical devices possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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17 pages, 32937 KiB  
Article
Effect of Low Hydroxyapatite Loading Fraction on the Mechanical and Tribological Characteristics of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Nanocomposites for Dentures
by Ahmed Fouly, Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, El-Sayed M. Sherif, Ahmed M.R. FathEl-Bab and A.H. Badran
Polymers 2021, 13(6), 857; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13060857 - 11 Mar 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2761
Abstract
Denture base materials need appropriate mechanical and tribological characteristics to endure different stresses inside the mouth. This study investigates the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with different low loading fractions (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt.%) of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles. HA [...] Read more.
Denture base materials need appropriate mechanical and tribological characteristics to endure different stresses inside the mouth. This study investigates the properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with different low loading fractions (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt.%) of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles. HA nanoparticles with different loading fractions are homogenously dispersed in the PMMA matrix through mechanical mixing. The resulting density, Compressive Young’s modulus, compressive yield strength, ductility, fracture toughness, and hardness were evaluated experimentally; the friction coefficient and wear were estimated by rubbing the PMMA/HA nanocomposites against stainless steel and PMMA counterparts. A finite element model was built to determine the wear layer thickness and the stress distribution along the nanocomposite surfaces during the friction process. In addition, the wear mechanisms were elucidated via scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that increasing the concentration of HA nanoparticles increases the stiffness, compressive yield strength, toughness, ductility, and hardness of the PMMA nanocomposite. Moreover, tribological tests show that increasing the nanoparticle weight fraction considerably decreases the friction coefficient and wear loss. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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17 pages, 4621 KiB  
Article
Hypergravity-Induced Accumulation: A New, Efficient, and Simple Strategy to Improve the Thermal Conductivity of Boron Nitride Filled Polymer Composites
by Kangkang Yu, Tao Yuan, Songdi Zhang and Chenlu Bao
Polymers 2021, 13(3), 459; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13030459 - 31 Jan 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3417
Abstract
Thermal conductive polymer composites (filled type) consisting of thermal conductive fillers and a polymer matrix have been widely used in a range of areas. More than 10 strategies have been developed to improve the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. Here we report a [...] Read more.
Thermal conductive polymer composites (filled type) consisting of thermal conductive fillers and a polymer matrix have been widely used in a range of areas. More than 10 strategies have been developed to improve the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. Here we report a new “hypergravity accumulation” strategy. Raw material mixtures of boron nitride/silicone rubber composites were treated in hypergravity fields (800–20,000 g, relative gravity acceleration) before heat-curing. A series of comparison studies were made. It was found that hypergravity treatments could efficiently improve the microstructures and thermal conductivity of the composites. When the hypergravity was about 20,000 g (relative gravity acceleration), the obtained spherical boron nitride/silicone rubber composites had highly compacted microstructures and high and isotropic thermal conductivity. The highest thermal conductivity reached 4.0 W/mK. Thermal interface application study showed that the composites could help to decrease the temperature on a light-emitting diode (LED) chip by 5 °C. The mechanism of the improved microstructure increased thermal conductivity, and the high viscosity problem in the preparation of boron nitride/silicone rubber composites, and the advantages and disadvantages of the hypergravity accumulation strategy, were discussed. Overall, this work has provided a new, efficient, and simple strategy to improve the thermal conductivity of boron nitride/silicone rubber and other polymer composites (filled type). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reinforced Polymer Composites III)
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