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Advances in Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites: Processing and Properties

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 43210

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emanoil Linul

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: lightweight composite materials; porous and cellular materials; advanced metallic foams; syntactic foams; mechanical characterization; microstructural analysis; structure–property relationships; failure mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Dipen Kumar Rajak

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Centre, Nashik, India
Interests: fibre-reinforcemnet composites; lighweight materials; metallic foams; mechanical charecterizations; crashworthiness; impcat loading; design of experiments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Cristina Vălean

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 1 Mihai Viteazu Avenue, 300 222 Timisoara, Romania
2. Research Institute for Renewable Energies, Politehnica University of Timisoara, 138 Musicescu Gavril Street, 300 774 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: advanced composite materials; additive manufacturing; cellular materials; polymeric foams; mechanical testing; finite element analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the 21st century, composites have been recognized as the most promising and diverse materials available on the world market. Composite structures reinforced with synthetic or natural fibers are gaining more importance as the demand for high-strength lightweight materials increases. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have received considerable attention from academicians, scientists, and researchers due to the development of novel synthesis approaches and to their excellent properties. FRP composites are characterized not only by a high strength-to-weight ratio but also by exceptional qualities, such as high stiffness, durability, flexural strength, and damping properties, and good resistance to wear, corrosion, impact, and fire. These diversified features have allowed multipurpose applications of FRP composites in various fields, including mechanical and structural engineering and aerospace, marine, automobile, biomedical, and many other manufacturing industries. Therefore, FRP composites are the ideal candidates for all those applications in which high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio allow for sustainability and long life cycle. When combining composites with reinforcement supplements, the use of natural compounds containing synthetic fibers and of synthetics containing natural fiber materials in a mixture or as individual constituents may be mandatory to obtain superior properties of the resulting composites. In addition, FRP composites are gaining attention because of their ecofriendly nature and sustainability.

The main aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for academicians and researchers worldwide to publish their work on natural/synthetic fibers and the processing and properties of FRP composites. Research and review articles, along with short communications, are invited for this Special Issue.

Dr. Emanoil Linul
Dr. Dipen Kumar Rajak
Dr. Cristina Vălean
Guest Editors

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

Natural Fibers
Synthesis Fibers
Processing Techniques
Properties Characteristics
Composites Materials
Thermal Behaviors
Environmentally Friendly
Recycle and Degradable

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 5801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Alkaline Treatment on Poly(lactic acid)/Date Palm Wood Green Composites for Thermal Insulation

by Hyder Al Abdallah, Basim Abu-Jdayil and Muhammad Z. Iqbal

Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061143 - 12 Mar 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3509

Abstract

In this work, the effect of alkaline treatment on the thermal insulation and mechanical properties of date palm wood fibers (DPWF) and polylactic acid (PLA) green composite was studied. Alkaline treatment was applied to DPWF using two different solutions: sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH), with concentration of 2 vol.%. The fibers were later incorporated into PLA with weight percentages from 10 to 40 wt.%, to form three composite types: PLA with untreated fibers (PLA-UTDPWF), PLA with KOH treated fibers (PLA-KOH), and PLA with NaOH treated fibers (PLA-NaOH). The prepared composites were for use as a green thermal insulation material. The composites were tested to assess the effect of treatment on their physical (density and degree of crystallization), thermal (thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, thermal degradation, glass transition, and melting temperature), and mechanical properties. Moreover, the composite structural characteristics were investigated using FTIR and SEM analysis. The alkaline treatment significantly increased the crystallinity of the composites, specifically for higher filler loadings of 30 and 40 wt.%. The crystallinity for the 40 wt.% increased from 33.2% for PLA-UTDPWF, to 41% and 51%, for PLA-NaOH and PLA-KOH, respectively. Moreover, the alkaline treatment reduced the density and produced lighter composites than the untreated specimens. For instance, the density of 40 wt.% composite was reduced from 1.43, to 1.22 and 1.30

\frac{g}{{cm}^{3}}

for PLA-NaOH and PLA-KOH, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites: Processing and Properties)

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18 pages, 8434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Velocity Impact Analysis of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF) Hybrid Composites

by Muhammad Imran Najeeb, Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan, Ain Umaira Md Shah, Siti Madiha Muhammad Amir, Syafiqah Nur Azrie Safri, Mohammad Jawaid and Mohamad Rabaie Shari

Polymers 2021, 13(18), 3194; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13183194 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4288

Abstract

The low-velocity impact behaviour of pineapple leaf fiber, PALF reinforce epoxy composite (P), PALF hybrid (GPG), and four-layer woven glass fiber (GGGG) composite was investigated. As for post-impact analysis, the damage evaluation was assessed through photographic images and X-ray computed tomography, using CT scan techniques. The key findings from this study are that a positive hybrid effect of PALF as a reinforcement was seen where the GPG shows the delayed time taken for damage initiation and propagation through the whole sample compared to GGGG. This clearly shows that the addition of fibers does have comparable composite properties with a fully synthetic composite. Through the visual inspection captured by photographic image, the presence of woven fiber glass mat in GPG presents a different damage mode compared to P. Moreover, CT scan results show extended internal damage at the cross-section of all impacted composite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites: Processing and Properties)

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18 pages, 7419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sequential Laser–Mechanical Drilling of Thick Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites (CFRP) for Industrial Applications

by Sharizal Ahmad Sobri, Robert Heinemann and David Whitehead

Polymers 2021, 13(13), 2136; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13132136 - 29 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3142

Abstract

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) can be costly to manufacture, but they are typically used anywhere a high strength-to-weight ratio and a high steadiness (rigidity) are needed in many industrial applications, particularly in aerospace. Drilling composites with a laser tends to be a feasible method since one of the composite phases is often in the form of a polymer, and polymers in general have a very high absorption coefficient for infrared radiation. The feasibility of sequential laser–mechanical drilling for a thick CFRP is discussed in this article. A 1 kW fibre laser was chosen as a pre-drilling instrument (or initial stage), and mechanical drilling was the final step. The sequential drilling method dropped the overall thrust and torque by an average of 61%, which greatly increased the productivity and reduced the mechanical stress on the cutting tool while also increasing the lifespan of the bit. The sequential drilling (i.e., laser 8 mm and mechanical 8 mm) for both drill bits (i.e., 2- and 3-flute uncoated tungsten carbide) and the laser pre-drilling techniques has demonstrated the highest delamination factor (S_FDSR) ratios. A new laser–mechanical sequence drilling technique is thus established, assessed, and tested when thick CFRP composites are drilled. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites: Processing and Properties)

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18 pages, 6412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Structural Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Columns with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composite Bars and Hoops

by Ali Raza, Ahmad Rashedi, Umer Rafique, Nazia Hossain, Banjo Akinyemi and Jesuarockiam Naveen

Polymers 2021, 13(9), 1508; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091508 - 7 May 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2931

Abstract

Structural members comprising geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars have not been investigated appropriately for axial compressive loading cases. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by evaluating the structural efficiency of GFRP-reinforced geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (GGRAC)-based members subjected to axial compressive loading. A total of nine compressive members (250 mm in cross-section and 1150 mm in height) were constructed to examine the effect of the number of longitudinal GFRP bars and the vertical spacing of transverse GFRP hoops/ties. The experimental results portrayed that the ductility of GGRAC compressive members improved with the reduction in the pitch of GFRP hoops. The axial load-carrying capacity (LCC) of GGRAC compressive members increased by increasing the number of GFRP bars up to eight (corresponding to a reinforcement ratio of 2.11%) while it decreased by using ten longitudinal GFRP bars (corresponding to a reinforcement ratio of 2.65%). Additionally, an empirical model was suggested to predict the axial LCC of GGRAC compressive members based on a large amount of experimental data of similar members. The experimental results and related theoretical predictions substantially prove the applicability and accuracy of the proposed model. The proposed column represents a feasible structural member in terms of material availability and environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites: Processing and Properties)

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Review

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42 pages, 5652 KiB

Open AccessReview

Manufacturing Technologies of Carbon/Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Their Properties: A Review

by Dipen Kumar Rajak, Pratiksha H. Wagh and Emanoil Linul

Polymers 2021, 13(21), 3721; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213721 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 156 | Viewed by 27711

Abstract

Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest in the study of lightweight composite materials. Due to their tailorable properties and unique characteristics (high strength, flexibility and stiffness), glass (GFs) and carbon (CFs) fibers are widely used in the production of advanced polymer matrix composites. Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites have been developed by different fabrication methods and are extensively used for diverse engineering applications. A considerable amount of research papers have been published on GFRP and CFRP composites, but most of them focused on particular aspects. Therefore, in this review paper, a detailed classification of the existing types of GFs and CFs, highlighting their basic properties, is presented. Further, the oldest to the newest manufacturing techniques of GFRP and CFRP composites have been collected and described in detail. Furthermore, advantages, limitations and future trends of manufacturing methodologies are emphasized. The main properties (mechanical, vibrational, environmental, tribological and thermal) of GFRP and CFRP composites were summarized and documented with results from the literature. Finally, applications and future research directions of FRP composites are addressed. The database presented herein enables a comprehensive understanding of the GFRP and CFRP composites’ behavior and it can serve as a basis for developing models for predicting their behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites: Processing and Properties)

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