Calophyllum-Inophyllum from Pahang Malaysia as biolubricant feedstock for industrial application

Lubricant derived from Tamanu (Calophyllum-Inophyllum) fruits is a non-edible vegetable-based oil that is renewable, biodegradable and sustainable which could be added into the biolubricants products as feedstock for industrial application. The physicochemical properties of the crude Tamanu oil (CTO) including rheological, temperature and corrosion characteristicswere determined for suitability as base stock for lubricant production through comparison between the RBD palm olein (RBD-PO) and crude Jatropha oil (CJO). The lubricants underwent a series of analyses on their properties in terms of physical and chemical characteristics. The density, viscosity, flashpoint, water content, corrosion test, and acid value are measured following the ASTM standards. A four-ball wear test that was subjected to the CTO was conducted to determine its lubrication behavior for friction and wear resistance. Results have shown that the CJO has a better viscosity index compared to the CTO, whereas the CTO is better than the CJO in other measured properties. The properties of the Tamanu oil need to be improved except for its flash point and corrosion inhibition properties

Advances in Wood Composites

Wood composites have shown very good performance, and substantial service lives when correctly specified for the exposure risks present. Selection of an appropriate product for the job should be accompanied by decisions about the appropriate protection, whether this is by design, by preservative treatment or by wood modification techniques. This Special Issue, Advances in Wood Composites presents recent progress in enhancing and refining the performance and properties of wood composites by chemical and thermal modification and the application of smart nanomaterials, which have made them a particular area of interest for researchers. In addition, it reviews some important aspects in the field of wood composites, with particular focus on their materials, applications, and engineering and scientific advances, including solutions inspired biomimetrically by the structure of wood and wood composites. This Special Issue, with a collection of 13 original contributions, provides selected examples of recent Advances in Wood Composite

Effect of laminated parameters on mechanical properties hybrid juteramie reinforced unsaturated polyester composite

The natural fibre is an alternative to synthetic fibre. It is key to saving money, conserving natural resources, and providing a lightweight structure. The work on hybridising natural fabrics is still in its infancy. The current research investigates the mechanical properties of reinforced unsaturated polyester resin with various parameter types such as layering size, layering length, and fabric orientation. In the current study, the impact of excessive moisture on mechanical properties for hybrid jute-ramie reinforced UPE composites is also investigated. For experimental purposes, the properties for single fibre, yam fibre and fabric properties were analysed and registered. The simple Ill woven jute and ramie were defined in chemical composition, physical properties and mechanical properties. TAPPI 203 OM 02, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) method, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermogravimetric derivative (DTG) to assess the chemical composition and thermal stability of woven jute and ramie. It is essential to note the mechanical performance for single yam fibre and woven fabric in a different warp and weft direction. Thus, the multi-fibre-pull-out test, grab test, tearing and puncture test was used to record the performance of yam fibre and woven fabric of jute and ramie. The scanning electron microscope was employed to examine fracturen faces, damage (splitting, matrix cracking, delamination) and composite surface morphology. The composite sample fabricated via hand lay-up and hydraulic compression technique. Maximum 4 layers of layering size were applied with layering sequence and fabric orientation. Four fabric configuration types have been analysed: 0° laminates, cross-ply laminates, angle-ply laminates and quasi-isotropic. According to the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), all-composite samples undergo tensile testing, flexural testing, and impact testing according to the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). The composite material with 2 and 3 layers immersed in distilled water for about 30 days in the water absorption and thickness swelling testing. The present study indicated that the mechanical properties of UPE could considerably be improved by incorporating different layering sizes of jute and ramie reinforcement. The mechanical properties for hybrid composite lie in between single jute composite and single ramie composite. Based on the results have shown that the effect of stacking sequence dominance in the flexural test. On the other hand, the composite with fabric orientation of 0° laminates and cross-ply found to be significant on the tensile testing. Overall, the vital parameter for tensile properties is the following: l) layering size 2) fabric orientation 3) layering sequence. Nonetheless, following such pattern are recognised for flexural and impact: I) layering size 2) layering sequence 3) fabric orientation. Other than that, the tensile composite's fracture surface was further investigated via scanning electron microscopic (SEM). According to the SE:vl image, it can be concluded that the fracture surface is dependent on fabric orientation. The composites with fabric orientations of angle-ply and quasi-isotropic have a smooth fracture surface. Their presence of microvoid and porous on the surface is minimum. Single jute, single ramie and hybrid juteramie were compared with computational models such as rule of mixture, inverse rule of mixture, Halpin-Tsai, Hirsch and Cox- Krencel's. Meanwhile, another study revealed that the hybrid jute-ramie mechanical properties reinforced UPE dropped when exposed to excessive moisture. Mechanism ofwatcr transport for the composite sample follow nonfickian behaviour. Finally, the rate of water absorption found to increase due to the higher number of layering sizes

Biocomposites

Biocomposites are composite materials consisting of either a polymer matrix or a filler based on biological resources. They have been widely used in numerous applications such as storage devices, photocatalysts, packaging, furniture, biosensors, energy, construction, the automotive industry, and so on due to their great versatility and satisfactory performance. This book focuses on composites made from natural materials (natural fibers and biopolymers) and relates their physical, mechanical, electrical, structural, and biological characteristics as well as their potential applications in biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and engineering

Epoxy-Based Composites

Epoxy-based composites are used in automotive and aerospace applications because of their high strength-to-weight ratio, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, and good resistance to wear and corrosion. This book presents research on epoxy-based composites and their applications. It explains methods of preparing and testing these composites, including the hand lay-up technique, compression molding, and others. This book is useful for industrialists, undergraduate and postgraduate students, research scholars, and scientists

Machinability of Polymeric Composites and Future Reinforcements — A Review

This paper reviews the machinability and mechanical properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites. Coupling agents, operating parameters, as well as chemical treatment effects on natural fiber-reinforced composites’ machinability are also reviewed. Moreover, the impacts of fibers’ physical properties on the machinability of the composite are mentioned. Fiber volume fraction (Vf), fiber orientation as well as chemical treatment effects on mechanical properties are also defined. Conclusively, the effect of fibers’ physical properties as well as mechanical properties is described. It was discovered that chemical treatment of natural fibers improved their compatibility with the matrix by removing their surface tissues, increasing the roughness average (Ra), and reducing moisture absorption. Also, the Orientation of the fiber plays an important role in controlling the mechanical properties of the composite. Moreover, some physical properties of the fibers, including quality of fiber distributed in the matrix; fiber size, length, and diameter; moisture absorption; porosity and the way fibers break during compounding with the matrix, were found to affect the mechanical properties of the composites formed

A STUDY OF SURFACE MODIFICATION EFFECT OF HEMP FIBERS ON THE BULK PROPERTIES OF HEMP-POLY (LACTIC ACID) COMPOSITES: THERMAL STABILITY, MECHANICAL, THERMO-MECHANICAL AND BIODEGRADABILITY

Biocomposites made with, natural fiber and bio-based polymers, have many advantages over their synthetic counterparts including low cost, low density, high strength and biodegradability. However, some biocomposites can present problems due to high moisture absorption, low thermal stability during processing, and poor adhesion between the fiber and polymer matrix. Recent studies have shown that surface modification of the fiber can improve its adhesion to the polymer matrix and enhance the bulk material properties. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which such surface modifications exert their effects on bulk material properties have not been systematically studied. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to investigate the impact of surface modifications of hemp on the thermal stability, mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and biodegradability of biocomposites comprised of hemp and poly (lactic acid) (PLA). This pairing was selected because it offers superior mechanical properties. The three surface treatments tested were: alkali (mechanical interlocking), silane (coupling) and acetic anhydride (grafting). The latter was most effective at improving thermal stability, mechanical, and thermo-mechanical properties of hemp-PLA biocomposites, and all treatments improved these properties relative to untreated hemp-PLA controls. The thermal stability of the composites increased with an increase in fiber content up to 30% by fiber volume fraction for both silane and acetic anhydride modified hemp. However, thermal stability decreased with fiber content for alkali and untreated composites due to hydrogen bonding and inferior fiber-matrix adhesion, respectively. The activation energy of thermal degradation was assessed by applying Flynn-Wall-Osawa kinetic modeling to understand the fiber-matrix interface. The model predictions were consistent with experimental results and suggested that the mechanism by which, acetic anhydride treatment yielded superior thermal properties was related to high energy bond formation (C=O) between the fiber and polymer matrix. When tensile and flexural properties of composites were assessed, 30% fiber volume fraction was optimal, and this ratio also improved stiffness and damping properties of the composites during thermo-mechanical study. A biodegradability study of the treated and untreated hemp-PLA biocomposites was undertaken. ASTM standard 5511-11 was modified to stimulate landfill disposal conditions. Degradation of all treatments as well as untreated biocomposites was negligible over 50 d, although visual inspection of SEM images showed greater evidence of cracking in the composite samples than in pure PLA controls. From this study it can be concluded that higher bond energy at the fiber-matrix interface due to surface modification of natural fiber results in higher activation energy of thermal degradation resulting in enhanced bulk material properties of the biocomposites

A review of chemicals to produce activated carbon from agricultural waste biomass

The choice of activating agent for the thermochemical production of high-grade activated carbon (AC) from agricultural residues and wastes, such as feedstock, requires innovative methods. Overcoming energy losses, and using the best techniques to minimise secondary contamination and improve adsorptivity, are critical. Here, we review the importance and influence of activating agents on agricultural waste: how they react and compare conventional and microwave processes. In particular, adsorbent pore characteristics, surface chemistry interactions and production modes were compared with traditional methods. It was concluded that there are no best activating agents; rather, each agent reacts uniquely with a precursor, and the optimum choice depends on the target adsorbent. Natural chemicals can also be as effective as inorganic activating agents, and offer the advantages that they are usually safe, and readily available. The use of a microwave, as an innovative pyrolysis approach, can enhance the activation process within a duration of 1–4 h and temperature of 500–1200 °C, after which the yield and efficiency decline rapidly due to molecular breakdown. This study also examines the biomass milling process requirements; the influence of the dielectric properties, along with the effect of washing; and experimental setup challenges. The microwave setup system, biomass feed rate, product delivery, inert gas flow rate, reactor design and recovery lines are all important factors in the microwave activation process, and contribute to the overall efficiency of AC preparation. However, a major issue is a lack of large-scale industrial demonstration units for microwave technology