Water absorption behaviour of epoxy/acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) reinforced hybrid kenaf/glass fiber montmorillonite (HMT) composites

The use of fiber-reinforced vegetable oil - polymer composites has increased in various technical fields. However, the long-term operating performance of these materials is still not well understood, limiting the development of these composites. In this study, the water absorption performance of hybrid composites, which consist of kenaf fiber and glass fiber as reinforcement, epoxy resin and acrylated epoxidized palm oil (AEPO) as a matrix, and montmorillonite (MMT) nano clays as a filler was evaluated with the function of different fibers layering order. The hand lay-up method is used to produce the composites with the variable number of kenaf fibers and glass fibers layer sequences. The water absorption kinetics of epoxy/AEPO reinforced hybrid kenaf/glass fiber-filled MMT composites are described in this paper. It has been observed that the water absorption rate of the composites depends on the fiber layering sequences. The alternative sequence of Glass-Kenaf-Kenaf-Glass and Kenaf-Glass-Kenaf-Glass composites layers exhibited the lowest moisture absorption rates of 7.61% and 7.63%, respectively

Flammability, morphological and mechanical properties of sugar palm fiber/polyester yarn-reinforced epoxy hybrid biocomposites with magnesium hydroxide flame retardant filler

This paper aims to study the surface morphology, flammability and tensile properties of sugar palm fiber (SPF) hybrid with polyester (PET) yarn-reinforced epoxy composite with the addition of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) as a flame retardant. The composites were prepared by hybridized epoxy and Mg(OH)2/PET with different amounts of SPF contents (0%, 20%, 35% and 50%) using the cold press method. Then these composites were tested by horizontal burning analysis, tensile strength testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The specimen with 35% SPF (Epoxy/PET/SPF-35) with the incorporation of Mg(OH)2 as a flame retardant showed the lowest burning rate of 13.25 mm/min. The flame took a longer time to propagate along with the Epoxy/PET/SPF-35 specimen and at the same time producing char. Epoxy/PET/SPF-35 also had the highest tensile strength of 9.69 MPa. Tensile properties of the SPF hybrid with PET yarn (SPF/PET)-reinforced epoxy composite was decreased at 50% SPF content due to the lack of interfacial bonding between the fibers and matrix. Surface morphology analysis through SEM showed uniform distribution of the SPF and matrix with less adhesion, which increased the flammability and reduced the tensile properties of the hybrid polymeric composites. These composites have potential to be utilized in various applications, such as automotive components, building materials and in the aerospace industry

Flammability, tensile and morphological properties of oil palm empty fruit bunches fibre/ pet yarn reinforced epoxy fibre retardant hybrid polymer composites

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fiber is a natural fiber that possesses many advantages, such as biodegradability, eco-friendly, and renewable nature. The effect of the OPEFB fiber loading reinforced fire retardant epoxy composites on flammability and tensile properties of the polymer biocomposites were investigated. The tests were carried out with four parameters, which were specimen A (constant), specimen B (20% of fiber), specimen C (35% of fiber), and specimen D (50% of fiber). The PET yarn and magnesium hydroxide were used as the reinforcement material and fire retardant agent, respectively. The results were obtained from several tests, which were the horizontal burning test, tensile test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result for the burning test showed that specimen B exhibited better flammability properties, which had the lowest average burning rate (11.47 mm/min). From the tensile strength, specimen A revealed the highest value of 10.79 N/mm2. For the SEM morphological test, increasing defects on the surface ruptured were observed that resulted in decreased tensile properties of the composites. It can be summarized that the flammability and tensile properties of OPEFB fiber reinforced fire retardant epoxy composites were reduced when the fiber volume contents were increased at the optimal loading of 20%, with the values of 11.47 mm/min and 4.29 KPa, respectively

The Effect of Acidic to the Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Artificial Aggregate

Abstract: The Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which is widely used materials not only consumes significant amount of natural resources and energy but also pollutes the atmosphere by the emission of CO 2 . Hence, reduce this ill effect, the search for alternative result is geopolymer concrete. This experiment research focused on utilizing fly ash as source material. Fly ash is receiving more attention now since their uses generally improve the properties in construction industry, cost saving and reduction of negative environmental affects. Three different molarity of paste has been tested to acidic environment to determine the effect of acidic to the fly ash based geopolymer artificial aggregate. The geopolymer paste samples were cured at 70°C for 1 day and keep in room temperature until the testing days. The compressive strength and acid resistant testing was done at after 28 days. The result showed that the geopolymer paste with NaOH concentration of 12 M produced maximum strength

Pos Besar, 01000 Kangar, Perlis Malaysia., Development of Pilot Plant for Novel Geopolymer Brick Making Machine

With rapid growing country's development and rose in construction activity, rising demand of building materials and increased construction wastes have encouraged the development of new building materials. Geopolymer based construction materials such as concrete, aggregate, brick and so on are getting good response by the public especially those in the construction and development industries nowadays. Geopolymer bricks making process consume less energy and low cost in term of raw materials and production compared to conventional bricks. It become a nessesity nowadays to provide a machine that produced construction material based on geopolymer that are compatible with geopolymer process that can improved productivity and promote geopoymer construction material to repace convertional construction material. This paper presents the main component, specification and controlling system of the geopolymer brick making machine. This paper also describes the basic operation of the brick produced by using novel geopolymer brick making machine. The capacity production is adequate which has mixing tank capacity of 40 kg per batch with high compaction pressure which is 40 tonne and low curing temperature needed (less than 100 °C) that can produce high quality and environmental friendly brick. The size of the brick produced is 9" x 4" x 2.5" accordance with the standard size based on British Standard BS 3921: 1985

Perilipin 5 Deletion Unmasks an Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Axis in Skeletal Muscle.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are critical for the regulation of lipid metabolism, and dysregulated lipid metabolism contributes to the pathogenesis of several diseases, including type 2 diabetes. We generated mice with muscle-specific deletion of the LD-associated protein perilipin 5 (PLIN5, Plin5MKO ) and investigated PLIN5's role in regulating skeletal muscle lipid metabolism, intracellular signaling, and whole-body metabolic homeostasis. High-fat feeding induced changes in muscle lipid metabolism of Plin5MKO mice, which included increased fatty acid oxidation and oxidative stress but, surprisingly, a reduction in inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. These muscle-specific effects were accompanied by whole-body glucose intolerance, adipose tissue insulin resistance, and reduced circulating insulin and C-peptide levels in Plin5MKO mice. This coincided with reduced secretion of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) from skeletal muscle and liver, resulting in reduced circulating FGF21. Intriguingly, muscle-secreted factors from Plin5MKO , but not wild-type mice, reduced hepatocyte FGF21 secretion. Exogenous correction of FGF21 levels restored glycemic control and insulin secretion in Plin5MKO mice. These results show that changes in lipid metabolism resulting from PLIN5 deletion reduce ER stress in muscle, decrease FGF21 production by muscle and liver, and impair glycemic control. Further, these studies highlight the importance for muscle-liver cross talk in metabolic regulation

The mechanical performance of sugar palm fibres (Ijuk) reinforced phenolic composites

Sugar palm fibres are one of the natural fibres which have many features and need further study to understand their properties. The aim of this work is to investigate the flexural, compressive and impact properties of sugar palm fibres reinforced phenolic composites. Sugar palm fibres were used as a filler (particle size 150 μm) and with loading of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol.%. The fibres were treated by sea water and then fabricated into composites by hot press technique. Flexural, compressive, and impact tests were carried out as per ASTM D790, ASTM D695-08a, and ASTM D256 standards, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the morphology and the interfacial bonding of the fibres-matrix in composites. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites improve with the incorporation of fibres. The composite of 30 vol.% particle loading exhibit optimum values which are 32.23 MPa, 61.66 MPa, and 4.12 kJ/m2 for flexural, compressive, and impact strength, respectively. This was because good compatibility of fibre-matrix bonding. Consequently, sugar palm fibre is one of the prospective fibres and could be used as a potential resource to reinforcement polymer composite

COMPATIBILIZATION OF POLYPROPYLENE (PP)/ETHYLENE PROPYLENE DIENE TERPOLYMER (EPDM)/KAOLIN COMPOSITES: EFFECT OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE-GRAFTED-POLYPROPYLENE

The tensile properties and morphology of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM)/kaolin composites were investigated. Maleic anhydride-grafted- polypropylene (MAPP) as a compatibilizer was used to improve the compatibility of kaolin filled PP/EPDM composites. Results show that incorporation of MAPP increased the tensile strength and Young&rsqu

Korelacja defektów produkcyjnych iodporności na uderzenie poliestrowego kompozytu hybrydowego włókno szklane//Kevlar wzmocnionego włóknem kenaf

In this study, the impact properties of kenaf fibre reinforced hybrid fiberglass/Kevlar polymeric composite was investigated. In this study, a new fiber arrangement based on kenaf bast fiber as reinforcement to the hybrid fiberglass/Kevlar fiber and polyester as matrix used to fabricate the hybrid polymeric composite. Five different types of samples with different of kenaf fiber content based on volume fraction (0, 15, 45, 60 and 75%) to hybrid fiberglass/Kevlar polymer composites were manufactured. 0% of kenaf fiber has been used as control sample. The results showed that hybridization has improved the impact properties. These results were further supported through SEM micrograph of the manufacturing defects of the polymer composite. Based on literature work, manufacturing defects that occurs in composite system reduced the mechanical properties of the material. Therefore, in this research the correlation of impact behaviors and manufacturing defects of kenaf fiber reinforced hybrid fiberglass/Kevlar polymeric composite has been successfully done. As conclusion, the highest manufacturing defects determined in the composites during the fabrication significantly lowest the results of impact behavior.Zbadano udarność hybrydowego kompozytu polimerowego na osnowie żywicy poliestrowej napełnionej włóknami szklanymi i kevlarowymi wzmocnionego włóknem łykowym kenaf. Wytworzono pięć próbek różniących się zawartością włókien kenafu (0, 15, 45, 60 i75% obj.) Próbkę kontrolną stanowił kompozyt z 0% obj. udziałem włókien kenaf (0%). Wykazano, że hybrydyzacja wpłynęła na poprawę właściwości udarowych wyjściowego kompozytu. Wyniki potwierdzono analizą SEM defektów produkcyjnych otrzymanego kompozytu. Stwierdzono, że zachodzi korelacja między wytrzymałością na uderzenie awadami produkcyjnymi badanego hybrydowego kompozytu poliestrowego wzmocnionego włóknami kenaf. Powstałe podczas produkcji wady produkcyjne wistotnym stopniu pogarszają właściwości udarowe kompozytów

Flammability, morphological and mechanical properties of sugar palm fiber/polyester yarn-reinforced epoxy hybrid biocomposites with magnesium hydroxide flame retardant filler

This paper aims to study the surface morphology, flammability and tensile properties of sugar palm fiber (SPF) hybrid with polyester (PET) yarn-reinforced epoxy composite with the addition of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) as a flame retardant. The composites were prepared by hybridized epoxy and Mg(OH)2/PET with different amounts of SPF contents (0%, 20%, 35% and 50%) using the cold press method. Then these composites were tested by horizontal burning analysis, tensile strength testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The specimen with 35% SPF (Epoxy/PET/SPF-35) with the incorporation of Mg(OH)2 as a flame retardant showed the lowest burning rate of 13.25 mm/min. The flame took a longer time to propagate along with the Epoxy/PET/SPF-35 specimen and at the same time producing char. Epoxy/PET/SPF-35 also had the highest tensile strength of 9.69 MPa. Tensile properties of the SPF hybrid with PET yarn (SPF/PET)-reinforced epoxy composite was decreased at 50% SPF content due to the lack of interfacial bonding between the fibers and matrix. Surface morphology analysis through SEM showed uniform distribution of the SPF and matrix with less adhesion, which increased the flammability and reduced the tensile properties of the hybrid polymeric composites. These composites have potential to be utilized in various applications, such as automotive components, building materials and in the aerospace industry