An Evaluation of the Changes to the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Biocomposites Resulting from their Long-Term Storage at Low Temperatures

This paper presents an analysis of the properties of biocomposites that were stored for four years in the refrigerator at 6°C and were investigated for detailed information of mechanical properties like tensile strength and bending. The study was based on test results obtained in 2011. Comparison of changes in the structure of composite materials was carried out an analysis of SEM image. Matrix filling materials were made of wood fibres and tuff

Modern methods of teaching engineers studying environmentally friendly composites

This paper explains why and how to teach engineering students studying structural materials obtained from renewable sources. It describes modern approaches in the education of materials science including focussing on design strategies, sustainability and the use of modern educational tools

An Evaluation of the Changes to the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Biocomposites Resulting from their Long-Term Storage at Low Temperatures

This paper presents an analysis of the properties of biocomposites that were stored for four years in the refrigerator at 6°C and were investigated for detailed information of mechanical properties like tensile strength and bending. The study was based on test results obtained in 2011. Comparison of changes in the structure of composite materials was carried out an analysis of SEM image. Matrix filling materials were made of wood fibres and tuff

Physico-Mechanical Properties of the Poly(oxymethylene) Composites Reinforced with Glass Fibers under Dynamical Loading

The paper evaluated the possibility of potential reinforcing of poly(oxymethylene) (POM) by glass fiber and the influence of fiberglass addition on mechanical properties under dynamic load. Four types of composites with glass fiber and another four with carbon fiber were produced. The fiber content ranged from 5% to 40% by weight. In the experimental part, the basic mechanical and fatigue properties of POM-based composites were determined. The impact of water absorption was also investigated. The influence of fiber geometry on the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced composites of various diameters was determined. To refer to the effects of reinforcement and determine the features of the structure scanning electron microscopy images were taken. The results showed that the addition of up to 10 wt %. fiberglass increases the tensile properties and impact strength more than twice, the ability to absorb energy also increases in relation to neat poly(oxymethylene). Fiber geometry also has a significant impact on the mechanical properties. The study of the mechanical properties at dynamic loads over time suggests that composites filled with a smaller fiber diameter have better fatigue properties

Composites Based on Polypropylene Modified with Natural Fillers to Increase Stiffness

Composites based on a polypropylene matrix with coffee ground powder, wood flour and tuff of a mass weight of 12.5wt% were produced by the method of injection moulding. Tests of tensile and bending strength properties were carried out and Charpy impact was determined at three temperatures: -24°C, 22°C and 80°C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were taken to assess the effects of reinforcement and homogenization of mixtures and to determine the characteristics of the microstructure. Composites with 12.5wt% coffee ground powder, wood flour and tuff were characterized by an increase the elastic modulus. Tensile strength slightly decreased for composites with ground coffee grains and tuff

Hybrid Composites of Polylactide with Basalt and Carbon Fibers and Their Thermal Treatment

In this research, polylactide was hybrid-reinforced and heat-treated in order to obtain durable structural materials with the use of eco-friendly components. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, tensile tests at various temperatures, Vicat tests, impact tests, and microscopic observations were conducted on the annealed and non-heat-treated specimens. The theoretical and true density, as well as water absorption, were also determined. The simultaneous introduction of chopped carbon and basalt fibers in equal mass fractions of 7.5% and 12.5% resulted in satisfactory increases in stiffness and tensile strength. The reinforcing effect was more efficient for the heat-treated composites, especially at elevated temperatures. Heat treatment significantly increased the degree of crystallinity of the matrix, improving heat resistance and reducing water absorption. It also reduced the stress concentrations in the injection-molded specimens

The Study of Physico-Mechanical Properties of Polylactide Composites with Different Level of Infill Produced by the FDM Method

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in physical-mechanical properties of the samples manufactured by 3D printing technology with the addition of varying degrees of polylactide (PLA) infill (50, 70, 85 and 100%). Half of the samples were soaked in physiological saline. The material used for the study was neat PLA, which was examined in terms of hydrolytic degradation, crystallization, mechanical strength, variability of properties at elevated temperatures, and dissipation of mechanical energy depending on the performed treatment. A significant impact of the amount of infill on changeable mechanical properties, such as hydrolytic degradation and crystallization was observed. The FDM printing method allows for waste–free production of light weight unit products with constant specyfic strength

Enhancing Strength and Sustainability: Evaluating Glass and Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Biopolyamide as Alternatives for Petroleum-Based Polyamide Composite

This study aims to analyze strength properties and low-cycle dynamic tests of composite materials modified with glass and basalt fibers. Biopolyamide 4.10 was used as the matrix, and the fiber contents were 15, 30, and 50% by weight. Static tensile tests, impact tests, and determination of mechanical hysteresis loops were carried out as strength tests. The length of the fibers in the produced composites and their processing properties were determined. The composite materials were compared with commercially available glass fiber-reinforced composites with 30 and 50% fiber contents. The results showed that such composites can successfully replace composite materials based on petroleum-based polymeric materials, providing high strength properties and reducing the negative environmental impact by using renewable sources. Composites with 30% basalt fiber composition were characterized by higher tensile strength by about 60% compared to commercially available composites with 30% glass fiber composition and an almost doubly increased Young’s modulus. Increasing the content of basalt fibers to 50% results in a further increase in strength properties. Despite the lower tensile strength compared to polyamide 6 with 50% glass fiber content, basalt fibers provided an approximately 10% higher modulus of elasticity

Bioactive Polyoxymethylene Composites: Mechanical and Antibacterial Characterization

The aim of this study is to analyze the strength and antibacterial properties of composites based on structural polyoxymethylene. The base material was modified with the most used antibacterial additives, such as silver nanoparticles, copper oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide. Basic strength and low-cycle fatigue tests were conducted to determine the dissipation energy of the material. The composites were also tested for antibacterial properties against two strains of bacteria: Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. Strength properties showed no significant changes in the mechanical behavior of the tested composites against the matrix material. The best antibacterial additive was the addition of titanium oxide nanoparticles, providing 100% efficacy against Escherichia coli and almost 100% biocidal efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus. The other antibacterial additives showed biocidal efficacy of about 30–40% against the unmodified material. The added value of the work is the consistency in the methodology of testing materials modified with antibacterial additives, as well as the same compactness of the introduced additives. This study makes it clear which of the introduced additives has the highest biocidal activity