The study of natural fiber-based composites through the use of computational techniques for modelling and optimizing their properties has emerged as a fast-growing approach in recent years. Ecological concerns associated with synthetic fibers have made the utilisation of natural fibers as a reinforcing material in composites a popular approach. Computational techniques have become an important tool in the hands of many researchers to model and analyze the characteristics that influence the mechanical properties of natural fiber composites. This recent trend has led to the development of many advanced computational techniques and software for a profound understanding of the characteristics and performance behavior of composite materials reinforced with natural fibers. The large variations in the characteristics of natural fiber-based composites present a great challenge, which has led to the development of many computational techniques for composite materials analysis. This review seeks to infer, from conventional to contemporary sources, the computational techniques used in modelling, analyzing, and optimizing the mechanical characteristics of natural fiber reinforced composite materials.

Techniques for Modelling and Optimizing the Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Composites: A Review

In this paper, polyvinyl alcohol/starch/graphene oxide nanocomposites containing glycerol were prepared via the solution-casting technique. The effect of different times (10, 20, 30, and 40 min) of nitrogen plasma irradiation on the structural, thermal, and dynamic mechanical properties of nanocomposites was studied. The dominancy of the chain scission process over crosslinking after irradiation for 10 min compared to the crosslinking at higher exposure times specifically at 30 min was proven by XRD. Also, field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed these findings, where the most improved interface compatibility in nanocomposites shown after irradiation for 30 min. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that after irradiation, the lowest thermal stability in nanocomposites shown in the sample irradiated for 10 min, while the highest thermal stability was shown in the sample irradiated for 30 min. It was found that the dynamic mechanical properties of nanocomposites were dependent on exposure time. The maximum storage modulus value was achieved after 30 min compared to the lowest value obtained after 10 min. Also, the calculated crosslinking density was increased by 49.8% after nanocomposite irradiation for 30 min compared to the unirradiated sample. Furthermore, the effect of plasma irradiation on both storage modulus and loss modulus of nanocomposites and their dependencies on temperature and frequency were studied.

Nitrogen plasma effect on the structural, thermal, and dynamic mechanical properties of PVA/starch/graphene oxide nanocomposite

Irradiation role on meat quality induced dynamic molecular transformation: From nutrition to texture

Overview of banana cellulosic fibers: agro-biomass potential, fiber extraction, properties, and sustainable applications

Agro wastage pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) was treated with different weight/volume (w/v) concentrated (05, 3, 5, 7, and 10%) sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 50 °C for 30 min The corresponding values of weight loss, tensile properties, and density were evaluated PALF treated with 7% NaOH showed considerably improved physico-mechanical properties The treated fibers were used as randomly oriented reinforcement in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) filled bio-composite by maintaining a 1:1 ratio in terms of weight The composite fabrications were done by heat press molding Then the five categories of the sample were irradiated with gamma (Co-60) radiation beneath different doses (250–1000 kGy) to increase the compatibility of fiber-matrix bonding These irradiated samples were prepared for determining the different physico-mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break percentage (EB%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), and impact strength (IS) Gamma dose of 750 kGy irradiated samples demonstrated the overall best result SEM images of 7% NaOH treated PALF reinforced LDPE composites were analyzed at tensile fracture surface to understand the fibers pull out and fiber-matrix interface Furthermore, the water absorption performance of the mentioned composite was also investigated at different day intervals FTIR was used to explicate the changes of functional groups of PALF and those composites due to NaOH treatments and different levels of gamma doses respectively TGA was performed to explore the comparatively enhanced thermal performance of 7% NaOH treated PALF containing composite sample irradiated at 500, 750, and 1000 kGy gamma doses

Fabrication and analysis of physico-mechanical characteristics of NaOH treated PALF reinforced LDPE composites: Effect of gamma irradiation

Woven jute fabric was used as a reinforcing material for making two types of composite, named Jute/PR and Jute/Epoxy, with two different matrixes of polyester resin and epoxy, respectively, by hand layup techniques. Five different doses of gamma radiation from 100 to 500 krad were used to investigate the effects of the mechanical properties of the composites and the jute fabrics. Though gamma radiation improved the mechanical properties, such as the tensile strength (TS) and Young’s modulus (Y), and decreased the elongation at break % (Eb%) of the composites, it deteriorated all these properties for jute fabrics. The highest values of TS and Y and the lowest value of Eb% were found to be 39.44 Mpa, 1218.33 Mpa, and 7.68% for the Jute/PR; and 48.83 Mpa, 1459.67 Mpa, and 3.68% for the Jute/Epoxy composites, respectively, at a 300 krad gamma radiation dose. A further increase in dose altered all these properties; thus, 300 krad was found to be the optimum dose for both of the composites. Between the two composites, gamma radiation influenced the Jute/PR composite more than the Jute/Epoxy composite.

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/8/9/58/pdf

Influence of Gamma Radiation on Mechanical Properties of Jute Fabric-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Four types of nonwovens were prepared from different sections of the banana tree e.g., outer bark (OB), middle bark (MB), inner bark (IB) and midrib of leaf (MR) by wet laid web formation. They were reinforced with two different types of matrices e.g., epoxy and polyester, to make eight variants of composites. Treatments including alkali on raw fibers, water repellent on nonwovens and gamma radiation on composites were applied in order to investigate their effects on properties of the composites such as water absorbency, tensile strength (TS), flexural strength (FS) and elongation at break (Eb%). Variations in the morphological structure and chemical composition of both raw banana fibers and fibers reinforced by the treatments were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). OB composites exhibited higher water absorbency, TS and FS and lower Eb% compared to other types of composites. Epoxy composites were found to have 16% lower water absorbency, 41.2% higher TS and 39.1% higher FS than polyester composites on an average. Water absorbency of the composites was reduced 32% by the alkali treatment and a further 63% by water repellent treatment. TS and FS of the composites were on average improved 71% and 87% by alkali treatment and a further 30% and 35% by gamma radiation respectively.

Abdul Ahad

Papers

Influence of Gamma Radiation on Mechanical Properties of Jute Fabric-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Innovative Banana Fiber Nonwoven Reinforced Polymer Composites: Pre- and Post-Treatment Effects on Physical and Mechanical Properties.