Hierarchical composites reinforced with robust short sisal fibre preforms utilising bacterial cellulose as binder
File(s)Composites Science and Technology_72_13_2012_.pdf (939.04 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Lee, K-Y
Ho, KKC
Schlufter, K
Bismarck, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A novel robust non-woven sisal fibre preform was manufactured using a papermaking process utilising nanosized bacterial cellulose (BC) as binder for the sisal fibres. It was found that BC provides significant mechanical strength to the sisal fibre preforms. This can be attributed to the high stiffness and strength of the BC network. Truly green non-woven fibre preform reinforced hierarchical composites were prepared by infusing the fibre preforms with acrylated epoxidised soybean oil (AESO) using vacuum assisted resin infusion, followed by thermal curing. Both the tensile and flexural properties of the hierarchical composites showed significant improvements over polyAESO and neat sisal fibre preform reinforced polyAESO. These results were corroborated by the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the (hierarchical) composites, which showed an increased storage modulus and enhanced fibre–matrix stress transfer. Micromechanical modelling was also performed on the (hierarchical) composites. By using BC as binder for short sisal fibres, added benefits such as the high Young’s modulus of BC, enhanced fibre–fibre and fibre–matrix stress transfer can be utilised in the resulting hierarchical composites.
Date Issued
2012-07-02
Date Acceptance
2012-06-16
Citation
Composites Science and Technology, 2012, 72 (13), pp.1479-1486
ISSN
0266-3538
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1479
End Page
1486
Journal / Book Title
Composites Science and Technology
Volume
72
Issue
13
Copyright Statement
© 2012 the Authors. This article is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Subjects
Science & Technology
Composites
Materials Science
Short-fibre composites
Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
Fibre/matrix bond
Interface
Bacterial cellulose
Natural fibres
Mechanical properties
Flax fibres
Polypropylene Composites
Kenaf
Mat
Nanocomposites
Nonwovens
Acrylate
Modulus
Publication Status
Published