Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Thermal behaviour of graphene nanoplatelets and multiwalled carbon nanotubes filled-glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composites
    The effects of thermal behaviour on graphene nanoplatelets (GP) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (CN) nanofillers of glass fibre (GL)-reinforced epoxy composites were investigated. The paper aims at evaluating, through a single and hybrid carbon-based nanofiller on the thermal stability, mechanical properties, electromechanical properties at elevated temperature, and morphologies of the composites. The nanofillers were dispersed using a mechanical stirrer, Thinky mixer, and ultrasonic probe. Hand lay-up and vacuum bagging techniques were used in the manufacturing of composites. Real-time self-monitoring of the structural damage to the specimens under tensile and flexural tests was performed through electromechanical measurements. Using the GP–CN hybrid in the composite improved the adhesion between the hybrid nanofillers and matrix. The thermal properties of GP–GL, CN–GL, and GP–CN–GL hybrid composites increased with the hybrid nanofiller addition. Mechanical testing at elevated temperatures revealed a higher rate of strength degradation for the 1.5-mass% GP–CN–GL hybrid composite than for a single nanofiller composite. The GP–CN–GL hybrid composites exhibited a more pronounced nonlinear behaviour and lower resistance.
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  • Publication
    Cure Behaviour and Tensile Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fibre Reinforced Natural Rubber Composites
    Short natural fibres replace synthetic fibres as filler in natural rubber (NR) as they are environmentally beneficial and sustainable. This study investigates the cure behaviour and tensile properties of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) reinforced NR composites at various fibre contents. The fibre contents are varied at 0, 10, 20 and 30 parts per hundred rubber (phr). PALF reinforced NR composites are prepared using a two-roll mill. Surface morphology of tensile fractured specimens is examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that the optimum cure time decreases significantly with greater fibre content. The hardness value increases gradually with increasing filler content. The stress-strain graphs show an increasing trend in stress at higher fibre content particularly at low strain regions. On the contrary, the tensile strength reduces when the fibre content is increased up to 30 phr. SEM analysis reveals that the fibre-matrix adhesion is considerably poor due to the fibre pullout phenomenon observed. It is indicated that higher fibre content could be possibly reinforced to NR to achieve high deformation stress at incredibly low strain regions.
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