Cotton reinforced biopolymer matrix composite: effect of curing and aging conditions on its mechanical properties
The attention in natural fiber reinforced biopolymer composite materials has been rapidly growing both in terms of industrial applications and basic research. This study investigated on the effect of aging time on mechanical properties and morphological structure of thermoset protein-based compos...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/7933/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/7933/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/7933/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/7933/1/Cotton_Reinforced_Biopolymer_Matrix_Composite.pdf |
| Summary: | The attention in natural fiber reinforced biopolymer composite materials
has been rapidly growing both in terms of industrial applications and basic research.
This study investigated on the effect of aging time on mechanical properties and
morphological structure of thermoset protein-based composites from egg albumen
reinforced by natural cotton fibres. The cotton/albumen composites (CAC) were
fabricated by hands lay-up technique with 10 w/w % of fiber content. The samples
were cured and aged at room temperature for different aging time from 7 to 32 days.
The cotton fibres have contributed in a significant improvement in mechanical
strength and toughness of the composites. Tensile strength of the composites achieved
the optimum strength of 9 MPa after 21 days of aging time and constant till 32 days.
As the aging time increased, impact strength of the composites also improved to some
value of 20 kJ/m2
. Thereby after 21 days observation, the composites show an
equilibrium moisture content of 6-9 wt%, and the strength remains stable at room
condition with 50-60% relative humidity (RH). Morphology studied using SEM
justify that the moisture content after aging time influenced mechanical properties of
the composites. |
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