Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites
Natural fibres are cheaper and have a lower density compared to synthetic reinforcement products and therefore offer benefits for use in commercial applications. The physical and mechanical properties of these ‘eco-composites’ can be further enhanced through the addition of nanoclay. This paper repo...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33991 |
| _version_ | 1848754099194953728 |
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| author | Alhuthali, Abdullah Low, It Meng Dong, Chensong |
| author_facet | Alhuthali, Abdullah Low, It Meng Dong, Chensong |
| author_sort | Alhuthali, Abdullah |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Natural fibres are cheaper and have a lower density compared to synthetic reinforcement products and therefore offer benefits for use in commercial applications. The physical and mechanical properties of these ‘eco-composites’ can be further enhanced through the addition of nanoclay. This paper reports on the fabrication of vinyl ester, eco-composites and eco-nanocomposites and characterises these samples in terms of water absorption, strength, toughness, and thermal properties. Weight gain and FTIR spectrum analysis indicated that 5% nanoclay addition gave favourable reduction in the water absorption behaviours of the samples. Nanoclay addition strengthened fibre–matrix adhesion leading to improved strength properties in the eco-nanocomposites. However, SEM images of fracture surfaces revealed that nanoclay addition limited toughness mechanisms of fibre pull-out and fibre debonding leading to sample brittleness. Eco-nanocomposites were still found to have favourable thermal stability and flammability results. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:35:01Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-33991 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:35:01Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-339912017-09-13T15:55:03Z Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites Alhuthali, Abdullah Low, It Meng Dong, Chensong Flexural strength Nanoclay platelets (30B) Vinyl-ester resin (VER) Impact strength Recycled cellulose fibres sheets (RCFs) Natural fibres are cheaper and have a lower density compared to synthetic reinforcement products and therefore offer benefits for use in commercial applications. The physical and mechanical properties of these ‘eco-composites’ can be further enhanced through the addition of nanoclay. This paper reports on the fabrication of vinyl ester, eco-composites and eco-nanocomposites and characterises these samples in terms of water absorption, strength, toughness, and thermal properties. Weight gain and FTIR spectrum analysis indicated that 5% nanoclay addition gave favourable reduction in the water absorption behaviours of the samples. Nanoclay addition strengthened fibre–matrix adhesion leading to improved strength properties in the eco-nanocomposites. However, SEM images of fracture surfaces revealed that nanoclay addition limited toughness mechanisms of fibre pull-out and fibre debonding leading to sample brittleness. Eco-nanocomposites were still found to have favourable thermal stability and flammability results. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33991 10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.04.038 Elsevier restricted |
| spellingShingle | Flexural strength Nanoclay platelets (30B) Vinyl-ester resin (VER) Impact strength Recycled cellulose fibres sheets (RCFs) Alhuthali, Abdullah Low, It Meng Dong, Chensong Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| title | Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| title_full | Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| title_short | Characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| title_sort | characterization of water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of recycled cellulose fibre reinforced vinyl-ester eco-nanocomposites |
| topic | Flexural strength Nanoclay platelets (30B) Vinyl-ester resin (VER) Impact strength Recycled cellulose fibres sheets (RCFs) |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33991 |