Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites

A study on the flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites is presented in this paper. The wheat straw/polyester composites were made as per the hand layup procedure and the instructions provided by the manufacturers. These specimens were then tested in the three point bend co...

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Main Authors: Dong, Chensong, Davies, Ian
Format: Journal Article
Published: Scientific & Academic Publishing (SAP) 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47118
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author Dong, Chensong
Davies, Ian
author_facet Dong, Chensong
Davies, Ian
author_sort Dong, Chensong
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A study on the flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites is presented in this paper. The wheat straw/polyester composites were made as per the hand layup procedure and the instructions provided by the manufacturers. These specimens were then tested in the three point bend configuration in accordance with ASTM D790-07 at a span to depth ratio of 16. Four weight fractions of wheat straw 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% were chosen to be studied. The process-induced voids were studied and it is shown that voids play an important role in flexural properties. When voids exist, flexural modulus was calculated using a micromechanical model. It is shown from both the experimental results and calculation that flexural modulus decreases with the addition of wheat straw, and this reduction in flexural modulus is due to process-induced voids. Flexural strength of polyester resins does not increase with the addition of wheat straw as reinforcement. This is due to poor interfacial adhesion and the existence of voids. In order to achieve reinforcement, treatment of straw fibers and better processing techniques to reduce voids are needed.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-471182017-03-08T13:11:39Z Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites Dong, Chensong Davies, Ian A study on the flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites is presented in this paper. The wheat straw/polyester composites were made as per the hand layup procedure and the instructions provided by the manufacturers. These specimens were then tested in the three point bend configuration in accordance with ASTM D790-07 at a span to depth ratio of 16. Four weight fractions of wheat straw 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% were chosen to be studied. The process-induced voids were studied and it is shown that voids play an important role in flexural properties. When voids exist, flexural modulus was calculated using a micromechanical model. It is shown from both the experimental results and calculation that flexural modulus decreases with the addition of wheat straw, and this reduction in flexural modulus is due to process-induced voids. Flexural strength of polyester resins does not increase with the addition of wheat straw as reinforcement. This is due to poor interfacial adhesion and the existence of voids. In order to achieve reinforcement, treatment of straw fibers and better processing techniques to reduce voids are needed. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47118 Scientific & Academic Publishing (SAP) restricted
spellingShingle Dong, Chensong
Davies, Ian
Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
title Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
title_full Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
title_fullStr Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
title_full_unstemmed Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
title_short Flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
title_sort flexural properties of wheat straw reinforced polyester composites
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47118