This work investigates the feasibility of using recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE), recycled polypropylene (rPP) and old newsprint fiber (ONP) to manufacture fiber reinforced composites. The boards were made through air-forming and hot press. The effects of the fiber loading and coupling agent content on tensile, flexural, internal bond properties and water absorption and thickness swel...

Lightweight design, using high performance composites, which directly yields a reduced need for fuel is in the focus of new developments for traffic engineering. The increased substitution of traditional, metal based materials by fibre-reinforced composites in the aviation industry exemplifies this trend. In addition to mechanical properties, e.g. an increase in strength, that leads to direct w...

Carbon-fiber reinforced composites are widely used in the industry. One of the key features regarding their quality and usefulness is related to the fiber orientation and contend. One technique that is used to test this kind of material is Infrared Thermography (IT). In this paper it is presented a technique based on diode-laser spot heating to measure fiber orientation on the surface of a carb...

In fibrous composites, tensile strength of reinforcements exhibits a stochastic nature, and the mechanical properties of the composites are significantly influenced by such strength variability. The present study aims at providing a comparative investigation of the influence of the statistical variation in fiber strength on the tensile properties of unidirectional composites reinforced by bambo...

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly used in concrete structures owing to their superior corrosion resistance. However, FRP-reinforced (RC) exhibit less ductile response compared steel RC structures. Recently, the use of basalt fiber reinforced (BFRC) with BFRP bars was investigated achieve a reasonable level ductility BFRC-BFRP one-way slabs. The shear behavior such slab ...

In this study, physical, mechanical, and flammability properties of coconut fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composite panels were evaluated. Four levels of the coir fiber content (40, 50, 60, and 70 % based on the composition by weight) were mixed with the PP powder and a coupling agent, 3 wt % maleic anhydride grafted PP (MAPP) powder. The water resistance and the internal bond strength of...

Major goals for the future of transportation materials include reduced weight of components, reduced cost of materials and increased use of renewable content. Reinforcement of transportation composites with plant fibers has the potential to decrease component weight relative to glass fiber reinforcement, reduce cost of materials relative to carbon fiber reinforcement, and significantly increase...