Ibrahim Alhaj; Seha Tirkes; Firat Hacioglu; Umit Tayfun
Abstract
Glass fiber (GF) and mica (MC) filled polycarbonate (PC) composites were fabricated using extrusion process due to considerable applications of PC as recyclable and thermo-stable material in mainly medical, packaging and transportation fields. Tensile, hardness and impact tests, differential scanning ...
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Glass fiber (GF) and mica (MC) filled polycarbonate (PC) composites were fabricated using extrusion process due to considerable applications of PC as recyclable and thermo-stable material in mainly medical, packaging and transportation fields. Tensile, hardness and impact tests, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), melt flow index (MFI) test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) findings were reported. Mechanical test results show that tensile strength and modulus are improved for higher GF and lower MC contents. The necking behavior of PC disappear after MC and GF inclusions due to the reduction of ductility. Impact strength of PC is reduced with both additions of GF and MC. Glass transition temperatures (Tg) of PC and relevant composites were estimated by the help of DSC analysis. Tg of PC hifts to higher temperatures by the addition of GF. According to TGA results, GF and MC additions cause remarkable increase in thermal stability of PC. MFI of PC extends up to higher values with increase in GF concentration. SEM analysis reveals that GF and MC display nonhomogeneous dispersion for their high loading ratios. Individual inclusions of additives yield higher mechanical and thermal performance than hybrid composites.

J. Jayaramudu; S.C. Agwuncha; S.S. Ray; E. R. Sadiku; A. Varada Rajulu
Abstract
In the present work, natural Polyalthiacerasoide woven fabrics were extracted from the bark of the tree and using these woven fabrics/glass fibre as reinforcements and epoxy as matrix the hybrid composites were prepared by the hand lay-up technique, at room temperature. The effect of alkali treatment ...
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In the present work, natural Polyalthiacerasoide woven fabrics were extracted from the bark of the tree and using these woven fabrics/glass fibre as reinforcements and epoxy as matrix the hybrid composites were prepared by the hand lay-up technique, at room temperature. The effect of alkali treatment of Polyalthiacerasoide fabrics on the chemical structure and morphology was examined using Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopic techniques respectively. FT-IR analyses indicated the lowering of hemi-cellulose and lignin contents by alkali treatment of the woven fabric. The scanning electron micrographs indicated the removal of hemicelluloses layer on the surface of the fabric by alkali treatment. The effect of alkali treatment of the natural fabric on the mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and interfacial bonding of the hybrid composites was examined.The mechanical properties of the woven fabric/glass fiber hybrid composites with surface modified natural fabric were found to be higher than those with untreated fabric. The fractographs indicated a better interfacial bonding between the woven fabric/glass fibres and the matrix, particularly when the alkali-treated natural fabrics were used in the hybrid composites. Furthermore, these hybrid composites showed resistance to acids, alkalis and various solvents and also possessed lower water absorption.The natural fabric/glass fibre hybrid composites have the properties which advise their relevance for application in the building and construction industries.