Search

To embrace sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, sisal fibers have emerged as a green and low-carbon alternative, offering a viable approach for enhancing the physical characteristics of frost-vulnerable soils. In this study, the unconfined compressive strength and freeze-thaw cycle (FTC) tests for soils stabilized with sisal fiber were conducted, and the enhancement mechanism of sisal fibers on soils in cold regions was analyzed. The results showed that as the sisal fiber content raised, the unconfined compressive strength of the soil samples initially increased and then decreased, which reached a peak at 0.9% sisal fiber content. The heat flux in the sisal fiber-reinforced soil samples exhibited a more dramatic variation than that in the soils without adding fibers during the water-ice phase transition stage. The unfrozen water hysteresis in the fiber-reinforced soil samples initially decreased and then increased as the soil temperature decreased. With an increase in the FTCs, the frost heave for sisal fiber-reinforced soil samples occurred, whereas settlement appeared in the soils without adding fibers. The cumulative deformation of sisal fiber-reinforced soil samples was lower than that of the soils without adding fibers. Additionally, the thaw settlement rate was lower than that of frost heave rate for sisal fiber-reinforced soil samples, while the reverse results were occurred for the soils without adding fibers. The addition of sisal fibers established a more robust structural integrity to the soils. • Hydro-thermal properties of the sisal fiber-reinforced soil are investigated. • 0.9% sisal fiber can mitigate the deformation of the soil by 59.26%. • Volumetric unfrozen water hysteresis of the sisal fiber-reinforced soil is analyzed. • Heat flux of the sisal fiber-reinforced soil exhibits a drastic variation when exposed to FTCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enactment of natural fibers as a replacement for conventional synthetic fiber has aroused the interest of academicians and researchers to look out for newer materials. Surface modification of inflorescence fiber with 5% wt/vol of aqueous solution eliminated the functional elements present. An increase in crystal size of 17.84% was observed between untreated and alkali-treated inflorescence fibers. FTIR characterization revealed an increase in stress transfer capacity by the elimination of hemicelluloses, lignin, pectin and other amorphous substances. The addition of inflorescence fiber up to 20 wt.% with 10 wt.% of sisal fiber and 70 wt.% of epoxies solicited towards utter tensile strength of 48.42MPa and flexural strength of 72.69MPa. Around 51.98% increase in tensile strength was recorded between S0 (neat epoxy) and S4 (10% sisal and 20% inflorescence fiber) composites. Similarly, a 39.18% increase in flexural strength was estimated between S0 (neat epoxy) and S4 (10% sisal and 20% inflorescence fiber) composites. SEM analysis reported the formation of rough surfaces and cavities on the inflorescence fiber surface owing to NaOH modification of fibers. Fiber pullouts were also recorded in 25 wt.% reinforced inflorescences/sisal fiber fortified epoxy composites which attributed to a sudden decrease in tensile and flexural properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the mechanical, absorption, and thermal studies of ramie and sisal fiber–epoxy hybrid biocomposite samples for the first time. This work utilized the short ramie and sisal fibers as reinforcing materials and epoxy resin as the secondary material in an effective way. This innovative approach affords superior mechanical strength compared to the long fibers. The length and weight% of the reinforcement material were varied, with lengths of 10, 15, 20, and 25 mm and weight percentages of 20, 25, 30, and 35%. The high resistance competence of the RS composite leads to the strong intermolecular hydrogen bond due to their high polarity. This behavior helps to increase the samples' tensile strength and flexural strength. Composite samples with a length of 20 mm and a 30% content achieved the highest strength and maximum decomposition temperature. FTIR and X-ray diffraction method was used to analyze microstructural properties and elemental composition. The fractured surfaces of the composite samples were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fiber pullout, brittle fractures, and fiber clusters were identified with the help of SEM micrograph. Particleboard and lightweight products can be developed using the RS fiber–reinforced epoxy resin hybrid composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the range of composite laminates for structural applications, sandwich laminates are a special category intended for applications characterized by high flexural stresses. As it is well known from the technical literature, structural sandwich laminates have a simple configuration consisting of two skins of very strong material, to which the flexural strength is delegated, between which an inner layer (core) of light material with sufficient shear strength is interposed. As an example, a sandwich configuration widely used in civil, naval, and mechanical engineering is that obtained with fiberglass skins and a core of various materials, such as polyurethane foam or another lightweight material, depending on the application. Increasingly stringent regulations aimed at protecting the environment by reducing harmful emissions of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have directed recent research towards the development of new composites and new sandwiches characterized by low environmental impact. Among the various green composite solutions proposed in the literature, a very promising category is that of high-performance biocomposites, which use bio-based matrices reinforced by fiber reinforcements. This approach can also be used to develop green sandwiches for structural applications, consisting of biocomposite skins and cores made by low-environmental impact or renewable materials. In order to make a contribution to this field, a structural sandwich consisting of high-performance sisal–epoxy biocomposite skins and an innovative renewable core made of balsa wood laminates with appropriate lay-ups has been developed and then properly characterized in this work. Through a systematic theoretical–experimental analysis of three distinct core configurations, the unidirectional natural core, the cross-ply type, and the angle-ply type, it has been shown how the use of natural balsa gives rise to inefficient sandwiches, whereas performance optimization is fully achieved by considering the angle-ply core type [±45/90]. Finally, the subsequent comparison with literature data of similar sandwiches has shown how the optimal configuration proposed can be advantageously used to replace synthetic glass–resin sandwiches widely used in various industrial sectors (mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, etc.) and in civil engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paving blocks reinforced with sisal fiber (Agave sisalana Perrine) have been investigated in this study. The aim is to analyze the effect of sisal fiber addition on physical and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and compressive strength. Variations in the percentage of sisal fiber addition were tested to obtain the optimal composition. The method used was experimental through tensile stress and compression tests. The study results showed that adding sisal fiber significantly increased the compressive strength of paving blocks. Sisal fiber, with a length of 30mm, an average diameter of 0.26mm, and a weight of 0.0788 grams, obtained the highest tensile stress of the other variations, which was 207.27 Mpa. Meanwhile, the others were 292.26 Mpa, 193.27 Mpa, 191.77 Mpa, and the lowest was sisal fiber with an average diameter of 0.21 with a tensile stress of 175.14 Mpa. In terms of the quality of paving blocks after adding 3% sisal fiber, the average compressive strength of paving blocks increased to 13.2 Mpa, while paving blocks without additional sisal fiber only had a compressive strength of 8.9 Mpa. The increased strength of paving blocks with additional sisal fiber is due to the mixing of water-cement aggregates that enter the fiber pores, and hydrophilic and compatibility occur when dry and bind to each other. This study provides empirical data that supports the use of sisal fiber as a natural reinforcing material in paving block production and recommendations regarding the optimal percentage of addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fiber/polycaprolactone (SF/PCL) composites are a new and exciting development in the field of sustainable materials research. Enhancing the physical strength of these SF/PCL composites has been the primary emphasis of the present study work. The most efficient strategies to increase the chemical treatment process have been identified using methodologies such as Taguchi's and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The injection molding technique was used to make the composites while important variables were changed. Chemical treatments solutions (potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and potassium acetate), chemical concentration (2%, 4%, and 6% w/v), and treatment duration (3, 6, and 9 h) were the variables for this work. Various SF/PCL composite variations were produced as a result of these adjustments. A number of physical properties were measured to assess the improved composites' strength, including modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, impact resistance, deformability under bending, elongation under tension, and tensile strength. To examine the examined and treated materials in detail, we employed a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using GRA and mean plots, the composite's ideal values were the same. The optimal parameters for X1-Y2-Z2 were determined to enhance the mechanical properties of SF/PCL, which are KOH, 4%, and 4 h. However, the microstructure of the PCL matrix bio-composite strengthened with sisal fiber was affected by a variety of surface treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, bio-composites were developed using polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix and sisal fibers (SFs) derived from agave sisalana leaves as the reinforcement. The bio-composites were prepared through injection molding with the addition of tributyl 2-acetylcitrate (ATBC) plasticizer. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of these bio-composites were investigated to understand the effects of fiber and plasticizer contents. The results showed that the addition of SFs improved the tensile and flexural moduli of the bio-composites but led to a decrease in tensile strength compared to neat PLA. The flexural strength initially decreased with low fiber content but recovered to the level of neat PLA as the fiber content increased. The impact strength increased with the incorporation of SFs and ATBC. However, the presence of ATBC had a negative impact on the tensile and flexural properties of the bio-composites. The thermal conductivity of the materials was influenced by the fiber content and processing temperature, increasing with SFs inclusion but decreasing with temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed increased crystallinity of PLA with the presence of SFs and ATBC. The specific heat capacity increased with ATBC but decreased with increasing SFs. Dynamic mechanical property testing showed variations in storage and loss moduli of the bio-composites at different temperatures. The storage modulus increased with higher fiber content and abruptly dropped around glass transition temperature. Rheological characterization demonstrated effective interactions between the fibers and matrix with good fiber dispersion, resulting in uniform shear viscosity versus shear rate for different capillary dimensions. The shear viscosity of the SFs/PLA mixture increased with increasing fiber content but decreased with the addition of plasticizer. Furthermore, the compounding and molding processes had a notable impact on the microstructure of the fibers, specifically resulting in fiber breakage and fiber separation during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The incompatibility of natural fibers with polymer matrices is one of the key obstacles restricting their use in polymer composites. The interfacial connection between the fibers and the matrix was weak resulting in a lack of mechanical properties in the composites. Chemical treatments are often used to change the surface features of plant fibers, yet these treatments have significant drawbacks such as using substantial amounts of liquid and chemicals. Plasma modification has recently become very popular as a viable option as it is easy, dry, ecologically friendly, time-saving and reduces energy consumption. This paper aims to explore plasma treatment for improving the surface adhesion characteristics of sisal fibers (SFs) without compromising the mechanical attributes of the fiber. Design/methodology/approach: A cold glow discharge plasma (CGDP) modification using N2 gas at varied power densities of 80 W and 120 W for 0.5 h was conducted to improve the surface morphology and interfacial compatibility of SF. The mechanical characteristics of unmodified and CGDP-modified SF-reinforced epoxy composite (SFREC) were examined as per the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Findings: The cold glow discharge nitrogen plasma treatment of SF at 120 W (30 min) enhanced the SFREC by nearly 122.75% superior interlaminar shear strength, 71.09% greater flexural strength, 84.22% higher tensile strength and 109.74% higher elongation. The combination of improved surface roughness and more effective lignocellulosic exposure has been responsible for the increase in the mechanical characteristics of treated composites. The development of hydrophobicity in the SF had been induced by CGDP N2 modification and enhanced the size of crystals and crystalline structure by removing some unwanted constituents of the SF and etching the smooth lignin-rich surface layer of the SF particularly revealed via FTIR and XRD. Research limitations/implications: Chemical and physical treatments have been identified as the most efficient ways of treating the fiber surface. However, the huge amounts of liquids and chemicals needed in chemical methods and their exorbitant performance in terms of energy expenditure have limited their applicability in the past decades. The use of appropriate cohesion in addition to stimulating the biopolymer texture without changing its bulk polymer properties leads to the formation and establishment of plasma surface treatments that offer a unified, repeatable, cost-effective and environmentally benign replacement. Originality/value: The authors are sure that this technology will be adopted by the polymer industry, aerospace, automotive and related sectors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of banana fiber and sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy biocomposites were evaluated with and without cashew nut shell (CNS) filler, either separately, or as hybrid biocomposites. Bidirectional woven mats were used to make composites by compression molding. The CNS filler content was 5% to 10%. Adding CNS filler of up to 5% improved the mechanical and thermal properties. Further increases in filler content above the threshold value diminished their mechanical properties due to poor dispersion and increased porosity. The maximum tensile and flexural strength were found as 43 and 92 MPa. The highest impact strength was obtained with the hybrid biocomposites with 5% filler. This was attributed to the toughening effect of phenolic compounds in the CNS. In addition, the thermal stability of the biocomposites was influenced by filler content. The biocomposites exhibited varying water absorption capacities as the filler content increased with the water uptake. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed the microsurface of the fractured samples and their interfacial bonding, fiber pull-out, and fracture. However, increasing filler content in the biocomposite reduced the filler pull-out and led to fiber breakage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, in order to replace traditional synthetic polymer composites, engineering research has focused on the development of new alternatives such as green biocomposites constituted by an eco-sustainable matrix reinforced by natural fibers. Such innovative biocomposites are divided into two different typologies: random short fiber biocomposites characterized by low mechanical strength, used for non-structural applications such as covering panels, etc., and high-performance biocomposites reinforced by long fibers that can be used for semi-structural and structural applications by replacing traditional materials such as metal (carbon steel and aluminum) or synthetic composites such as fiberglass. The present research work focuses on the high-performance biocomposites reinforced by optimized sisal fibers. In detail, in order to contribute to the extension of their application under fatigue loading, a systematic experimental fatigue test campaign has been accomplished by considering four different lay-up configurations (unidirectional, cross-ply, angle-ply and quasi-isotropic) with volume fraction Vf = 70%. The results analysis found that such laminates exhibit good fatigue performance, with fatigue ratios close to 0.5 for unidirectional and angle-ply (±7.5°) laminates. However, by passing from isotropic to unidirectional lay-up, the fatigue strength increases significantly by about four times; higher increases are revealed in terms of fatigue life. In terms of damage, it has been observed that, thanks to the high quality of the proposed laminates, in any case, the fatigue failure involves the fiber failure, although secondary debonding and delamination can occur, especially in orthotropic and cross-ply lay-up. The comparison with classical synthetic composites and other similar biocomposite has shown that in terms of fatigue ratio, the examined biocomposites exhibit performance comparable with the biocomposites reinforced by the more expensive flax and with common fiberglass. Finally, appropriate models, that can be advantageously used at the design stage, have also been proposed to predict the fatigue behavior of the laminates analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial development has led to an increase in demand for friction materials, resulting in increasingly prominent environmental issues throughout their entire life cycle, and developing green and eco‐friendly brake friction materials has become a focus in the braking field. This paper explores the mechanical and tribological properties of fly ash (industrial waste) and sisal fiber (natural fiber) as eco‐friendly components to enhance brake friction materials. Four samples containing different ratios of fly ash and sisal fiber were prepared and tested with a variable‐speed friction testing machine. The results show that the eco‐friendly alternative combination can effectively improve the friction coefficient, and reduce friction fluctuations and thermal degradation, but the wear rate will also increase accordingly. In addition, the worn morphology reveals the formation of the contact platform and wear mechanism. A hybrid integration of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and multi‐objective optimization by ratio analysis (MOORA) was used to weigh various evaluation indicators objectively and rank the samples. The sample with 8% fly ash and 6% sisal fiber exhibited the best comprehensive tribological performance. Highlights: Development of eco‐friendly brake friction composites with natural and waste additives.Investigation of the effect of the natural wastes' ratio on prepared composites' physical, mechanical, and tribological properties.Evaluation of brake friction composites with AHP‐MOORA.Sample S6F8 exhibits the best comprehensive tribological performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Epoxy-based hybrid composites are attention in various engineering domains. Distinctively, natural fiber-made epoxy composites are advantageous over synthetic fiber-made composites and attracted in automotive applications such as set frames, interior panels, dashboards, etc. Moreover, due to its high moisture absorption nature, the epoxy composite formed with natural fiber is suspected to have poor adhesive quality compared to synthetic fiber composite. It leads to lower adhesive performance and limits the behaviour of composite. The prime objective of the current work is to ensure the adhesive behaviour of NaOH-treated sisal fiber (SF) epoxy composite featured with silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC). This composite is prepared with the constant percentage of SF as 15 wt% and varied wt% of SiC through compression mould technology. Influences of treated SF and SiC on pressing behaviour of surface morphology, tensile & flexural strength, microhardness, and fracture toughness of composites are experimentally investigated with ASTM D638, D790, D4762, and D6110 policy, and its outcomes are compared to 15wt% treated SF epoxy composite. The surface morphology study confirms that the SF and SiC appearances in the epoxy matrix are uniform and homogenous. The 5wt% SiC embedded with 15wt% treated SF facilitates higher tensile (65.2 ± 1.1 MPa) & flexural strength (69.1 ± 1.3 MPa), microhardness (35.5 ± 0.5 HV), and fracture toughness (1.56 ± 0.01 MPam0.5). The enriched epoxy hybrid composite sample will recommended for automobile interior parts application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel process for manufacturing fiber-reinforced silica sol shells for investment casting is proposed. The influence of different fiber lengths and additions on the bending strength of the shell is investigated. Specifically, sisal fibers were suspended in a self-made fiber placement device under the influence of air fluidization and adhered to the surface of the backup slurry of shell. Both silica sol-immersed and untreated sisal fibers were employed as reinforcing agents for the investment shell. The results illustrate that fibers could be evenly placed on the surface of the shell with slurry by means of the air fluidization spread, thereby improving the strength of the fiber-reinforced shell. When the fiber length remained constant, the shell strength exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease with an increase in fiber addition. At a fiber addition of 1.0%, the green strength of the shell reinforced with both treated and untreated fibers of length 4 mm reached its maximum values, which were 3.35 MPa and 3.14 MPa, respectively. When the fiber addition was 0.25%, the fired strength of the shell reinforced with the aforementioned two types of fibers reached their respective maximum values of 6.12 MPa and 5.86 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research investigation, jute and sisal intra‐hybrid woven fabric were specifically tailored to maintain jute and sisal in weft and warp directions, respectively. Jute sisal intra‐hybrid composites were prepared with four layers of intra‐hybrid woven fibers using a compression molding technique. Physical, mechanical (static and dynamic), and thermal stability behavior were investigated, and their structure–property relationship has been established. The obtained results showed that jute‐sisal cross‐interplay‐based hybrid composites recorded maximum tensile and flexural modulus values with minimum anisotropy. It can be concluded from the current experimental investigation that weft/warp orientation and stacking sequence play a significant role in defining the mechanical performance and anisotropic nature of woven fiber‐reinforced laminated composites. Also, the anisotropic properties can be minimized by investigating the effect of fiber orientation and hybridization of natural fibers‐based laminated composites. Highlights: Woven mats were tailored to orient different fibers in warp and weft directions.The influence of the fiber's orientation and stacking sequence was analyzed.Fiber orientation and hybridization have influenced mechanical performance.The alternative stacking sequence has shown the highest mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based materials are becoming increasingly important as demand for conventional wood-based products raises environmental issues, potentially leading to deforestation. As a result, environmentally acceptable, cost-effective, and easily available alternative natural biomass materials for these intended utilizes are highly required. In this work, a waste wheat straw cellulose polymer matrix composite reinforced with sisal fiber through physical and chemical treatment methods for fiberboard application was synthesized and characterized. The composite materials were developed using the polymer solution casting method. Waste wheat straw composites with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt% of sisal fiber with respect to the matrix were prepared. Qualitative and quantitative approaches, as well as exploratory and experimental research methods, were employed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the functional group of wheat straw cellulose, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the sisal fiber morphology. Flexural strength was tested by using a universal testing machine, and impact strengths were measured by a V-notch Charpy tester based on medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and low-density fiberboard (LDF) as control samples. The water absorption of the samples was also studied. The work complied with ANSI A208.2–2002's general test standards for general usage. The results showed that the maximum flexural strength attained at 20 wt% of reinforcement was (56.83 MPa) and the impact strength at 20 wt% sisal fiber was (30.33 J), while the MDF and LDF control samples' flexural strengths were 35.5 MPa and 41.5 MPa, respectively, and the impact strengths were (20.16 J and 25 J), respectively. The lowest water absorption value was achieved at 5 wt% of sisal fiber, and the value was (2.09%). However, water absorption of (74.04%) for MDF and (106.98%) for LDF was measured. Thus, it was discovered that using waste biomass such as wheat straw instead of raw wood may provide a composite material with superior flexural strength, impact strength, and reduced water absorption for fiberboard applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally, biodegradable natural fiber plays a vital role in polymer composite fabrication due to its cost-effectiveness, reduced specific weight, and specific stiffness behavior. Besides, the research gap spotted on processing challenges, including lack of adhesive behavior, results in lower mechanical behavior of composite. The main objective of the present research is synthesizing of epoxy-based poly composite enclosures with 5% sodium hydroxide processed natural sisal fiber (SF) as 20 vol% via thermally assisted injection mold route, which functional behavior is enriched by the accumulations of 3, 6, and 9 vol% of nanosilicon carbide particles (SiC). The impacts of processing accumulations of nano-SiC/SF on metallurgical (scanning electron microscope (SEM)) and mechanical functional properties including tensile strength, elongation percentage, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of epoxy/NaOH-treated natural SF and its composites embedded with nano-SiC are studied. The novel research is recorded with the exposure of SEM metallurgical analysis results, and better SF distribution along the epoxy matrix with a coarse grain of nano-SiC is identified on hybrid compositions. Amid the various compositions mentioned above, the epoxy/20 vol% SF (NaOH treated)/6 vol% nano-SiC composite has superior tensile strength, better elongation percentage, improved flexural strength, and good fracture toughness of 54 ± 1.5 MPa, 18 ± 1%, 76 ± 2 MPa, and 1.61 ± 0.04 MPam0.5, which is greater than the value of epoxy/20 vol% SF (NaOH treated) composite sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites have great potential in various engineering applications due to their lightweight, bio-degradable, non-toxic, and easy availability. However, natural fibers have low inherent behaviour during the preparation of composite. The present investigation is an attempt to enhance an inherent performance of epoxy hybrid nanocomposite with the inclusion of 30 wt% NaOH treated sisal (Agave sisalana) fiber, varied (5, 10, and 15 wt%) weight percentages of nano silicon carbide (SiC) and blended with 5 wt% graphite particles. Compression mould synthesized epoxy composite samples are subjected to surface morphology, flexural strength, toughness, and abrasion studies. The scanning electron microscope results showed the homogenous particle distribution and composite sample 4 (epoxy/30 wt% sisal fiber/15 wt% SiC/5 wt% Gr) is found to have a superior flexural strength of 73.5±0.5 MPa, high fracture toughness of 1.62 MPa m0.5, enhanced wear resistance (0.023 mg/m), and good frictional coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of industrial waste red mud in polymer composites promotes environmental sustainability by mitigating the environmental impacts associated with landfill disposal. Previous research by the authors on red mud sisal fiber composites resulted in increased strength; it is expected that the strength can be increased further through fiber treatment. As a result, the current study sought to examine the effects of chemical‐treated sisal fiber reinforcement on the mechanical properties of red mud composites. Alkaline treatment and silane treatment were both used as chemical treatment methods. Red mud was added in three different weight percentages, and composites were built using the compression molding method and tested for hardness, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. The findings indicate that the strength of the composite increases with the incorporation of treated fibers, silane‐treated 30% red mud composites showed a maximum hardness of around 92 shore D. The tensile strength of the composites containing 20% red mud and treated with silane was the highest, reaching ca. 63 MPa. This significant increase in strength was attributed to the formation of strong interfacial bonding between the red mud, fiber, and matrix. Furthermore, the silane‐treated 20 wt% red mud composites have the highest flexural strength (ca. 244 MPa) and impact strength (ca. 26 J/m). However, increasing the red mud content above 20 wt% resulted in decreased tensile, flexural, and impact strength due to poor bond development, and red mud agglomeration. The findings of this study are beneficial for the design and development of composites based on red mud, as well as for promoting sustainable waste management practices. Highlights: Red mud composites achieve superior mechanical strength.Chemical treatment enhances sisal fiber reinforcement.Sustainable waste management promoted through composite utilization.Strong interfacial bonding improves composite performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Styrene butadiene thermoplastic elastomer (SBS)/polystyrene (PS)/sisal fiber (SF) composites were prepared by melt-blending method. The tensile creep behavior of SBS/PS/SF composites was studied and fitted by four viscoelastic models including Findley, Burger, generalized Kelvin-Voigt and Maxwell models. The effects of content and surface properties of SF treated by alkali and silane coupling agent on the creep behavior, structures and thermal properties of the composites under the action of tensile stress were investigated. The results indicated that the generalized Kelvin-Voigt model and generalized Maxwell model could best fit the tensile creep behavior of SBS/PS/SF composites. The creep resistance and thermal stability of the composites improved with the increases of SF content and tensile stress. The interfacial properties of fiber and matrix were enhanced after SF treated by silane, which would be beneficial to the improvements of the creep resistance and thermal stability. The glass transition temperature of the composite increased with the increase of SF content, but decreased after the action of the tensile stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal aging is a matter of considerable concern for natural fiber-reinforced polymers; it can alter dimensional stability and induce microcracks and macro strain on the composite structure. This study applied a sorption kinetic model and examined the effects of water on the damping factor of sisal mat-reinforced polyester composites. The experimental data were fitted well using a Boltzmann sigmoid function, suggesting a promising first step toward kinetic water sorption modeling. Additionally, a damping test was carried out using the impulse excitation technique, highlighting the composite material's dynamic response under varying water absorption conditions. The result showed that damping exhibited sensitivity to water absorption, increasing significantly during the first 24 h of immersion in water, then remained steady over time, inferring a critical time interval. An empirical model proved satisfactory with the correlation coefficient for sorption rates and damping of sisal mat polymeric composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fiber exhibits a fibrous and porous structure with significant surface roughness, making it highly suitable for storing phase change materials (PCMs). Its intricate morphology further aids in mitigating the risk of PCM leakage. This research successfully employs vacuum adsorption to encapsulate paraffin within sisal fiber, yielding a potentially cost-effective, durable, and environmentally friendly phase change energy storage medium. A systematic investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of sisal-to-paraffin mass ratio, fiber length, vacuum level, and negative pressure duration on the loading rate of paraffin. The experimental results demonstrate that a paraffin loading rate of 8 wt% can be achieved by subjecting a 3 mm sisal fiber to vacuum adsorption with 16 wt% paraffin for 1 h at −0.1 MPa. Through the utilization of nano-CT imaging enhancement technology, along with petrographic microscopy, this study elucidates the mechanism underlying paraffin storage within sisal fiber during vacuum adsorption. The observations reveal that a substantial portion of paraffin is primarily stored within the pores of the fiber, while a smaller quantity is firmly adsorbed onto its surface, thus yielding a durable phase change energy storage medium. The research findings contribute to both the theoretical foundations and the available practical guidance for the fabrication and implementation of paraffin/sisal fiber composite phase change energy storage mediums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the use of natural fibers in concrete has gained considerable attention due to their potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional steel reinforcements. This paper investigates the strength performance of natural fiber-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete using copper slag as a replacement for fine aggregate. The natural fibers used in this study were extracted from sisal and coconut coir. The experimental program involved casting and testing cube, cylinder, and prism specimens to study the strength performance on various proportions of concrete mix design. The specimens were tested for compressive, tensile, and flexural strength at 28 days of maturity. The results showed that the addition of natural fibers significantly improved the strength performance of the recycled aggregate concrete. Furthermore, the replacement of fine aggregate with copper slag improved the microstructure in terms of effective bonding and formation of a denser mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fiber employment in concrete improves its post-crack strength, but sisal fiber degrades due to moisture and cement mineralization. Many researchers used alkaline and pozzolanic techniques to treat sisal fiber in cement composite materials. However, which treatment method is most effectively used to modify sisal fiber for sustainable use in cementing materials has yet to be well known. Therefore, this review highlights the effect of alkaline and pozzolanic materials on sisal fiber treatment. The review of various studies found employment of 1–1.5% of treated sisal fiber by alkaline or pozzolana reduces workability and improves the mechanical properties, especially as many authors found the treatment of sisal fiber by pozzolanic material averagely improves compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of cementing materials by 21.75% and 36.53%, while alkaline treatment 12.83% and 14.92% respectively, compared to control mixture. Besides these, many studies found the treatment of sisal by either alkaline or pozzolana significantly lessens water absorption capacity, improves the thermal resistivity of the fiber, improves fiber adhesion with the matrix, makes rougher microstructure of fiber surface. However, many studies reported alkaline treatment to have drawbacks in the disposal of alkaline chemicals that increase environmental pollution, at high concentrations cause fiber deterioration, and chemical production cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of sisal fiber by pozzolanic materials like kaolin and silica-fume has been explored; however, no study has modeled and optimized the effect of sisal fiber degradation treatment using calcined bentonite. Therefore, the present study investigate the effects of treating sisal fiber with different doses of calcined bentonite, bentonite calcination temperatures, and times on fiber breaking load, degradation resistance, and water absorption using the central composite design-response surface method (CCD-RSM). The best performance of the optimum treated sisal fiber selected from the CCD-RSM based on the established goal of maximizing breaking load and degradation resistance with minimum water absorption, it was obtained a calcined bentonite dose of 30.067%, a bentonite calcination temperature of 800°C, and a calcination time of 179.99 min. Based on these factors, experimentally found sisal fiber breaking load 12.87 N, degradation resistance 98.44%, and water absorption 39.05%, all are within the 95% confidence level compared to the optimum numerical suggested values. Hence, the optimum treated sisal fiber improved breaking load by 33.37% and degradation resistance by 98%, while it reduced water absorption by 60.95%, compared to raw sisal fiber. Besides these, the optimum treated sisal fiber exhibits higher surface roughness and lower porosity than the raw sisal fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanical properties of single and double-layer woven sisal mat-reinforced PP composite panels. Sisal fibers were extracted using the manual decortication method, resulting in fibers with a density of 1.43 g/cm3 and a diameter ranging from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. To improve the bonding between the sisal fibers and the matrix, the fibers were hand-spun into yarn and woven into mats. The study focuses on the unique material combination and the use of sisal as a natural fiber reinforcement. The 18 mm thick panels were tested for water absorption following ASTM D570, compression strength, and tensile strength following ASTM D3039 using the UTES-100 High Precision universal strength tester machine. Composite panels with single layers of 10% and 15% woven fabric mat, loaded with 8 kg and 10 kg, exhibited compressive strengths of 11.6KN and 12.5KN, respectively. Panels reinforced with two layers of 20% and 30% sisal woven fabric mat, loaded with 8 kg and 10 kg, had compression strengths of 12.2KN and 12.5KN, respectively. Moreover, composite samples with 15% single layer and 30% double-layer sisal woven fabric mat demonstrated a equal compression strength of 12.5KN, falling within the range recommended by ISO13006:2012. The tensile strength of 16.99MPa, although slightly below the recommended ISO13006 value of 20MPa for commercial-grade panels, indicates promising results. The study's findings suggest that higher fiber content and additional reinforcement layers lead to increased compression and tensile strength. Furthermore, the moisture absorption rate of the developed composite panels was significantly lower than the 0.5% water absorption rate authorized by the American National Standard Institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of natural fibers in engineering applications requires an accurate measurement of their dimensional characteristics and mechanical properties. Fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) obtained from lateral dimensional measurements should consider the specific cross-sectional shape (CSS) of the fibers and their wide lengthwise variations. In this study, the dimensional measurements of water-retted and unretted sisal fibers were conducted by laser scanning microscopy (LSM) and calculation-based methods. Single fiber tensile tests were performed using the digital image correlation (DIC) method. Results show that the diameters of water-retted and unretted fibers measured by LSM were 233 ± 45 µm and 236 ± 42 µm, respectively. The diameters of water-retted and unretted fibers obtained by calculation were 192 ± 17 µm and 178 ± 20 µm, respectively. The tensile strengths of water-retted and unretted fibers were 679 ± 118 MPa and 718 ± 106 MPa, respectively. The strain at failure and elastic modulus of water-retted and unretted fibers were 2.0 ± 0.6% and 34 ± 8 GPa, as well as 1.5 ± 0.2% and 48 ± 6 GPa, respectively. Water retting seems to predominantly influence the strain at failure and elastic modulus of sisal fibers, as confirmed by the ANOVA analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the mechanical characteristics of a novel hybrid composite material, which combines bio-epoxy reinforced with sisal fiber and integrated with fly ash nano-fillers. The study focuses on exploiting the environmentally friendly attributes of natural fiber composites and reducing reliance on synthetic materials. In this study, sisal fiber serves as the reinforcement, and a bio-epoxy matrix is utilized to create the composite. To further enhance its properties, fly ash, a byproduct of coal-fired power plants, is incorporated as a nano-filler. The experimental findings reveal significant improvements in the mechanical properties of the composite due to the inclusion of fly ash nano-fillers. The tensile strength shows a notable enhancement of up to 6.3%, flexural strength experiences an impressive increase of 68%, impact strength demonstrates a remarkable boost of 28%, and scratch hardness elevates by 17% which were all achieved at 20% fiber weight fraction and 5% fly ash weight fraction. The considerable potential of this hybrid sisal fiber reinforced bio-epoxy composite, integrated with fly ash nano-fillers, as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic composites is evident from these results. Such enhancements make the composite suitable for a wide range of engineering applications, including the manufacturing of automotive components, construction materials, and consumer goods. By adopting this bio-composite, industries can actively contribute to sustainable practices while maintaining optimal performance in their products. This research offers valuable insights into a promising solution for eco-conscious engineering applications, with both quantitative and qualitative evidence demonstrating the achievement of superior mechanical properties in this innovative hybrid material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fibers (SF) are able to enhance the mechanical properties of cementitious materials. However, the rheology of fiber-reinforced cementitious materials is a complex subject due to the significant flow perturbations caused by the fibers in the cement matrix. The effect of SF on the flowability and rheological properties of the cement paste were evaluated in this study. SF of three lengths (3, 6, and 12 mm) were added to the cement paste at different dosages. The results showed that the flowability of the cement paste containing SF decreased with the fiber length and dosage. The rheological curves agreed well with the Bingham model. With the presence of the same dosage of longer SF, the yield stress increased by about 20 times compared to the reference sample. With increase in SF dosage, the plastic viscosity also increased; however, the influence of SF length on the plastic viscosity has less influence than that of yield stress. The results of this study could provide a technological reference for the design and deployment of SF-reinforced cementitious materials in practice. The rheology of fiber-reinforced cementitious materials is known to be a complex subject. The introduction of sisal fibers (SF) can significantly affect the workability of cementitious materials. This study focuses on the effect of different dosages of SF of three lengths (3, 6, and 12 mm) on the flowability and rheological properties of cement paste. The results show that the flowability of the cement paste decreases with increasing SF length and dosage. The introduction of SF still shows a shear thinning behavior and the rheological profile is found to be consistent with the Bingham model. The yield stress is more sensitive to the length of SF. The SF dosage plays a major role in the evolution of viscosity. To obtain insights that will be beneficial for practical applications, relationships between variable parameters and rheological properties were determined. This paper attempts to refine the qualitative control of cost-effective cementitious materials with respect to the dispersion of SF in the cement matrix to enable life-cycle evaluation. In addition, examining the rheological properties of cementitious materials enables the design of building materials on demand, including fiber-reinforced cement-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant efforts have been made to improve concrete mix design for shrinkage reduction and crack control, including reduction of cement content and selection of cement type with less heat of hydration, maximizing aggregate contents, and introduction of discrete fibers in concrete to increase internal restraint. Although high-performance concrete (HPC) mixes including fibers [e.g., steel fibers, polypropylene fibers, or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers] have reduced the level of shrinkage cracking, they have not eliminated it. Thus, understanding the level of tensile strain the fibers take in the concrete could provide valuable information to aid engineers to make an informed decision on the need for fibers in tension demand in the concrete and determine the appropriate fiber detailing and concrete mix additives. As such, this study aimed to explore a multiscale, hierarchical fiber gradation through a combination of nanoscale nanofabrillated cellulose (NFC) with microscale sisal fibers and macroscale steel fibers in concrete to mitigate the causes of concrete shrinkage cracking at an early age. A total of 22 mixtures were designed and tested. The results show that nanofabrillated cellulose, sisal fiber, and steel fiber can play an excellent synergistic effect to inhibit the early-age shrinkage of concrete. The test data reveal that, when steel fiber is partially replaced by sisal fiber, the early shrinkage of steel fiber concrete is significantly reduced by 26.91% at maximum. Meanwhile, when the NFC content reached 0.15%, the 7-day shrinkage value of concrete reinforced by steel fiber, sisal fiber, and NFC was the lowest, and the shrinkage strain value decreased by 25.03% compared with N0. Compared with the experimental group in which sisal fiber partially replaced steel fiber, the 7-day shrinkage value of the experimental group in which sisal fiber mixed with NFC, sisal fiber mixed with NFC and steel fiber decreased to a certain extent, among which SF1.1FF0.4NFC0.15 showed the best shrinkage inhibition performance, and the shrinkage strain value decreased by 82.56% and 45.39% compared with N0 and SF1.1FF0.4, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of the mission to create materials that are more environmentally friendly, we present the following proposal, in which a study of the mechanical properties of composite materials comprising a polyester resin with sisal fiber and bentonite particles was conducted. Sisal fiber was added to a matrix in percentages ranging from 5% to 45% in relation to the polyester resin weight, while bentonite remained fixed at 7% in relation to the polyester resin weight. The specimens were manufactured by compression molding. The mechanical properties were analyzed by tensile, bending, impact, stepped creep, and relaxation tests. In addition, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses were carried out to analyze the composition and heterogeneity of the structure of the composite material. The results obtained showed that 7% of bentonite added to the matrix affects the tensile strength. Flexural strength increased by up to 21% in the specimens with a 20% addition of sisal fiber, while the elastic modulus increased by up to 43% in the case of a 20% addition of sisal fiber. The viscoelastic behavior was improved, while the relaxation stress was affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A designer of sustainable biocomposite structures and natural ropes needs to have a high confidence interval (95% CI) for mechanical characteristics data of performance materials, yet qualities for plant-based fibers are very diverse. A comprehensive study of the elements that enhance the performance of biocomposites or sustainable ropes created from vegetable fibers is necessary. The current study included five groups with varying numbers (N) of tests of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 on the mechanical characteristics at room temperatures. The purpose of this study was to determine how changing N affects the mechanical properties of sisal yarn. These properties include its strength, Young's modulus, and deformation at rupture. A significance testing program including more than 100 tests was performed. Owing to the heterogeneity of the plant yarn, each group received more than 20 samples at a gauge length (GL) of 100 mm. The tensile strength characteristics of sisal yarns produced a wide range of findings, as is common for natural fibers, necessitating a statistical analysis. Its dispersion was explored and measured using the statistical methods. The Weibull distribution with two parameters and a prediction model with a 95% confidence level for maximum likelihood (ML) and least squares (LS) were used to investigate and quantify its dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) is an environmentally friendly and promising method for sand treatment. However, the effect of EICP treatment alone is not sufficient to satisfy the engineering requirements for sand. The addition of fibers is an advantageous approach to enhancing the mechanical strength of EICP-treated sand. Most fibers used as reinforcement are synthetic fibers; this practice is wasteful and poses a risk of environmental pollution. The novel exploration performed in this work investigated the enhancement effect of natural fibers for EICP-treated sand. In this study, the enhancement effects of sisal, a natural fiber, and polypropylene, a synthetic fiber, on EICP-treated sand were compared. Three aspects of the enhancement effects—calcium carbonate content, strength, and toughness—were evaluated. In addition, solution analysis and microscopy observations were conducted to analyze enhancement mechanisms. The results showed that the sisal fibers did in fact contribute to the effects on EICP-treated sand, and their enhancement effect was better than that of polypropylene fibers. Specifically, with the addition of sisal and polypropylene fibers to EICP-treated sand, values of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) were 322 and 213 kPa, respectively. The solution analysis results and microscopy observations indicated that the coarser surface structure of sisal fibers resulted in stronger reinforcement than the reinforcement provided by polypropylene fibers. The mechanical properties of sand can be improved to a certain extent when sand is treated by enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation. However, the enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation–treated samples shown obvious brittleness, which would lead to a sudden destruction. This is unacceptable in practical projects. The application of fibers not only delays the destruction of samples but also improves the strength of enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation–treated sand to a certain extent. Synthetic fibers have been widely used in soil reinforcement and brittleness reduction. This study found that natural fibers, represented by sisal fibers, can be used as a green alternative to synthetic fibers in the future. In addition, this study provided guidance for coastal zone development, island construction, and sand slope protection projects. However, it is important to note that this study was only a preliminary confirmation of the feasibility of the use of natural fibers in enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation–treated sand. Natural fibers still need some modification before they can be used in practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the cracking issue of concrete under external restraint conditions, the common method is to add fibers (steel fiber, polypropylene fiber, etc.) to concrete. However, steel fiber is heavy and costly. In this paper, a slab test was carried out, and the cracking control effect of a macro-nano multiscale cracking prevention system formed by using natural green sisal fiber instead of steel fiber and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) on concrete is studied. A total of 14 test groups were set up, including the test groups of a single sisal fiber and single steel fiber dosage; sisal fiber combined with steel fiber with equal volume; a sisal fiber and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) combination; and a sisal fiber and steel fiber and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) hybrid combination. The early-age cracking behavior of concrete of the preceding groups were observed. The results show that the use of sisal fiber with 0.4% volume content improves the early-age cracking of concrete to the same extent as the use of steel fiber with 1% volume content. Compared with the addition of steel fiber alone, sisal fiber replacing steel fiber with equal volume can not only significantly improve the cracking resistance of concrete and reduce its cost and weight, but also protect the environment. Last but not least, results indicate that sisal fiber and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) also play a good synergistic role in delaying and controlling the cracking development of concrete. The macro-nano multiscale fiber by steel fiber, sisal fiber, and nanofibrillated cellulose reinforced-concrete cracking resistance mode is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials offer huge upgrades over current accessible materials for various primary applications because of their fantastic mechanical qualities and moderately low thickness. Carbon filaments are most broadly utilized in vehicle, aviation, military and transportation of oil, gas and water applications. The specimen is prepared with varying stacking sequences (i.e., Carbon-Sisal-Carbon-Sisal [CSCS], Carbon-Sisal-Sisal-Carbon [CSSC] and Sisal-Carbon-Carbon-Sisal [SCCS]) and Carbon, Carbon, Carbon, Carbon (CCCC) and four carbon weight fraction (i.e., 2%, 4%, 6% and 8 %) with 2% of SiC. At the point when composites are used in water, oil and gas transportation, the lines are encountering high disintegration and burden. To learn about the impact of disintegration and burden, the malleable, flexural, influence, twofold shear and wear test are completed to comprehend the disintegration and conveying attributes of industrial applications. In this undertaking, the mechanical properties of composites on epoxy resin with sisal and carbon fiber have been considered. The result shows that the mechanical properties of carbon based samples shows that the better result as compared with other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the feasibility of replacing 50 % of cement with fly ash to reduce cement consumption was investigated. Sodium sulfate was used as an activator to enhance early strength and mitigate the risk of reduced early strength due to the high replacement ratio, leading to a cost-effective and eco-friendly strategy. Additionally, sisal fibers were incorporated to improve toughness, with the fibers treated using sodium hydroxide to enhance their mechanical performance within the matrix. The mechanical tests reveal that adding 4 wt% sodium sulfate optimizes early strength, while excessive sodium sulfate and high alkali treatment of fibers harm the long-term integrity of the material. Microscopic analyses indicate sodium sulfate accelerates early hydration, increases alkalinity, dissolves fly ash more efficiently, and promotes hydration product formation. The early formation of ettringite provides nucleation sites for gel growth. Alkali treatment removes low-molecular-weight components from sisal fibers, increasing cellulose crystallinity and reducing chemical reactivity. SEM imaging shows that alkali-treated fibers develop wrinkles, improving their interaction with the matrix and enhancing mechanical response. Utilizing fly ash and alkali-treated sisal fibers is a promising approach, offering a sustainable and economical solution for improving composite material performance. • Sodium sulfate activation boosts early strength in 50 % fly ash cement mortar. • Alkali-treated sisal fibers enhance the toughness of the composite. • Alkali treatment improves sisal fiber crystallinity and fiber-matrix bonding. • Sodium sulfate and treated fibers together enhance strength and toughness. • Performance enhancement mechanism was studied by XRD, FT-IR, TG, & SEM-EDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for green, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly materials continues to grow, natural fibers as reinforcement materials have received extensive research attention in the engineering field. However, the poor corrosion resistance of natural fibers restricts their application in civil engineering. This study aimed to explore a more suitable modification method for sisal fiber (SF), promoting the substitution of natural fibers for steel or synthetic fibers in cementitious materials. To investigate the mechanisms of SF modified by alkali and crystallizing agent (CA), as well as the influence of modified SF on mortar, the research included tests on fiber crystallinity, single fiber tensile strength, fluidity, mechanical properties, microstructural analysis, and porosity of the modified SF and SF-reinforced mortar. The results confirmed that moderate alkaline and CA modifications can effectively enhance the tensile strength of SF and its bond strength with mortar, thereby improving the durability of SF in the mortar. Specifically, the single fiber pull-out experiment demonstrated that CA modification increased the pull-out shear force by 451.2% at 28 days, while alkali modification resulted in a 108.1% increase. Furthermore, incorporating alkaline-modified SF and CA-modified SF at contents of 0.4 wt% to 0.6 wt% significantly improved the mechanical performance of the mortar. This research provides valuable data for the sustainable application of natural fibers in construction materials, potentially facilitating the broader use of natural fibers as viable alternatives to traditional reinforcement materials in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-Performance Concrete (HPC) is characterized by its densely structured microstructure, providing superior strength and impermeability compared to conventional concretes, but it remains susceptible to spalling when exposed to high temperatures. To address this limitation, the present study focuses on the formulation of High-Performance Lightweight Concrete (HPLC) by incorporating sisal fiber and steel fiber, aiming to mitigate the tendency for spalling under elevated thermal conditions commonly observed in HPC. The present research employed the Modified Andreasen & Andersen particle packing model to optimize the initial mixture proportions for HPLC. This study comprehensively examined the effects of varying sisal fiber concentrations on the workability, mechanical properties, durability, microstructure, and thermal spalling of HPLC. Key findings from the experimental investigation indicate that HPLC developed in this study exhibits high compressive strength, with the most notable performance observed at a sisal fiber volume of 2.0 %, resulting in an apparent density of 1876 kg/m³ and a compressive strength of 110.1 MPa. Incorporation of sisal fiber at a volume of 1.0 % significantly enhances the mechanical properties of HPLC, as evidenced by increases of 11.6 % in flexural strength, 11.9 % in compressive strength, 6.5 % in elastic modulus, and 25.8 % in impact resistance. Additionally, at the same fiber inclusion rate, improvements are noted in the material's resistance to chloride ion penetration and drying shrinkage, with reductions of 4.9 % and 7.3 %, respectively. Adequate amounts of sisal fiber also improve the gel pore structure of HPLC matrix. The thermal degradation of sisal fibers at high temperatures creates channels for steam egress, reducing vapor pressure within HPLC and thereby enhancing its resistance to thermal spalling. A holistic examination of the influence of sisal fibers on the mechanical performance, micromorphology, and thermal endurance of HPLC indicates that the optimal sisal fiber content is established at 1.0 % by volume. Future research could concentrate on optimizing fiber types and compositions, exploring hybrid fiber options, and evaluating long-term durability under diverse environmental stresses to broaden the scope of applications. • Mixture of HPLC was designed via MAA particle packing model. • Thermal and mechanical properties of HPLC were improved via sisal fiber. • Pore structure of HPLC was improved by sisal fiber. • Drying shrinkage and chloride migration coefficient of HPLC were reduced via sisal fiber. • Optimal amount of sisal fiber in HPLC was 1.0 vol%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lumen of sisal fiber provides a good space for loading flame retardants and constructing a three-dimensional flame-retardant network, effectively improving the flame retardancy of their polymer composites. In this study, we combined water/nutrient transport mechanism of plant fiber with layer-by-layer self-assembly technology, innovated a biomimetic flow field flame retardant modification method and successfully deposited ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) into sisal fiber lumen. After 20 cycles modification, the flame retardants in fiber increased to 18.36 wt%. Its TG residue achieved to 43.23 % from 17.35 % (unmodified) and its limited oxygen index (LOI) value achieved to 39.1 % from 20.7 % (unmodified). Compared to directly immersing fiber in APP/PEI solution, this method mitigated the blockage of flame retardants at lumen entrance and realized a uniformly deposition in lumen interior. When blending this modified fiber with polypropylene (PP) at 30 wt% (the flame retardant content is only about 4.65 wt%), the composite TG residue increased from 3.10 % (unmodified) to 15.77 %, and its LOI value increased from 19.4 % (unmodified) to 23.2 %. This composites also has better flame retardancy than APP/PEI directly dispersed in PP matrix (TG residues 11.10 %, LOI value 21.1 %). For sisal fiber polymer composites, employing fiber lumen as flame retardant carrier could improve its flame retardancy efficiently. The carried flame retardants inhibit the combustion of flammable sisal fiber, and the constructed flame-retardant network restrict PP matrix combustion. [Display omitted] • Combining the transport mechanisms within plant fiber and self-assembly technology. • The flow field promoted the deposition of flame retardant in sisal lumen interior. • The LOI of sisal fiber increased to 39.1 % with 18.36 wt% flame retardant deposition. • The modified sisal fiber constructed a flame-retardant network in PP composites. • The network is about twice as efficient as the control in enhancing composite's LOI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study , sisal fiber-reinforced hybrid composites have been developed by integrating a bidirectional mat with a blend of epoxy using Fe-doped ZnO (IDZO) nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt%. Hand-lay-up approach was used to create the composites. The composites were characterized through a comprehensive analysis of their density, water absorption, elasticity, thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical resistance, thermal conductivity, microhardness, and propagation of sound properties, including sound absorption coefficients and sound transmission class ratings. As filler loading increased, the bio-composite sample's hardness increased under the density and void volume fraction values, with 0.8 wt% composite sample showing the superior micro-hardness. A positive correlation was observed between the ZnO nanoparticle weight percentage and thermal conductivity, with improve nanoparticle content leading to improved thermal performance. Composites containing 0.4 wt percent nanoparticles showed superior tensile strength (66.8–84.16 MPa), flexural strength (97.69–120.02 MPa) and flexural modulus (3.56–7.68 GPa). It has been observed that the weight percentage of IDZO filler greatly influences the sound absorption efficiency of the current composites. These findings highlight the promising potential of these novel biocomposites in advanced engineering applications, emphasizing their usefulness in demanding environments with biodegradability and high-performance thermal, mechanical, and acoustic properties. Based on the sound transmission class ratings, the sisal fiber biocomposites have been regarded as great adoptions for use as sound-absorbing materials such as wall partitions, doors, enclosures, and structural components, thermal insulation systems, and electrical insulation. [Display omitted] • IDZO-sisal fiber-reinforced nanocomposites developed for this research. • Fe-doped ZnO (IDZO) preparation techniques evaluated. • IDZO nanoparticles employed at weight percent of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. • The influence of Fe-doped ZnO on the properties of nanocomposites studied. • Analysis and characteristics of IDZO-sisal fiber nanocomposites investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve chitosan hemostasis, carboxylated sisal fiber and kaolin were introduced to obtain carboxylated sisal fiber/chitosan/kaolin (SF/CS/K) composite sponges (the weight ratio of 3: 3:4, 4:4:2, 5:5:0) by freeze-drying method. The results showed that the ionic cross-linking of the carboxylated sisal fiber with chitosan and kaolin-loading endowed the composite sponges with not only oriented groove porous structure, high mechanical strength, porosity, water absorption and compress recovery, but also suitable biodegradation, good cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, protein adsorption, antibacterial activity. Especially, compared with commercial gelatin hemostatic sponges, the composite sponge of SF/CS/K displayed better coagulation ability and hemostatic effect, and animal experiments further demonstrated that the bleeding amount and hemostatic time of SF/CS/K were greatly reduced in rat hemostatic models of tail amputation, femoral vein trauma and liver injury, owing to the synergistic hemostatic effect of chitosan, kaolin and sisal fiber, as well as the groove porous structure, which endowed them with strong adhesion for red blood cells. Conclusively, SF/CS/K 2 composite sponge had the best hemostatic effect because of the most appropriate component ratio, which is a novel promising natural hemostatic sponge for effective and rapid hemostasis in deep massive bleeding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural-fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites with a series of advantages including light weight, chemical durability, renewable resources, low in cost, etc., are being widely used in many fields such as the automotive industry, packaging, and construction. However, the flammability of plant fiber and the PP matrix restricts the application range, security, and use of these composites. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the flame retardants of such composites. In this paper, sisal-fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP/SF) flame-retardant composites were prepared using the two-step melt blending method. The flame retardant used was an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) composed of silane-coated ammonium polyphosphate (Si-APP) and pentaerythritol (PER). The influence of different blending processes on the flammability and mechanical properties of the composites was analyzed. The findings suggested that PP/SF flame-retardant composites prepared via different blending processes showed different flame-retardant properties. The (PP/SF)/IFR composite prepared by PP/SF secondary blending with IFR showed excellent flame-retardant performance, with a limited oxygen index of about 28.3% and passing the UL-94 V-0 rating (3.2 mm) in the vertical combustion test. Compared with the (PP/IFR) /SF composite prepared by a matrix primarily blended with IFR and then secondly blended with SF, the peak heat release rate (pk HRR) and total heat release (THR) of the (PP/SF)/IFR composite decreased by 11.3% and 13.7%, respectively. In contrast, the tensile strength of the (PP/SF)/IFR system was 5.3% lower than that of the (PP/IFR)/SF system; however, the overall mechanical (tensile, flexural, and notched impact) properties of the composites prepared using three different mixing processes were similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inferior mechanical and water absorption properties of natural fibers are massive challenges to utilizing them for industrial applications. The study aims to enhance tensile strength, impact strength, water absorption, and degradation of sisal/polyester composites using glass and carbon fillers. Four fillers proportions (2.5 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 7.5 wt.%, 10 wt.%) and two sisal fiber proportions (20 wt.% and 30 wt.%) were taken to fabricate the composites. Experimentations were performed according to the ASTM standards. The fillers improved tensile and impact strength, water absorption, and degradation of the composites. Carbon-filled composites displayed better results than the corresponding glass-filled composites. Carbon fillers showed a maximum increment of 24.2% in tensile and 78.5% in impact strength for the dry 20/80 composites, and 14.7% in tensile and 57.3% in impact strength for the dry 30/70 composites. Moreover, carbon fillers reduced water absorption by 55.4% for the 20/80 composites and by 53.6% for the 30/70 composites. The highest values of tensile and impact strengths were obtained for the 5 wt.% carbon-filled 30/70 composite; whereas, the lowest water absorption was for the 10 wt.% carbon-filled 20/80 composite. The lowest degradation of 2% in tensile and impact strengths was exhibited for the 7.5 wt.% carbon-filled 20/80 composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fiber loading on mechanical and water absorption characteristics of composites made from sisal fiber and polypropylene matrix targeted for use in bathroom wall tile applications. The amount of fiber content in the composites was varied from 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% to 50% by weight. The composites were manufactured by melt-mixing method. The effects of fiber loading on various composite characteristics were investigated using tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, compressive strength, and water absorption. With the increase of fiber content, properties, such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and compressive strength increases up to optimum level, whilst decrement in these properties were observed after the optimal level. The maximum tensile strength of 52.69 MPa, tensile modulus of 1.1 GPa, flexural strength of 127.8 MPa, flexural modulus of 6.22 GPa, impact strength of 10.195 KJ/m2 and compressive strength 137.7 MPa were obtained. Water absorption rate increased with increase in the fiber weight proportion due to the hydrophilic character of the sisal fiber. From the result of this study, it can be concluded that the optimal mechanical and water absorption properties were achieved at 30% fiber content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave processing of polymer composites is gaining attention as a viable alternative to traditional thermal processing techniques owing to several reasons, including faster and environment-friendly processing. In the present study, High-density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with jute and sisal fibers (10 wt.%) composites were fabricated using microwave energy at 2.45 GHz frequency. The mechanism of microwave molding of the composites has been explained. To understand and compare the performance of the fabricated composites, mechanical (tensile and flexural), thermogravimetric (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were employed to evaluate the performance of the composites. The composites exhibited significant improvement in tensile strength (29.25% and 48.69%), flexural strength (19.22% and 27.47%), and crystallinity (6.41% and 13.02%) for HDPE/Jute and HDPE/Sisal, respectively while compared to pure HDPE. The fractography confirmed that the fiber pull-out was the major mechanism of failure of the composites under mechanical loading. The processing data show that the application of microwave energy is a potential method to process natural fiber-based polymeric composites in a relatively low processing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the static and fatigue behavior of sisal fiber-reinforced foam concrete under flexural loading. In particular, the effect of fiber content (0–0.3 vol.%) was determined by measuring the strains at two positions (mid-span and near the support of the beam) to relate with the flexural stiffness. The results showed that under static loading, sisal fiber can increase the flexural strength and decrease the flexural stiffness of the foam concrete when the specimen broke, especially, as the sisal fiber content was taken as 0.15%. Under cyclic loading, the flexural stiffness of the plain foam concrete decreased rapidly at the beginning, sisal fiber can delay the stiffness degradation of composites. When the sisal fiber content is below 0.05%, a linear relationship between the flexural stiffness and the logarithmic fatigue life of the composite was found. But for fiber content above 0.05%, another linear relationship was obtained when the fatigue life was used. It was also found that the flexural stiffness obtained from two positions was linearly correlated. If the slopes of the fitting lines were fixed as 2, a mathematical model between the flexural stiffness at the mid-span and the flexural stiffness near the support was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to reduce the degradation of sisal fiber-reinforced polyester composites due to water absorption through chemical treatments and hybridizations. Sisal fibers were treated using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and baking soda (NaHCO3). Unidirectional glass and carbon fibers were chosen as hybrid fibers. Thirteen laminates of pure sisal fibers, hybridized with glass or carbon fibers at different stacking sequences and volume fractions, were prepared using the hand layup technique. The laminates were examined for tensile and impact strength at dry and wet conditions. The effects of baking soda and sodium hydroxide treatments, glass and carbon fibers hybridization, and the sequence and volume of the hybrid fibers on the tensile strength, impact strength, water absorption, and degradation of the laminates were studied and compared. Chemical treatments and hybridizations have enhanced the tensile and impact strength of the composites. Significant reduction in the water uptake rate and degradation of the laminates were observed. Almost 166% and 87%, respectively, improvements were obtained in the tensile and impact strength of the dry samples. Moreover, more than 74% reduction in water uptake, and 84.7% and 91.7%, respectively, improvements in the degradation of the tensile and impact strengths were discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fibers are reported to have outstanding textile properties including high strength, absorbency, good dye uptake, exceptional durability and abundant availability suggesting their potential in clothing applications. However, sisal fibers have not received the attention they deserve owing to their coarseness and stiffness that limit their application to non-clothing products. This study investigated potential chemical methods to modify the surface structure of sisal fibers, thereby allowing their application in clothing production. The effect of the treatment on sisal fibers was established by their mechanical properties, moisture content (MC) and regain (MR), and structural properties. The treatment produced fibers with 28.6 Tex fineness, an average length of 68.5 cm, a breaking tenacity of 385.6 mN/tex and 3.9% elongation. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that alkali treated sisal fiber had MC and MR of 10.53% and 11.77%, respectively. These parameters were comparable to most cellulosic fibers including cotton, flax and jute. The thermal stability of sisal fibers was observed to increase upon modification as studied by using a Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), whereas the Infrared spectra of both unmodified and modified fibers revealed the effect of chemical modification. These results suggest a possibility of developing sisal fibers for clothing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early growth of micro-cracks develops due to plastic and dry shrinkage weakens conventional concrete's mechanical properties; which can be improved by introducing discrete and randomly oriented natural and synthetic textile fibers, like sisal, banana, and nylon in concrete matrix. Previously, researchers focused only on double hybrid fiber reinforced concrete, whereas triple hybrid fiber reinforced concrete requires a further behavioral study on fiber reinforced concrete's mechanical characteristics. In this paper, we investigate the mechanical properties induced by the addition of discrete and randomly oriented textile fibers to the cementing matrix in a varying volume fraction of 0.5% vf to 2% vf along with 1% vf triple hybrid. BF0.5% vf, SF1.5% vf, NF1% vf & HFRC (SF0.5BF0.25NF0.25) % vf gives optimum fiber dose in the composite. As a rule, the specimens gain impressive compressive strength. Most of them exhibit enhanced tensile properties compared to the control specimen. These developments signal the advent of an eco-friendly, economical, and highly sustainable alternative to conventional concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study includes untreated sisal fibers, fibers that had been mercerized using 0.06 M NaOH and fibers cornified at 100°C in different volume fractions used as reinforcement into a general purpose unsaturated polyester resin matrix. Untreated sisal fiber-reinforced polyester resin displayed the most significant gain in flexural strength with a Modulus of Rupture of 79.32 Mpa at 2% fiber volume fraction, which represented a 296.65% increase compared to unreinforced polyester resin. Cornified sisal fiber-reinforced polyester resin had the least significant gain in flexural strength with a maximum Modulus of Rupture of 49.71 Mpa at a 1.2% fiber volume fraction, which represented a 142.8% increase in flexural strength compared to the unreinforced polyester resin specimen. These results show that the untreated sisal fiber reinforcement could withstand the thermal effect of the exothermic curing of unsaturated polyester resin better than the surface-modified sisal fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental observations of abrasive machining of S-, G-, and H-sandwiches HT