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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The objective of this paper was to examine the effectiveness of extraction methods (retting, chemical, and scraping) on physico-chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of sisal (Agave sisalana) fibers. Thermal analysis (TGA), FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, and mechanical strength tests were used to trace back the influence of extraction methods on physico-chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of sisal fibers. Interestingly, sisal fibers extracted by chemical method (15% NaOH) have shown the highest amount of cellulose (78%) while lignin content (2.5%) is very small compared to the results from other extraction methods, retting, and scraping. The FT-IR peak around 1240 cm−1 confirmed the presence of lignin and hemicellulose which indicates the inefficiency of all extraction methods. Thermal analysis (TGA) showed two degradation peaks representing the evolution of adsorbed moisture and glycosidic cleavage of chemical components of sisal fibers. The chemical method has shown superior tensile strength (387 MPa) relative to similar fibers from retting (278 MPa) and scraping (362 MPa). To sum up, the chemical method can be recommended as a more suitable extraction technique for further engineering applications of sisal fibers.

This work focuses on optimization of abrasive machining parameters of the natural fiber reinforced sandwich composite, which is rarely reported in the literature. A sandwich made of vegetable fiber composite skins and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam of 80 gsm was machined for optimal conditions. The design of experiment and analysis were adopted to confirm the influence of machining parameters. The machining characters of bio-sandwich were compared with synthetic and hybrid sandwich panels to optimize the machinability of the target. The panels were manufactured through vacuum infusion bagging. The machining studies were done using the abrasive water jet cutting machine. The machining characteristics were optimized for the parameters and L18 Taguchi technique was employed in parameter optimization. Three controlled levels of machining parameters were chosen to be optimized: standoff distance (SOD), abrasive water jet pressure (JP), and nozzle traverse rate (TR). The response of kerf taper (KT), surface roughness (SR), and material removal rate (MRR) were investigated. It is observed that highest levels of these parameters gave minimum kerf taper and lowest levels produce lower surface roughness. The surface roughness and damage on the surface was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It Shows that flowing abrasive particle’s directional distortion noted at the foam regions due to their higher damping nature. The prediction model shows a good agreement with the experimental value.

This work is concerned with the characterization of pulp extracted from agro-waste fibers using steam explosion technique. Steam explosion is a very efficient and non-reactive technique to extract soft and absorbent cellulose pulp from agro waste fibers like banana, bagasse, and sisal. Preforms prepared from the extracted pulp, with the aid of binders, using the water laid method, enhanced their suitability to be used for sanitary napkins, due to improved fiber integrity and absorbency. The preforms developed from these extracted pulp were used as the absorbent core of the sanitary napkins to replace the widely used synthetic viscose wood pulp, which thereby improved the eco-friendliness of the sanitary napkins. The preforms were made from these pulps in combination with various binders namely cassava, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and sodium alginate in various concentrations namely 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5%. The various preform samples were tested for physical and absorbency-related performance characteristics like grams per square meter, thickness, density of the pulp, absorbency and immersion time, vertical wicking, strike through rate and swelling measurements. It was found that the preforms made with cassava as the binder, recorded higher absorbency properties when compared to other preforms, which were made using CMC and sodium alginate.

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.

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]

This work aims to describe a facile approach for sisal fiber surface functionalization based on polyphenol chemistry, and to study fiber-matrix bonding as well as durability behavior in highly alkaline conditions. The modification process was accomplished through a two-step procedure including immersion in tannic acid (TA) solution (5 and 10 g/L) followed by treatment with octadecylamine (ODA) solution (1, 2.5, 3.75, and 5 g/L). Analytical techniques were employed to examine the effect of the treatment, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM images along with mapping analyses were obtained to evaluate the formation, chemical composition and distribution of TA-ODA layer on modified fibers. Changes in the water uptake ability were studied by water absorption and contact angle measurements. Fiber-matrix interactions were also evaluated throughout single fiber pullout tests from a cement-based matrix. To characterize the mechanical properties of the fibers before and after the modification, single fiber direct tensile tests were applied. Moreover, the stability in alkaline environments (NaOH and Pore solutions) was investigated in terms of mechanical properties degradation after fiber exposure for 28 days. The results showed that modification with a low concentration of TA and ODA solutions was efficient to reduce the hydrophilic tendency of these fibers while enhancing roughness and interlock with the cement-based matrix. Also, the modified fiber presented improved stability in aggressive alkaline environment. This work demonstrates that polyphenol chemistry could be a simple and effective sisal fiber modification alternative to enhance fiber stability and interfacial bond with cement-based matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An urgent and promising direction in the development of building materials science is the improvement of the quality of non-autoclaved aerated concrete. In view of the obvious disadvantages of non-autoclaved aerated concrete compared to the autoclaved equivalent in terms of technology, it can be significantly improved because of a rationally selected composition and other factors of a recipe-technological nature. The goal of the study was to search for complex compositions and technological solutions aimed at identifying rational combinations of recipe-technological factors as simultaneous modifications of aerated concrete with various additives and dispersed the reinforcement of it with various environmentally friendly and cost-effective types of plant fibers. Fly ash (FA), instead of part of the cement, proved to be more effective than the GGBS additive. The compressive strength (CS), bending strength (BS), and coefficient of construction quality (CCQ) were higher by 4.5%, 3.8%, and 1.7%, respectively, while the density and thermal conductivity (TC) were lower by 0.7% and 3.6%, respectively, compared with aerated concrete modified with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). The additional reinforcement of modified aerated concrete with coconut fiber (CF) and sisal fiber (SF) in an amount of 0.6% of the total mass of cement and modifier increases the CS to 15%, BS to 22% and CCQ to 16%. The SF was more effective than the CF. Aerated concrete modified with FA and reinforced with SF showed the highest efficiency. Compared to the control composition without modifiers or fibers, the increase in the CS was up to 40%, BS up to 47%, and CCQ up to 43%, while the decrease in density was up to 2.6%, and TC up to 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) confinement is recognized as the most promising technique for the strengthening and retrofitting of concrete structures. In order to enhance the performance of conventional epoxy-based FRP composites, nano filler modification of the epoxy matrix was implemented in the current study. In particular, the cyclic loading response of standard concrete specimens externally confined by epoxy-based natural and hybrid fiber reinforced polymer systems was investigated. The confinements were realized with sisal fiber reinforced polymer (SFRP) and hybrid sisal basalt fiber reinforced polymer (HSBFRP). Moreover, the effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were also investigated. Three different specimen sets were considered for study: (i) unconfined specimens, (ii) epoxy-based FRP confined specimens and (iii) MWCNT incorporated epoxy-based FRP confined specimens. The specimens were tested in repeated compressive mode in loading-unloading cycles at increasing displacement levels. The test results revealed that FRP wrapping could enhance the mechanical behavior of unconfined columns in terms of strength and ductility. Moreover, it was evident that the mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix were enhanced by MWCNT incorporation. The developed epoxy-based FRP confinement containing MWCNT ensures improvement in axial strength by 71% when compared with unconfined specimens. The epoxy-based FRP confinement, with and without MWCNT, exhibited a high strain redistribution behavior around the concrete core. In comparison to the unconfined specimens, the confinement could increase the sustained axial strain from 0.6 to 1.4% using epoxy-based FRP confinement and to 1.6% with MWCNT incorporated epoxy-based FRP confinement. Further, an empirical model was developed to predict the ultimate axial stress of concrete columns confined externally with FRP jackets. The ultimate compressive strength obtained from the experimental study was compared with the proposed model, and the observed deviation was lower than 1%. [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 investigation, the Hybrid Fiber Concrete (HFC) was fabricated using polypropylene fiber (PP), sisal fiber (SF) and banana fiber (BF) and the mechanical and durability properties of the prepared concrete was investigated. Mix design of M30 grade concrete was prepared according the standard procedure given by American Concrete Institute. Nine different proportions of concrete specimens were fabricated and the various experimental investigations like compressive, split tensile, flexural, and durability tests were conducted on the HFC. Compressive, split tensile, and flexural test results showed that the M3 specimen (PP: SF: 1.5:0.5) displayed the maximum compressive, split tensile and flexural strength compared to that of conventional concrete (CC). Compressive strength of M3 showed 24.3% and 14.9% improvement compared to the compressive strength of CC at 7 days and 28 days curing, respectively. The split tensile test showed that the split tensile strength value of M3 was improved by 47.54% and 37.19% compared to that of CC at 7 days and 28 days curing, respectively. Flexural test revealed that the M3 specimen exhibited the maximum flexural strength of 5.58 N/mm2 and 10.9 N/mm2 after 7 days and 28 days curing. Further, the durability test resulted that the HFC specimen displayed the superior durability properties under various immersion mediacompared to CC.

This paper has presented the enhancement of tensile and impact strength of continuously aligned sisal fiber reinforced polyester composites through chemical treatment and hybridization. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and baking soda (NaHCO3) were used for sisal fiber treatment. Comparisons on the effect of sodium hydroxide and baking soda treatments on tensile and impact strength of the composites were performed. Unidirectional glass and carbon fibers were selected as hybrid fibers. Nineteen laminates were prepared as per the standards. The laminates were made of pure sisal fiber and hybridized with glass or carbon fibers at different stacking sequence, orientation, and volume fraction. The effects of glass and carbon fibers hybridization on tensile and impact strength of the composites were studied and compared. Further enhancements on the tensile and impact strength of the composites were investigated through alterations on the stacking sequence, orientation, and volume fraction of the hybrid fibers. Symmetric hybrid composites which avoided sisal/sisal plies interface have shown more than 95% and 130% rise in their tensile strength by adding about 8% volume of glass and carbon fibers respectively. Moreover, with only about 8% carbon fiber inclusion in the laminates, almost 60% improvements in the impact strength were discovered.

The natural fiber-based polymeric composites are being used extensively in various engineering applications, especially in the non-structural parts and components. Although, a large number of primary processing techniques, such as hand-layup and compression molding are available for fabrication of parts, still the secondary processing in terms of joining and machining is inevitable. The joining of composite parts becomes necessary in case of complicated and intricate product designs. Adhesive joining is one of the most commonly used processes for polymer-based composite materials. It is a cheap, easy, and smooth bonding process and does not necessitate the drilling of holes for the purpose of mechanical fastening. In the present experimental investigation, the joint strength of woven fiber mat (sisal, jute, and hybrid) reinforced epoxy composites has been investigated using different joint configurations, namely, single lap, double-strap butt, and scarf joint. The effect of adhesives has also been explored by joining composites with two types of epoxy resins and corresponding hardener. It was observed that the hybrid composites recorded better joining performance for both types of adhesives. Moreover, the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) has been used to understand the failure mechanisms during tensile testing of adhesively bonded natural fiber-reinforced composite laminates. The three-dimensional assembly models of adherend specimens were created using the SOLIDWORK V.16 modeling software. ANSYS-V.18.2 WORKBENCH was employed for the analysis of the joint performance. The maximum shear stress and the total deformation results were determined. The finite element analysis (FEA) results were compared with experimental findings and were found to be in good agreement.

This study aimed at determining and comparing the mechanical properties of natural, mercerized, and cornified sisal fibers. Sisal fiber morphology was modified by mercerization using a 0.06 Molar sodium hydroxide solution and by a seven-hour, seven cycle cornification at 100°C. The fiber strength properties were then determined and analyzed using the Weibull Cumulative Density Function. Mercerized sisal fibers displayed the most significant improvement in tensile strength with mean fracture stress of 271 MPa, which showed a 68.30% increase in tensile strength compared to untreated sisal fiber’s 161.02 MPa. Cornified sisal fibers had a mean fracture stress value of 198.57 MPa, which was a 23.32% increase compared to untreated sisal fibers. Untreated sisal fibers had the highest Weibull Modulus of 7.616. Mercerized and cornified sisal fibers had Weibull Moduli of 6.175 and 4.723, respectively. These results show that although fiber surface treatment leads to a significant improvement of Kenyan sisal fiber strength properties, the delignification associated with mercerization and the collapse of the lamella structure that accompanies cornification either exacerbated existing flaws or introduced new flaws in the fibers.

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]

In this paper, the effects of hyperbranched polyamide on the properties of sisal fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were studied. And the microstructure, fluidity, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the composites were characterized. The results show that hyperbranched polyamide can significantly improve the interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix. When the fiber content is 20%, the melt flow rate can increase by 54%. Meanwhile, the tensile property of the composite increases by 50%, the impact strength of silane-treated fiber composite increases by 24%. However, the thermal stability of the composite decreases slightly after the addition of hyperbranched polyamide.

This paper presents an experimental study of epoxy and sisal fibre composites with and without potassium permanganate and stearic acid treatment. A compression moulding technique was used to develop the composites. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), tensile and flexural tests, and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the thermal and mechanical behaviour of these composites. SEM images of sisal fibres revealed improvements in the fibre's surface topography further to the surface stearic acid treatment process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that sisal fibre is crystalline in nature. When sisal fibre was treated with streaic acid, the tensile strength increased to 43.45 MPa. Potassium permanganate-treated fibre reinforced composites demonstrated high potential flexural strength. SEM analysis revealed that stearic acid-treated fibre improved interfacial adhesion between the fibres and matrix.

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]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was used to investigate the dynamic impact mechanical behavior of sisal fiber-reinforced cement-based composites (SFRCCs), and the microscopic damage evolution of the composites was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The results show that the addition of sisal fibers improves the impact resistance of cement-based composite materials. Compared with ordinary cement-based composites (OCCs), the SFRCCs demonstrate higher post-peak strength, ductility, and energy absorption capacity with higher fiber content. Moreover, the SFRCCs are strain rate sensitive materials, and their peak stress, ultimate strain, and energy integrals all increase with increasing strain rate. From the perspective of fracture failure characteristics, the failure of OCCs is dominated by the brittle failure of crystal cleavage. In contrast, the failure mode of the SFRCCs changes to microscale matrix cracks, multi-scale pull-out interface debonding of fibers (fine filaments and bundles), and mechanical interlock. This research provides an experimental basis for the engineering application of high-performance and green cement-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The results obtained here from tensile tests showed that although the hydrophobic PLA matrix was incompatible with the hydrophilic sisal fiber, the excellent interfacial adhesion between the PLA matrix and the PLA filaments led to some global interaction between the components, thus leading to some load transfer from the matrix to the reinforcement. Hybrid plain-woven fabric composed of PLA filaments and sisal fibers Matrix films of 0.2 mm in nominal thickness were obtained by compression molding of the PLA pellets at 170°C under a pressure of 2 MPa in a hydraulic press (Carven model #3925). Keywords: ; ; ; ; ; ; Hybrid composites; stacking sequence; intralayer hybrid composites; polylactic acid; sisal fiber; mechanical behavior ZH EN Hybrid composites stacking sequence intralayer hybrid composites polylactic acid sisal fiber mechanical behavior 7852 7863 12 11/21/22 20221220 NES 221220 Introduction Composite materials are commonly used in a wide range of applications such as automotive, aerospatial, textile and packaging, among others as a result of their outstanding properties such as lightweight, low thermal expansion, and high stiffness and strength resistance (Hadiji et al. [7]; Krishan [11]). [Extracted from the article]

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