Structures, fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Another approach to exploit the properties of nanocarbons consists in integrating them in standard fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC). The rationale behind this route is to form a hierarchical composite, with the nanocarbon playing a role at the nanoscale and the macroscopic fiber providing mainly mechanical reinforcement. This strategy typically aims to give FRPCs added functionality, improve their interlaminar properties and increase the fiber surface area. The first two properties are critical for the transport industry, for example, where the replacement of structural metallic... 

McGarry, F.J. (1969). The fracture of polymers and fiber reinforced polymer composites. In Proc. AlAAj ASME lOlh Structures, Structural Dynamics Mater. Conf., New Orleans, pp. 456-471. 

Bai, Y. (2009) Material and structural performance of fiber-reinforced polymer composites at elevated and high temperatures. PhD thesis. EPFL, Lausanne. 

While thermoplastic polymers can also find applications in load bearing stmcmres, particularly for thermoplastic polymers that have very high melting temperatures, thermosetting polymers have dominated the application in load bearing, fiber reinforced polymer composite structures. Therefore, this book will focus on thermosetting polymer composites. 

Chapter 5 summarizes the investigation of lignocellulosic flax fiber-based reinforcement requirements to obtain structural and complex shape polymer composites. This chapter discusses in detail the possibility of forming complex shape structural composites which are highly desirable for advanced applications. Chapter 7 focuses on the structure and properties of cellulose-based starch polymer composites, while Chapter 8 focuses on the spectroscopic analysis of rice husk and wheat gluten husk-based polymer composites using computational chemistry. Chapter 9 summarizes the processing, characterization and properties of oil palm fiber-reinforced polymer composites. In this chapter, the use of oil palm as reinforcement in different polymer matrices such as natural rubber, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, phenol formaldehyde, polystyrene, epoxy and LLDPE is discussed. Chapter 10 also focuses on... 

One of the most important focus areas of research in the development of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites is characterisation of the fiber-matrix interface, since the interface alone can have a significant impact on the mechanical performance of the resulting composite materials, in terms of the strength and toughness. The properties of all heterogeneous materials are determined by component properties, composition, structure and interfacial interactions [62]. There have been a variety of methods used to characterize interfacial properties in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites, however, the exact mechanism of the interaction between the natural fiber and the polymeric matrix has not been clearly studied on a fundamental level and is presently the major drawback for widespread utilization of such materials. The extent of interfacial adhesion in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites utilizing PLA as the polymer matrix has been the subject of several recent investigations, hence the focus in this section will be on PLA-based natural fiber composites. 

Pultrusion Forming method in which a bundle of fibers of glass or other suitable support material in a mobile plastic matrix is drawn through a die to form an fiber-reinforced polymer composite structure the shape of which is determined hy the die profile. 

Zhou A and Keller T (2005), Joining techniques for fiber reinforced polymer composite bridge deck systems , Composite Structures, 69(3), 336-345. 

In this section various applications of fiber-reinforced polymer composites in relation to pipes and risers, as well as the other applications relevant to the petrochemical and oil and gas industries, will be discussed. The discussion will primarily cover the structural components that are essentially load-bearing components (such as actual pipes and risers). 

Printed Circuitry. Printed circuitry, which represents a most intricate structure of polymers and conductors, is frequently made by laminating copper foil onto glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. For certain specialty applications, more expensive fiber-reinforced polyimides are used. 

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