Synthetic Fiber Reinforcement

The commonly used synthetic fiber reinforcements are aramid, Nomex , nylon, and Kevlar fibers [19]. The research and development in the fields of synthetic fiber reinforced composites led to the development of aramid fibers. Further research led to the invention of meta and / r -aramids [20]. Para and meta refer to the positions of the carboxylic and amine groups on the monomer ring. Nomex [21] was produced in the early 1960s and its excellent thermal, chemical, and radiation resistance [22, 23] led to extensive use in defensive clothing, insulation, and as a substitute for asbestos [24]. Additional researches with this /weta-aramid (Nomex) led to the fiber recognized as Kevlar [25]. Kevlar is a / ara-aramid fiber [26]. It was produced and trademarked by DuPont and became commercially accessible in 1973. In the last two decades, the worldwide production and use of aramids has been growing steadily. 

Initially, Kevlar was used in car tires as reinforcement for the elastomeric matrix (rubber) however, nowadays the most widely known appHcation of Kevlar/epoxy is in body armor [27]. Other uses include fireproof suits for firefighters, gloves, and helmets [28]. Their high strength-to-weight ratio makes them more suitable for use as reinforcement, for example, in composite materials primarily where flexure properties are important, such as aircraft wings [29]. 

The cost of fiber reinforcement in composites is estimated to decrease considerably with improved market share and demand. On the other hand, there are applications even today where FRP reinforcements are expensive, such as in aerospace applications. In the case of FRP composites, environmental 

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Wang, Y., Backer, S. and Li, V.C. (1987) An experimental study of synthetic fiber reinforced cementitious composites. Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 22, pp. 4281 -291. 

Eulaliopsis binata fiber-reinforced polymer composites are more eco-friendly and cost effective compared to the traditional synthetic fiber-reinforced composites. The aim of the present work was to study the reinforcing potential of the Euiaiiopsis binata fibers in the short fiber form. The mechanical performance of these Euiaiiopsis binata fiber polymer composites was found to be higher than that of the pure polymer. However challenges still exist In further improving the mechanical properties of these composites to make them competitive to their synthetic counterparts. 

Z.H. Zheng and D. Feldman Synthetic fiber-reinforced concrete, Progress in Polymer Science Vol. 20 (1995), p. 185-210. 

SEK Synthetic fiber reinforced plastic (German literature)... 

Table 1.2 Advantage and disadvantages of natural fibers cellulosic/synthetic fiber-reinforced lolymer hybrid composites [20], Copyright 2011 Elsevier.

In this paper, the thermal and mechanical characteristics of balsa wood and balsa wood laminates are reviewed, and it is shown that "composite" mechanics that have been developed for the class of synthetic fiber-reinforced plastic (SFRP) materials may be useful for describing the density and direction—dependent mechanical properties of balsa wood in bulk or laminated form. It may be asked whether such advanced analytical methods, perhaps combined with specially developed methods of test, could be used effectively towards developing more applicable QA/QC procedures that will clearly qualify balsa wood as a structural material in applications where strictest code compliance is a necessity. This question has prompted the following review and discussion. 

The mechanical properties of balsa wood are more complex than those of more common structural materials. In some respects, balsa wood resembles the class of synthetic fiber-reinforced plastic (SFRP) composites in that its strength and stiffness are highly... 

AC I Committee 544, State of the Art Report on Synthetic Fiber-Reinforced CorKrete, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Ml, 2005. 

S. Altoubat, J.R. Roesler and K.-A. Rieder, Flexural capacity of synthetic fiber reinforced concrete slabs on ground based on beam toughness results , in M. di Prisco, R. Felicetti and G.A. Plizzari (eds) Fiber-Reinforced Concretes, BEFIB2004, RILEM Proceedings PRO 39, RILEM Publications, Bagneux, 2004, Vol. 2, pp. 1063-1072. 

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