Mechanical property characterizations of woven natural fiber-reinforced polymers 3D printed through a laminated object manufacturing process

ABSTRACT

The mechanical properties of woven natural fiber reinforced polymers additively manufactured through Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) technology are investigated in this paper. The benefits of both the material and manufacturing process were combined into a sustainable practice, as a potential alternative to traditional synthetic composite materials made from nonrenewable crude oil with limited end-of-life alternatives. Woven jute fiber reinforcements are used to strengthen both synthetic and bio- thermoplastic polymers in creating highly biodegradable composite structures. Such materials, as one of the prospective alternatives for synthetic composites, can be used in many engineering fields such as automobile panels, construction materials, and commodity and recreational products including sports and musical instruments. A LOM 3D printer prototype was designed and built by the authors. All woven jute/polymer biocomposite test specimens made using the built prototype in this study had their mechanical (both tensile and flexural) properties assessed using ASTM test standards and then compared to similar values measured from pure polymer specimens. Improved mechanical characteristics were identified and analyzed. Finally, SEM imaging was performed to identify the polymer infusion and fiber-matrix bonding conditions.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)
• mechanical properties
• PLA
• polymers
• prepregs
• woven jute fiber

Acknowledgments

The National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States supported this research with grant #1909699.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Science Foundation [#1909699].

Notes on contributors

Lai Jiang

Lai Jiang Associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. His research area includes (bio)composite materials and manufacturing, manufacturing process simulations, machine and tooling design and fabrication, etc.

Sazidur Shahriar

Sazidur Shahriar Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University.

Md Shariful Islam

Md Shariful Islam Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University.

Tony Grady

Tony Grady Technician of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry at Prairie View A&M University.

Bryan Perez

Bryan Perez Undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University.