Effect of Fiber Volume Fraction on Mechanical and Fire Resistance Properties of Basalt/Polyester and Pineapple/Polyester Composites

ABSTRACT

In general, the wood materials are used for constructing the buildings, passenger seats in trains and automobile doors. However, the progression of the fires due to the wooden construction is high when the fire accidents have occurred in the buildings, rail and road vehicles. To overcome this, advanced basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites can be replaced with these wood materials, owing to the high melting point of basalt fiber. However, fire resistance characterization studies are limited to natural fiber composites of different fiber volume fractions, particularly for rock fibers. There is a need to identify the fiber volume fraction effect on fire resistance characteristics of composites for filling this research gap. In this study, mechanical, water absorption, and fire resistance properties of Basalt Rock Fibers (BRF) and Pineapple Leaf Fibers (PLF) reinforced polyester composite panels were investigated. The effect of fiber volume fractions ranging from 10% to 45% on the above-mentioned properties was studied. The theoretical Young’s modulus values were determined using the Halpin-Tsai model. Results indicated that the mechanical properties of BRF/polyester and PLF/polyester composites increased with the increase in fiber volume fraction (FVF) of up to 40% and 30%, respectively. The theoretical Young’s modulus values are in reasonably good agreement with the experiments. The percentage of the linear burning rate was found to be decreased, with the increase in FVF. It was found through the water absorption studies that PLF/polyester composites are hydrophilic whereas BRF/polyester composites are hydrophobic.

摘要

一般来说，木质材料用于建造建筑物、火车乘客座椅和汽车门. 然而，当建筑物、铁路和公路车辆发生火灾事故时，木质结构引起的火灾发展速度很快. 为了克服这一点，先进的玄武岩纤维增强聚合物复合材料可以取代这些木材材料，由于玄武岩纤维的高熔点. 然而，耐火性能的研究仅限于不同纤维体积分数的天然纤维复合材料，尤其是岩石纤维. 为了填补这一研究空白，有必要研究纤维体积分数对复合材料耐火性能的影响. 研究了玄武岩纤维（BRF）和菠萝叶纤维（PLF）增强聚酯复合板的力学性能、吸水性能和阻燃性能. 研究了纤维体积分数在10%～45%范围内对上述性能的影响. 理论杨氏模量值是用Halpin-Tsai模型确定的. 结果表明，随着纤维体积分数（FVF）的增加，BRF/聚酯和PLF/聚酯复合材料的力学性能分别提高40%和30%. 理论杨氏模量值与实验值相当吻合. 随着纤维体积分数的增加，线燃速的百分比降低. 通过吸水性研究发现，菠萝叶纤维/聚酯复合材料具有亲水性，玄武岩纤维/聚酯复合材料具有疏水性.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fibers
• fiber volume fraction
• mechanical properties
• scanning electron microscopy
• water absorption
• fire resistance

关键词:;:

• 天然纤维
• 纤维体积分数
• 机械性能
• 扫描电镜
• 吸水率
• 耐火性

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Visvesvaraya Technological University, Mysuru, India for their encouragement to finish this work.

Disclosure statement

The authors state that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors state that there is no funding has received for this work.