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Fibers, Volume 14, Issue 8 (August 2026) – 6 articles

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54 pages, 41434 KB

Open AccessReview

Forming Technologies, Defect Control, and Digital Manufacturing of Polymer Composite Battery-Pack Structures for New Energy Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review

by Guangxi Li, Longzhan Zheng, Xufeng Song, Xiaolu Liao, Qingqing Lü, Liquan Yang, Qun Li, Yuqin Ma and Yinshu Yao

Fibers 2026, 14(8), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14080094 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 405

Abstract

Battery packs for new energy vehicles have evolved from simple load-bearing and protective assemblies into multifunctional safety structures integrating structural support, crash protection, thermal-runaway mitigation, flame retardancy, electrical insulation, electromagnetic interference shielding, waterproof sealing, and long-term reliability. Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are promising for upper covers, underbody shields, trays, cross beams, side frames, and local protective structures because of their low density, corrosion resistance, design flexibility, and functional-integration potential. However, composite-part performance is strongly governed by forming. Resin flow, impregnation, curing or cooling shrinkage, fiber orientation, filler dispersion, and interfacial bonding may induce voids, dry spots, resin-rich regions, delamination, warpage, and fiber waviness, thereby affecting load bearing, sealing, thermal protection, and durability. This review focuses on composite-forming technologies for new energy-vehicle battery packs. It summarizes component-level service requirements and material systems and compares representative forming routes, including sheet molding compound (SMC), prepreg compression molding/wet compression molding (PCM/WCM), resin transfer molding/high-pressure resin transfer molding (RTM/HP-RTM), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), long-fiber thermoplastic direct processing (LFT-D), glass-mat thermoplastic (GMT), thermoplastic sheet forming, pultrusion, and multi-material joining. These routes are evaluated from six dimensions: material form, forming cycle, typical defects, representative mechanical performance, applicable components, and engineering maturity. The review further discusses defect mechanisms, performance effects, detection and control methods, and the roles of in-line monitoring, non-destructive testing, process simulation, machine learning, and digital twins in closed-loop quality manufacturing. Finally, engineering challenges are examined in multi-material joining, thermal-safety integration, low-carbon recycling, and standard certification. Composite-material battery-pack structures should therefore be developed as coordinated design and closed-loop manufacturing systems linking materials, processes, defects, performance, and validation. Full article

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31 pages, 2068 KB

Open AccessReview

Pineapple Waste: A Source of Cellulosic Fibers

by Magdalena Fogorasi and Michaela Dina Stanescu

Fibers 2026, 14(8), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14080093 - 20 Aug 2026

Viewed by 458

Abstract

The pollution generated during the synthesis and processing of synthetic fibers demands new raw materials for the textile industry. Natural fibers are a good solution due to their increased comfort while wearing, and their biodegradability. However, the use of some of these fibers, such as cotton or ramie, comes with limitations like competition with edible plants for land and water during cultivation, and the pollution generated during their processing. Thus, finding other sources of fibers that do not compete with plants for food seems to be a good solution. Pineapple fibers represent a good example of synergy, with the fruit being intended for food while the leaves, once considered waste, can be valorized as fibers. This paper describes the progress in research on obtaining pineapple fibers and their properties depending on their mode of preparation. The technical progress in preparing pineapple fibers is emphasized. Their application in textile materials, alone or as composites, is presented. According to the literature, pineapple fibers may also be applied in other fields besides the textile industry. Moreover, the fact that waste is the raw material for these fibers represents a great asset, and the development of new technologies for their production and application is recommended. Full article

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31 pages, 6242 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Hydrostatic Consolidation Pressure on Void Reduction and Effective Mechanical Properties of Hexagonal and Stochastic UHMWPE Fibril Arrays

by A. I. Fadeel, J. W. Gillespie, Jr. and M. A. N. Dewapriya

Fibers 2026, 14(8), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14080092 - 13 Aug 2026

Viewed by 321

Abstract

This study develops a finite element analysis (FEA) framework to quantify hydrostatic consolidation of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibril arrays containing interstitial voids. Hexagonal and stochastic representative volume elements (RVEs) were constructed from experimentally measured fibril diameters and embedded in a nearly incompressible Mooney–Rivlin medium to transfer hydrostatic pressure to irregular fibril surfaces. Molecular dynamics (MD)-derived fibril properties at 300 K and 400 K were used to evaluate the effects of temperature, elastic–plastic deformation, and stochastic microstructure on void collapse and effective fiber properties. The 300 K elastic model required pressures approaching 1.3 GPa to reach approximately 1–2% void content, whereas the combined effects of elevated temperature, elastic–plastic fibril behavior, and stochastic fibril packing reduced the corresponding pressure to approximately 160 MPa. The stochastic RVE exhibited a higher initial void content, earlier plastic dissipation, lower initial effective stiffness, and nonuniform fibril–fibril contact evolution compared to the idealized hexagonal RVE. As void content decreased, both models converged toward the dense fibril response. The framework establishes a processing–microstructure–property relationship linking consolidation pressure to the evolving void morphology, fibril shape and contact development, and the resulting effective plane-strain bulk modulus and the transverse compressive stress–strain response, including the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, of UHMWPE fibers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fibers and Fiber-Reinforced Composite: Processing-Structure-Property Relationships)

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13 pages, 15576 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Washing Conditions on the Performance of Motorcycle Protective Garments

by Weiwei Cong, Zhigang Xie, Tom Whyte, Julian O’Loughlin and Christopher Hurren

Fibers 2026, 14(8), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14080091 - 12 Aug 2026

Viewed by 272

Abstract

Motorcycle protective clothing plays a crucial role in enhancing rider safety. However, routine laundering may affect its performance over time. This study investigated how different washing conditions impact key protective properties of motorcycle garments, including manufacturer’s instructed cold wash/line dry and a standard machine hot wash/tumble dry. Laundering had a limited effect on the abrasion resistance of most garments tested. Interestingly, garments containing p-aramid demonstrated improved abrasion resistance after laundering, particularly under cold washing conditions. However, laundering adversely affected polyurethane-based components within the garments. Deterioration of polyurethane coatings in textile garments contributed to reductions in abrasion resistance and seam strength, while degradation of polyurethane-based impact protectors resulted in reduced energy absorption performance. The hot wash/tumble-dry condition produced more severe deterioration than the cold wash/line-dry condition, indicating that elevated temperature and more aggressive drying conditions accelerate material degradation. Full article

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20 pages, 3235 KB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Glucose Release from Ultrasound-Assisted Alkali-Pretreated Hemp Hurds Using Free and Magnetic Nanoparticle-Immobilised Cellulase

by Ziningi Rosebud Myeni, Sani Gumede, Farai Dziike and Nirmala Deenadayalu

Fibers 2026, 14(8), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14080090 - 6 Aug 2026

Viewed by 299

Abstract

The enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass (LB) into fermentable sugars is important for the development of sustainable biorefineries. This study investigated the immobilisation of Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei) cellulase on amine-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and evaluated the resulting biocatalyst for the hydrolysis of pretreated hemp hurd (HH) biomass. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided evidence consistent with cellulase association with the nanoparticles, with the estimated dry-state particle diameter increasing from 22.4 ± 0.4 to 27.8 ± 0.3 nm after immobilisation. The selected immobilised catalyst loading produced approximately 89% of the total filter-paper assay response obtained with the selected free-enzyme loading, although this comparison was not normalised to protein content. During 7 h hydrolysis experiments, glucose production increased progressively for both enzyme forms. Across the tested enzyme dilutions, immobilised cellulase generated approximately 88–91% of the glucose produced by free cellulase. The immobilised enzyme also retained approximately 64% of its initial hydrolysis performance after five reuse cycles. These findings demonstrate the potential of magnetic cellulase nanobiocatalysts for recoverable and reusable hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. However, further studies are required to determine protein-normalised activity, immobilisation efficiency, longer-term stability, process economics and industrial scalability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Wood and Lignocellulosic Materials)

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19 pages, 2583 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Experimental Investigation of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Steel and Polypropylene Fiber Reinforcement

by Abel A. Belay and Robert Grygo

Fibers 2026, 14(8), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib14080089 - 4 Aug 2026

Viewed by 445

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced concrete is increasingly used to improve the mechanical and structural performance of reinforced concrete elements. This study presents a comparative experimental investigation of reinforced concrete beams incorporating steel and polypropylene fibers. Seven beams were examined, including a reference concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete mixtures containing 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% fiber volume fractions. The experimental program included compressive strength tests on 21 cube specimens, shrinkage measurements on 21 prism specimens, and bending tests on reinforced concrete beams. The properties studied included compressive strength, shrinkage strain, ultimate load capacity, load–deflection response, crack initiation, crack width, and post-cracking behavior. Polypropylene fibers provided the greatest crack-control benefit, reducing shrinkage strain and maximum crack width by up to 50% and 93%, respectively, compared with the reference concrete. Steel-fiber-reinforced beams achieved the highest ultimate load, with an increase of up to 22% relative to the reference beam, and showed higher calculated displacement ductility indices. The results indicate that, under the tested conditions, steel fibers were more effective in improving load-carrying capacity and displacement ductility, whereas polypropylene fibers were more effective in controlling shrinkage and crack development. These findings support fiber selection according to the required balance between load capacity, deformation response, crack control, and serviceability. Full article

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