Mechanical Behaviour of Reinforced Thermosetting Polymers with Fibers: Analytical/Numerical Models and Experimental Evidence

A special issue of Fibers (ISSN 2079-6439).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 4700

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Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Exact Sciences and Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Geology, University of Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Interests: reinforcement; polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); nanocomposites; metal oxide nanoparticles; thermal and mechanical properties; numerical modeling; refractory castables
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Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: composites structures; nanocomposite; structural integrity; finite element analysis; biomechanics; impact; non-destructive analysis; mechanical properties
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GeoBioTec, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Beira Interior, Calçada Fonte do Lameiro, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: composites; nanocomposites; structural analysis and design; numerical modelling; concrete structures; structural materials; polymer-matrix composites; mechanical properties; building systems; topology optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent manufacturing advancements have led to the manufacture of reinforced polymeric composites with the incorporation of natural and inorganic fillers into thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric matrices. This kind of reinforced material can replace common materials used for example in construction. As it is known, the production of construction materials has been under pressure from public opinion for some decades because of the high level of CO2 emissions associated with this activity. As a consequence, the governmental authorities have been taking some practical measures to make the industry more eco-friendly. For instance, the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change imposed on the construction industry a reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. This pressure really forces this industry to intensify the search for new alternative production technologies and materials. Obviously, eco-friendly materials must be also considered as an alternative route of the entire road map to low-emission construction production. For this, reinforced polymeric composites continue to replace traditional materials like steel and aluminum. Concerning the new types of polymeric composites to use in automotive to biomedical fields, almost all of the published works are focused on the development of the reinforced material itself, including the obtained experimental results of thermal and mechanical properties. However, studies proposing reliable analytical or numerical models to forecast the behavior of such materials are still needed. Therefore, the editors of this Special Issue want to group a high number of studies that focuses mainly on the analytical/numerical models, including experimental evidence, to predict the effects of the incorporation of natural and inorganic fillers into thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric matrices, in order to manufacture reinforced polymeric composites able to replace traditional materials.

Dr. Deesy Gomes Pinto 
Dr. Ana Martins Amaro
Dr. Luís Filipe Almeida Bernardo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fibers is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • natural fibers
  • inorganic fillers
  • reinforcement
  • thermoplastic polymeric matrices
  • thermosetting polymeric matrices
  • analytical models
  • numerical models
  • experimental evidence

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 8231 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Effect of an Oxidizing Atmosphere During the Recycling of CFRP by Pyrolysis
by Cynthie Dega, Ali Jadidinia and Rachid Boukhili
Fibers 2025, 13(5), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib13050058 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 223
Abstract
Composite materials are increasingly in demand. However, challenges such as high raw-material costs and complicated waste management impede their adoption. Overcoming these obstacles requires efficient recycling methods. Pyrolysis effectively recycles carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs). This study proposes a cost-effective CFRP recovery approach utilizing [...] Read more.
Composite materials are increasingly in demand. However, challenges such as high raw-material costs and complicated waste management impede their adoption. Overcoming these obstacles requires efficient recycling methods. Pyrolysis effectively recycles carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs). This study proposes a cost-effective CFRP recovery approach utilizing conventional ovens to minimize recycling expenses and maximize reclaimed-product value. Pyrolysis was conducted under atmospheric conditions at 450–600 °C, lasting 1–6 h at each temperature. It was optimal at 2.5 h and 500 °C. Higher temperatures caused fiber degradation, and lower temperatures excessively prolonged duration. After determining the optimal conditions, composite plates were produced using recycled carbon fibers and a vacuum-assisted resin infusion process. Subsequent physical characterization and mechanical tests were conducted on these plates to assess the recycled-CFRP properties. The recovered tensile strength and tensile modulus were 88% and 97% that of virgin carbon fibers (vCF), respectively. Full article
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18 pages, 3948 KiB  
Article
Effect of Cenosphere Fillers on Mechanical Strength and Abrasive Wear Resistance of Carbon–Glass Polyester Composites
by K. H. Pulikeshi, Dayanand M. Goudar, R. V. Kurahatti and Deesy G. Pinto
Fibers 2025, 13(4), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib13040046 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 330
Abstract
Fabric-reinforced hybrid polymer composites are present in almost every sector of modern life, and most essential areas of research in recent years have focused on glass–carbon fabric with filler material composites. Fabric and fillers are employed in strengthening polymer composites with the aim [...] Read more.
Fabric-reinforced hybrid polymer composites are present in almost every sector of modern life, and most essential areas of research in recent years have focused on glass–carbon fabric with filler material composites. Fabric and fillers are employed in strengthening polymer composites with the aim of improving their mechanical and tribological properties. The primary objective of this investigation was to investigate thetribological and mechanical properties of unfilled and cenosphere-filled carbon–glass-reinforced polyester composite systems, utilizing two types of fabric (glass and carbon) with cenosphere filler in varying weight fractions (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 wt.%) for both carbon fabric and the cenosphere. The abrasive wear characteristics were evaluated using a stainlesssteel wheel abrasion tester, utilizing silica sand as the abrasive material. Tests were performed at various distances (360–1800 m) and loads (12 N and 24 N). The results show that the wear rate of carbon–glass fabric-reinforced polyester composites differs significantly, with and without cenosphere fillers. Notably, the unfilled composites exhibit the highest wear volume loss, indicating a substantial improvement in wear resistance with the addition of cenospheres. The results reveal that in carbon–glass fabric-reinforced polyester composites, specific wear rate decreases when more cenospheres are loaded. The wear rate was successfully reduced by cenospheresunder silica sand as an abrasive. Compared to unfilled composites, the mechanical properties of filled composites exhibit superior performance. These variations were explained by examining the worn-out surfaces under an SEM and correlating the features observed with the mechanical properties. Full article
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17 pages, 6107 KiB  
Article
Effects of Ply Misalignment in Material Characterization of Composite Laminates
by Michael Franz, Racim Radjef, Boris Eisenbart and Sandro Wartzack
Fibers 2024, 12(12), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12120103 - 26 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1075
Abstract
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts find a rising number of applications as structural components. Therefore, new manufacturing technologies are developed, enabling high volume production of such parts. With those higher volumes, variation management during product design becomes more critical. While manufacturing variations [...] Read more.
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts find a rising number of applications as structural components. Therefore, new manufacturing technologies are developed, enabling high volume production of such parts. With those higher volumes, variation management during product design becomes more critical. While manufacturing variations in CFRP materials occur on different scales, detecting and considering those on the meso (ply) scale becomes more important. Thus, the question arises whether such variations can be detected with standardized testing methods. In this study, artificial fiber misalignment has been introduced into the outer plies of standardized tensile specimens to explore the influence of such variations on the mechanical properties. A simulation model was developed to identify these variations and the test results were used to calibrate and optimize the material parameters of the simulation model. The effects of the artificially induced variation were distinguishable in the test data as well as in the simulation models. Furthermore, the simulation models showed good agreement with the experimental data, which leads to the conclusion that the utilized measuring techniques are well suited to characterize the fiber misalignment. The developed simulation models can be used to investigate the effects of fiber misalignment within the product development process without the need for physical testing. Full article
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17 pages, 11404 KiB  
Article
In-Plane Mechanical Characterization of a Kevlar® Composite
by Rene Alejandro Canceco de la Cruz, Caleb Carreño Gallardo, Alberto Diaz Diaz, Luis Adrian Zuñiga Aviles, Gabriel Plascencia Barrera and Jose Martin Herrera Ramirez
Fibers 2024, 12(5), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12050038 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1949
Abstract
Polymer-based composites are widely used in the automotive, security, aeronautical and space industries, to mention a few. This is because of their good mechanical properties, which are similar to those of metals but with the attraction of being lightweight. Kevlar® is extensively [...] Read more.
Polymer-based composites are widely used in the automotive, security, aeronautical and space industries, to mention a few. This is because of their good mechanical properties, which are similar to those of metals but with the attraction of being lightweight. Kevlar® is extensively used as a reinforcement in the security industry owing to its good ballistic properties. This investigation presents a mechanical characterization based on in-plane quasi-static tensile testing of Kevlar® 29/phenolic resin with a polyvinyl butyral composite using a universal testing system. The methodology developed for the preparation of the coupons is based on pressure, temperature and time. As a result of this work, elastic moduli (EL and ET), Poisson’s ratio (νLT), shear modulus (GLT) and strengths (XT, YT, S) were obtained. It is worth mentioning that there is scarce or no characterization of this material in the literature, and those studies that do characterize it do not present the coupons’ thermoforming conditions or the reasons for the coupons’ dimensions (width, length and thickness). Full article
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