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Polymers
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Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications
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Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 10177

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marius Marinel Stănescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Mechanics and Civil Constructions, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
Interests: hybrid resins; natural resins; natural reinforcers; composite materials; manufacture of hybrid composites; manufacture of biocomposites; mechanical properties; chemical properties; biodegradability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bolcu Dumitru

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Mechanics and Civil Constructions, University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
Interests: hybrid resins; natural resins; natural reinforcements; composite materials; manufacture of hybrid composites; manufacture of biocomposites; mechanical properties; chemical properties; biodegradability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are composite materials consisting of a matrix reinforced with natural fibers, carbon, glass or aramid. The fibers give the material high strength and stiffness, while the matrix helps hold the fibers together and transfer loads between them. Because the fibers are much stronger and stiffer than the matrix, FRP-type composites commonly have higher strength–weight ratios than other materials such as metals or concrete. This makes them attractive for use in structural applications where weight is a critical factor, for example, in aerospace, civil and industrial construction, automotive construction, the oil and gas industry, sporting goods, etc. Also, FRPs have good corrosion resistance and are resistant to many chemicals, making them useful in harsh environments. In addition to their distinguished mechanical properties, certain FRPs are environmentally friendly. Such fiber-reinforced polymers can be recycled and have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional materials, making them a sustainable choice for use in most industries. This Special Issue is dedicated to the latest research on these topics, covering all aspects of the manufacture, properties and application areas of fiber-reinforced polymers

Dr. Marius Marinel Stănescu
Dr. Bolcu Dumitru
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • the manufacturing process of fiber-reinforced polymers
  • mechanical properties
  • chemical properties.

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 7739 KiB  
Article
Development of Short Jute Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Pre-Preg Tapes
by Mengyuan Dun, Haitao Fu, Jianxiu Hao and Weihong Wang
Polymers 2025, 17(3), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030388 - 31 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1034
Abstract
Jute fibers are renewable, light, and strong, allowing them to be considered as attractive materials in composite manufacturing. In the present work, a simple and effective method for preparing continuous pre-preg tapes from short jute fiber bundles (without twist) is developed and its [...] Read more.
Jute fibers are renewable, light, and strong, allowing them to be considered as attractive materials in composite manufacturing. In the present work, a simple and effective method for preparing continuous pre-preg tapes from short jute fiber bundles (without twist) is developed and its application in winding forming is evaluated. Linear low-density polyethylene film (LLDPE) with good flexibility and weather resistance was used as the thermoplastic matrix; jute fiber bundles were first spread parallel to each other on an LLDPE film and then rolled up to form a pre-roll. The pre-roll enclosing fiber bundles was hot-pressed in a designed mold to form a pre-preg tape, where the fiber bundles were more parallel to the tape than the fibers in twine. Although the untwisted structure exhibited a lower tensile strength for the fiber bundle, it could be processed into a continuous pre-preg with higher tensile strength than the jute twine-impregnated pre-preg. This is based on the good impregnation of the short fiber bundle and its unidirectional, uniform strengthening in the continuous pre-preg. The tensile strength and modulus of the fiber bundle-reinforced pre-preg increased by 16.70% and 257.14%, respectively, compared with jute twine-reinforced pre-preg (within the fiber proportion of 40.wt%). When applied to winding, the fiber bundle-reinforced pre-preg showed advantages of interlayer fusion, surface flatness, and ring stiffness. In contrast, the twisted continuous structure did not retain its advantage in pre-preg. The development of pre-preg tapes by discontinuous fibers might be a good way for utilizing natural fibers in the field of green engineering due to its diverse secondary processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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14 pages, 2325 KiB  
Article
Polymer Structural Composites Reinforced with Hemp Fibres—Impact Tests of Composites After Long-Term Storage in Representative Aqueous Environments and Fire Tests in the Context of Their Disposal by Energy Recycling Methods
by Mieczyslaw Scheibe, Renata Dobrzynska, Magdalena Urbaniak and Andrzej Bledzki
Polymers 2025, 17(3), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030276 - 22 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 914
Abstract
This paper presents the potential for an alternative use of structural polymer composite reinforcement, made from natural industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibres, in the manufacture of selected products in the shipbuilding industry. This research used fabrics made from unmodified and chemically [...] Read more.
This paper presents the potential for an alternative use of structural polymer composite reinforcement, made from natural industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibres, in the manufacture of selected products in the shipbuilding industry. This research used fabrics made from unmodified and chemically modified industrial hemp fibres. The primary research focus was on determining the impact strength of the new eco-friendly structural composites produced after long-term storage in representative aqueous environments. Also presented are the results of fire response tests of these composites in the context of their disposal by energy recycling. The tests carried out also referred to a well-defined glass fibre-reinforced polymer composite, from which a control slab of the actual product was realistically produced in the form of a representative section of a 34-foot boat hull plate below the waterline. The results of this basic research into these structural composites confirmed the validity of continuing, respectively, application and implementation research, aimed at producing composites dedicated to selected products of the shipbuilding industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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17 pages, 5278 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Natural Fiber Composites of Polylactic Acid Reinforced with Sisal and Coir Fibers
by Wipoo Sriseubsai and Ariya Praemettha
Polymers 2025, 17(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17010064 - 30 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 817
Abstract
This study explored the tensile and impact strength of polylactic acid (PLA) through the incorporation of sisal and coir fibers. Hybrid natural fiber composites were prepared using PLA as the matrix and sisal and coir fibers as the reinforcements. The hybrid composites were [...] Read more.
This study explored the tensile and impact strength of polylactic acid (PLA) through the incorporation of sisal and coir fibers. Hybrid natural fiber composites were prepared using PLA as the matrix and sisal and coir fibers as the reinforcements. The hybrid composites were prepared with an internal mixer, followed by compression molding. A constrained mixture design was employed to determine the optimal material combinations and their effects on the tensile and impact strength. Confirmatory experiments based on response surface methodology revealed no significant differences in the data means at the 0.05 significance level. PLA reinforced with sisal fibers alone exhibited the highest tensile strength of 75.36 MPa but demonstrated a low impact resistance of 12.94 kJ/m2 at a 95.22:4.78 (PLA:sisal by volume) ratio. Conversely, the maximum impact resistance of 36.71 kJ/m2 was achieved with PLA and coir at the same ratio. An optimal blend, consisting of 95.22% PLA, 0.78% sisal, and 4.0% coir by volume, resulted in a tensile strength of 51.08 MPa and an impact strength of 26.59 kJ/m2, outperforming other mixtures and pure PLA in the mechanical properties. Additionally, water absorption tests showed that reinforcement with sisal and coir fibers increased both water absorption and stability over 60 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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20 pages, 12409 KiB  
Article
Improving the Impact Resistance and Post-Impact Tensile Fatigue Damage Tolerance of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites by Embedding the Carbon Nanoparticles in Matrix
by Yi-Ming Jen, Yu-Jen Chen and Tzung-Han Yu
Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3589; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243589 - 22 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1060
Abstract
The effect of dispersing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the matrix on the low-velocity impact resistance and post-impact residual tensile strength of the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminates has been experimentally analyzed in this study. The composite specimens [...] Read more.
The effect of dispersing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the matrix on the low-velocity impact resistance and post-impact residual tensile strength of the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminates has been experimentally analyzed in this study. The composite specimens with the matrix reinforced by different nanoparticle types and various nanoparticle concentrations (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt.%) were prepared and impacted. The post-impact tensile quasi-static and fatigue tests were performed on the specimens with different configurations to study the influence of aforementioned factors on the impact resistance and damage tolerance. Experimental results show that adding nanoparticles in the matrix increases the maximum impact force, reduces the damage area, and alleviates the dent depth of the laminates remarkedly. Moreover, the improvement in these impact resistances increases with the applied nanoparticle concentrations. The nano-modified composite laminates present higher post-impact static strength and longer fatigue life than the specimens with a neat epoxy matrix. Furthermore, both the post-impact static tensile strength and fatigue life increase with the applied nanoparticle concentrations. The damage areas measured using infrared thermography were found to increase linearly with the applied fatigue cycles for all the studied specimens with various configurations. The damage area growth rates of nano-modified composite laminates decrease significantly as the applied nanoparticle concentrations increase. The MWCNTs present better performance than GNPs in improving post-impact static strength and extending the residual fatigue life, however the effect of applied nanoparticle type on the fatigue damage growth rate is slight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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14 pages, 5376 KiB  
Article
Highly Filled Waste Polyester Fiber/Low-Density Polyethylene Composites with a Better Fiber Length Retention Fabricated by a Two-Rotor Continuous Mixer
by Junrong Chen, Zhijie Pan, Songwei Yang, Changlin Cao, Weiming Zhou, Yidu Xie, Yilin Yang, Qingrong Qian and Qinghua Chen
Polymers 2024, 16(20), 2929; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202929 - 18 Oct 2024
Viewed by 744
Abstract
A key challenge in the utilization of waste polyester fibers (PET fibers) is the development of fiber-reinforced composites with high filler content and the improvement of fiber length retention. Herein, the effects of a two-rotor continuous mixer and a twin-screw extruder on the [...] Read more.
A key challenge in the utilization of waste polyester fibers (PET fibers) is the development of fiber-reinforced composites with high filler content and the improvement of fiber length retention. Herein, the effects of a two-rotor continuous mixer and a twin-screw extruder on the structure and properties of waste polyester fiber composites were evaluated. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of the composites were improved significantly with increasing fiber content, especially when processed using the twin-rotor continuous mixer. This mixer facilitated the formation of a robust fiber network structure, leading to substantial enhancements in tensile strength, flexural strength, and heat resistance. Specifically, compared to those processed by the twin-screw extruder, with 60 wt% fibers content, the tensile and flexural strengths of specimens processed by the twin-rotor continuous mixer increase by 21% and 13%, respectively. The average fiber length in specimens processed by the twin-rotor continuous mixer was 32% longer than that in specimens processed by the twin-screw extruder, attributable to the lower shear frequency and the higher tensile ratio of the former. This blending technique emerges as an effective strategy, contributing significantly to promoting the development and practical application of waste textile fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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14 pages, 5872 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Tensile Properties and Probabilistic Characteristics of Large-Tow Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
by Anni Wang, Ruiheng Li and Xiaogang Liu
Polymers 2024, 16(15), 2197; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16152197 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1964
Abstract
Large-tow carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) have great application potential in civil engineering due to their low price, but their basic mechanical properties are still unclear. The tensile properties of large-tow CFRP rods and plates were investigated in this study. First, the tensile [...] Read more.
Large-tow carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) have great application potential in civil engineering due to their low price, but their basic mechanical properties are still unclear. The tensile properties of large-tow CFRP rods and plates were investigated in this study. First, the tensile properties of unidirectional CFRP rods and plates were studied, and the test results of the relevant mechanical properties were statistically analyzed. The tensile strength of the CFRP rod and plate are 2005.97 MPa and 2069.48 MPa. Second, the surface of the test specimens after failure was observed using a scanning electron microscope to analyze the type of failure and damage evolution process. Finally, the probabilistic characteristics of the mechanical properties were analyzed using normal, lognormal, and Weibull distributions for parameter fitting. Quasi-optimality tests were performed, and a probability distribution model was proposed for the mechanical properties of large-tow CFRP rods and plates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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15 pages, 3535 KiB  
Article
Toughness Evolution of Flax-Fiber-Reinforced Composites under Repeated Salt Fog–Dry Aging Cycles
by Luigi Calabrese, Carmelo Sanfilippo, Antonino Valenza, Edoardo Proverbio and Vincenzo Fiore
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1926; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131926 - 6 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1477
Abstract
This research examined the response of flax-fiber-reinforced composites (FFRCs) to simulated outdoor conditions involving repeated exposure to salt fog and drying. The study investigated the effect of cycles on the toughness of the FFRCs. To achieve this, the composites were exposed to humidity [...] Read more.
This research examined the response of flax-fiber-reinforced composites (FFRCs) to simulated outdoor conditions involving repeated exposure to salt fog and drying. The study investigated the effect of cycles on the toughness of the FFRCs. To achieve this, the composites were exposed to humidity (salt fog) for 10 days, followed by 18 days of drying in cycles. A total of up to 3 cycles, each lasting 4 weeks, were conducted over a 12-week period. Throughout this process, changes in the material’s weight, water absorption, and mechanical properties were monitored by water uptake and three-point bending tests. The findings revealed the significant impact of these humid–dry cycles on the mechanical response of the FFRCs. When exposed to humid environments without drying, the composite’s toughness increased significantly, due to a weakening effect more pronounced for stiffness, with strength reductions of about 20%. However, subsequent drying partially restored the material’s performance. After 18 days of drying, the composite regained most of its initial performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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20 pages, 8627 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Stress–Strain Relationship of PVA-Fiber-Reinforced Engineered Geopolymer Composite
by Jian Zhou, Zhenjun Li, Xi Liu, Xinzhuo Yang and Jiaojiao Lv
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121685 - 13 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
In this study, seven Engineering Geopolymer Composite (EGC) groups with varying proportions were prepared. Rheological, compressive, flexural, and axial tensile tests of the EGC were conducted to study the effects of the water/binder ratio, the cement/sand ratio, and fiber type on its properties. [...] Read more.
In this study, seven Engineering Geopolymer Composite (EGC) groups with varying proportions were prepared. Rheological, compressive, flexural, and axial tensile tests of the EGC were conducted to study the effects of the water/binder ratio, the cement/sand ratio, and fiber type on its properties. Additionally, a uniaxial tension constitutive model was established. The results indicate that the EGC exhibits early strength characteristics, with the 7-day compressive strength reaching 80% to 92% of the 28-day compressive strength. The EGC demonstrates high compressive strength and tensile ductility, achieving up to 70 MPa and 4%, respectively. The mechanical properties of the EGC improved with an increase in the sand/binder ratio and decreased with an increase in the water/binder ratio. The stress–strain curve of the EGC resembles that of the ECC, displaying a strain-hardening state that can be divided into two stages: before cracking, the matrix primarily bears the stress; after cracking, the slope decreases, and the fiber predominantly bears the stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Manufacture, Properties and Applications)
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