A Review of Prestressed Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

This review examines various studies on reducing tensile stresses generated in a polymer matrix composite without increasing the mass or dimension of the material. The sources of residual stresses and their impacts on the developed composite were identified, and the different techniques used in limiting residual stresses were also discussed. Furthermore, the review elaborates on fibre-prestressing techniques based on elastically (EPPMC) and viscoelastically (VPPMC) prestressed polymer matrix composites, while advantages and limitations associated with EPPMC and VPPMC methods are also explained. The report shows that tensile residual stresses are induced in a polymer matrix composite during production as a result of unequal expansion, moisture absorption and chemical shrinkage; their manifestations have detrimental effects on the mechanical properties of the polymer composite. Both EPPMC and VPPMC have great influence in reducing residual stresses in the polymer matrix and thereby improving the mechanical properties of composite materials. The reports from this study provide some basis for selecting a suitable technique for prestressing as well as measuring residual stresses in composite materials.

Characterization of Irradiated Wood Plastic Composites (WPCs) Consumer Product

This research paper emphasizes the characterization of irradiated wood plastic composites for consumer product. Throughout this research, it is precisely conducted to observe the mechanical and physical properties of WPCs and their ability to fit in the market globally. The study also carried out to promote WPCs product that came naturally from renewable sources. WPCs in this research can be defined as mixture of wood that can be replaced with pineapple fiber in a polymer matrix. Composite that used in this research mainly consists of 40% polyethylene (PE), 50 % pineapple fiber and the rest is coupling agent that enhance the WPCs mixture. After undergoes several processes such making the raw sample of WPCs mixture, the WPCs were then irradiated under required dose levels of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 kGy with the aid of the Gamma Cell Irradiator. Soon after, the irradiated WPCs then undergoes characterization process using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Diagnosis on the morphology of WPCs found that there was significant difference between the radiated and irradiated surfaces.