Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector
Bamboo fiber?reinforced epoxy composites fabricated by vacuum?assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM): Effect of molding sequence and fiber content
This research investigates the effects of molding sequence and fiber content on the properties of bamboo fiber composites for optimized processing technology.Fabricating bamboo fiber?reinforced epoxy composites (BFREs) using the vacuum?assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process has many advantages, such as low cost, high product quality, controllability, and broad applicability. However, the immature fabrication process seriously affects product performance and hinders the full exploitation of the advantages of the VARTM process. The effects on the physical?mechanical and thermal properties of BFREs by molding sequence and fiber content were investigated in this study. The molding sequence of fiber compression followed by resin injection was beneficial to ensure hermeticity, thus reducing the voids in the BFREs. The mechanical properties of BFREs gradually increased with increasing fiber content. With 50?wt% fiber content, the bending strength and modulus, shear strength, and impact toughness of BFREs reached 71.27?MPa, 6.78?GPa, 11.68?MPa, and 5.45?kJ/m2, respectively. Although the thermal stability of the BFREs was slightly lower than that of pure epoxy, the bamboo fibers' high rigidity evidentially increased the epoxy's dynamic mechanical properties. The life cycle assessment indicated that the BFREs effectively reduced the environmental impacts and production energy consumption compared to the glass fiber correspondent. The VARTM?fabricated BFREs have great potential for construction, transportation, household items, packaging, sports equipment, and leisure goods applications.HighlightsFiber compression followed by resin injection could ensure great hermeticity.Micro?CT accurately measured the void characteristics of the composites.Voids had detrimental effects on the properties of the composites.Dense bamboo fiber preforms enhanced the mechanical properties of epoxy.Bamboo fibers reinforcing epoxy reduced the impact on the environment.
» Publication Date: 06/10/2023
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 768737
