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Polymers
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Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites
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Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 11831

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jianxiao Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: pitch-based carbon fiber; carbon fiber composites; porous carbon materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have many advantages, such as high strength, low density, and ease of processing, and have been used in many areas, such as energy, aerospace, automotives, and construction. The incorporation of two or more fibers into a single polymer matrix leads the development of a hybrid composite. In the last two decades, different fibers and fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been introduced and developed in order to modify the composite properties and expand their areas of application. In this sense, economic indicators and market dynamics suggested that the market for composite materials is booming, and the dominant materials are carbon fibres, glass fibres and thermoset polymer (polyester resin) in resin segments. In particular, the functionalization and intellectualization of fiber-reinforced polymer composites have become a trend in research and development in terms of new energy sources, new materials, energy conservation, environmental protection, biomedicine, information networks, and high-end manufacturing.

This Special Issue focuses on fibers, matrixes and fiber-reinforced polymer composites for energy, environmental, biomedical, construction and aerospace applications, and aims to demonstrate researchers’ ability to design, synthesize, and manufacture fiber-reinforced polymer composites that address the challenges posed by classical and emerging applications.

Dr. Jianxiao Yang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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

  • fiber-reinforced polymer composites
  • fiber and nonfibers
  • matrix
  • interface
  • natural fibers and biomimetic polymers
  • carbon fibers
  • carbon nanotube fibers
  • graphene fibers
  • glass fibers
  • silicon carbide fibers
  • fibers for environmental application
  • fibers for energy application
  • fibers for construction and automotive application
  • fibers for information technology
  • fibers for biological and medical applications
  • fibers for optical and photonics applications

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5446 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Molecular Arrangement and Orientation Characteristics of Mesophase Pitch and Its Fibers via a Polarized Light Microscope
by Jingpan Li, Ximing Tang, Ji Qin, Jianxiao Yang, Xiao Wu, Yuxin Wei, Xubin He and Zujian Huang
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081114 - 16 Apr 2024
Viewed by 279
Abstract
A polarized light microscope (PLM) was utilized to examine the optical textures of mesophase pitch (MP) and MP-derived fibers, which aimed to reveal the arrangement and orientation characteristics of pitch molecules and to clarify the evolution and transformation mechanism of carbonaceous microcrystalline from [...] Read more.
A polarized light microscope (PLM) was utilized to examine the optical textures of mesophase pitch (MP) and MP-derived fibers, which aimed to reveal the arrangement and orientation characteristics of pitch molecules and to clarify the evolution and transformation mechanism of carbonaceous microcrystalline from pitch fibers to graphitized fibers. The results found that there were distinct optical textures in MP, where one side exhibited a transition from a flattening plane to a mountain-like undulating plane. This transition corresponded to the arrangement of pitch molecules, resembling stacked lamellar structures reminiscent of curved paper. Meanwhile, the optical textures of fibers revealed that the blue substance was wrapped around the red grain-like domains in the longitudinal section and confirmed that the red part belonged to the pyridine insoluble fraction of MP and the blue part belonged to its pyridine-soluble fraction. After graphitization, the red part was transformed into graphite sheets and the blue part was transformed into an amorphous carbon layer which was wrapped around the graphite sheets, forming a carbonaceous microcrystalline package-like bag. Therefore, this study provided a comprehensive interpretation of the structural evolution mechanism of MP and MP-derived fibers based on their macro-optical textures and micro-nanostructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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15 pages, 6584 KiB  
Article
Damage Monitoring of Regularly Arrayed Short-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Laminates under Tensile Load Based on Acoustic Emission Technology
by Hongda Cai, Wenlong Lu, Jingxuan Ma, Yinyuan Huang and Junfeng Hu
Polymers 2024, 16(7), 890; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070890 - 24 Mar 2024
Viewed by 606
Abstract
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in lightweight structures because of their high specific strength, specific modulus, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. Additionally, the unidirectionally arrayed chopped strand (UACS) laminates have excellent mechanical properties and flowability, making them suitable for fabricating [...] Read more.
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in lightweight structures because of their high specific strength, specific modulus, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. Additionally, the unidirectionally arrayed chopped strand (UACS) laminates have excellent mechanical properties and flowability, making them suitable for fabricating structures with complex geometry. In this paper, the damage process of UACS quasi-isotropic laminates under tensile load was tested using acoustic emission detection technology. The mechanical properties and damage failure mechanism of UACS laminates were studied combined with finite element calculation. By comparing and analyzing the characteristic parameters of acoustic emission signals such as amplitude, relative energy, and impact event, it is found that acoustic emission behavior can accurately describe the damage evolution of specimens during loading. The results show that the high-amplitude signals representing fiber fracture in continuous fiber laminates are concentrated in the last 41%, while in UACS laminates they are concentrated in the last 30%. In UACS laminates, more of the damage is caused by matrix cracks and delamination with medium- and low-amplitude signals, which indicates that UACS laminates have a good suppression effect on damage propagation. The stress–strain curves obtained from finite element analysis agree well with the experiment results, showing the same damage sequence, which confirms that the model described in this research is reliable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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18 pages, 6499 KiB  
Article
Does a Compatibilizer Enhance the Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composites?
by Prashant Gangwani, Mitjan Kalin and Nazanin Emami
Polymers 2023, 15(23), 4608; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234608 - 03 Dec 2023
Viewed by 886
Abstract
We have evaluated the effectiveness of compatibilizers in blends and composites produced using a solvent manufacturing process. The compatibilizers were two different types of polyethylene (linear low-density and high-density) grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH) and a highly functionalized, epoxy-based compatibilizer with the tradename [...] Read more.
We have evaluated the effectiveness of compatibilizers in blends and composites produced using a solvent manufacturing process. The compatibilizers were two different types of polyethylene (linear low-density and high-density) grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH) and a highly functionalized, epoxy-based compatibilizer with the tradename Joncryl. The selected material combinations were an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with MAH-based materials as compatibilizers and a polyphenylene sulfide plus polytetrafluoroethylene (PPS-PTFE) polymer blend with an epoxy-based compatibilizer. The findings revealed that while the compatibilizers consistently enhanced the properties, such as the impact strength and hardness of PPS-based compositions, their utility is constrained to less complex compositions, such as fibrous-reinforced PPS or PPS-PTFE polymer blends. For fibrous-reinforced PPS-PTFE composites, the improvement in performance does not justify the presence of compatibilizers. In contrast, for UHMWPE compositions, compatibilizers demonstrated negligible or even detrimental effects, particularly in reinforced UHMWPE. Overall, the epoxy-based compatibilizer Joncryl stands out as the only effective option for enhancing mechanical performance. Thermal and chemical characterization indicated that the compatibilizers function as chain extenders and enhance the fiber–matrix interface in PPS-based compositions, while they remain inactive in UHMWPE-based compositions. Ultimately, the incompatibility of the compatibilizers with certain aspects of the manufacturing method and the inconsistent integration with the polymer are the main reasons for their ineffectiveness in UHMWPE compositions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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21 pages, 8781 KiB  
Article
Research on Low-Velocity Impact Response of Novel Short-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Laminates
by Yinyuan Huang, Felix Thompson EShun, Junfeng Hu, Xutong Zhang, Jianping Zhao, Siqi Zhang, Rui Qian, Zhou Chen and Dingding Chen
Polymers 2023, 15(4), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15040840 - 08 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1794
Abstract
Short-fiber-reinforced polymers (SFRPs) based on unidirectionally arrayed chopped strands (UACSs) have excellent formability and outstanding mechanical response. The low-velocity impact response, such as the delamination, damage tolerance and energy absorption of UACS composites, are essential to guarantee the stability and safety of composite [...] Read more.
Short-fiber-reinforced polymers (SFRPs) based on unidirectionally arrayed chopped strands (UACSs) have excellent formability and outstanding mechanical response. The low-velocity impact response, such as the delamination, damage tolerance and energy absorption of UACS composites, are essential to guarantee the stability and safety of composite components in service. The current study investigates the low-velocity impact response of continuous carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and UACS laminates with vertical slits under drop-weight impact with various impact energies (4, 7 and 11 J). The in-plane size of the studied samples is 100 mm × 100 mm, and the stacking sequence is [0/90]4s. The time–history curves of load and energy are examined during low-velocity impact experiments, as well as the nonvisible damages are obtained by ultrasound C-scan imaging technique. A user-defined subroutine VUMAT, including the Johnson–Cook material and failure model, which is used to simulate the elastic–plastic property of the slits filled with resin, is coded in ABAQUS/Explicit. According to C-scan inspections of the impact-damaged laminates, UACS specimens show more severe delamination as impact energy increases. The damaged area of continuous CFRP laminates under impact energy of 11 J is 311 mm2, while that of UACS laminates is 1230 mm2. The slits have a negative effect on the load-bearing capacity but increase the energy absorption of UACS laminates by approximately 80% compared to the continuous CFRP laminates at 7 J. According to the variables of different damage modes in numerical simulation, cracks appear at the slits and then expand along the direction perpendicular to the slits, leading to the fracture of fiber. Nevertheless, as the damage expands to the slits, the delamination confines the damage propagation. The existence of slits could guide the path of damage propagation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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23 pages, 23581 KiB  
Article
Warmforming Flow Pressing Characteristics of Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites
by Benjamin Gröger, David Römisch, Martin Kraus, Juliane Troschitz, René Füßel, Marion Merklein and Maik Gude
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 5039; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14225039 - 21 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1522
Abstract
The paper presents research regarding a thermally supported multi-material clinching process (hotclinching) for metal and thermoplastic composite (TPC) sheets: an experimental approach to investigate the flow pressing phenomena during joining. Therefore, an experimental setup is developed to compress the TPC-specimens in out-of-plane direction [...] Read more.
The paper presents research regarding a thermally supported multi-material clinching process (hotclinching) for metal and thermoplastic composite (TPC) sheets: an experimental approach to investigate the flow pressing phenomena during joining. Therefore, an experimental setup is developed to compress the TPC-specimens in out-of-plane direction with different initial TPC thicknesses and varying temperature levels. The deformed specimens are analyzed with computed tomography to investigate the resultant inner material structure at different compaction levels. The results are compared in terms of force-compaction-curves and occurring phenomena during compaction. The change of the material structure is characterized by sliding phenomena and crack initiation and growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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15 pages, 6248 KiB  
Article
Stitching Repair for Delaminated Carbon Fiber/Bismaleimide Composite Laminates
by Jiantao Hua, Suli Xing, Shaohang An, Dingding Chen and Jun Tang
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3557; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173557 - 29 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1562
Abstract
Due to the excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance, bismaleimide matrix composite materials have been widely used in aircraft. However, they are susceptible to low-energy impacts, such as bird hits, gravel, tools falling, etc., which can easily result in delamination. The delamination can [...] Read more.
Due to the excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance, bismaleimide matrix composite materials have been widely used in aircraft. However, they are susceptible to low-energy impacts, such as bird hits, gravel, tools falling, etc., which can easily result in delamination. The delamination can significantly reduce the compression performance of composites and become a potential hazard for aircraft in service. In this paper, a stitching method developed from the Z-pin manufacturing process was proposed to repair delaminated laminates. Firstly, the delaminated area was stitched by fiber bundles that were pre-impregnated with glue. Then, the fiber bundles threading through the laminate become the pins after the curing process, thus producing the bridging effect between delaminated layers. As a result, the in-plane compressive properties of the laminate are enhanced. The parameters, including the size, number, and position of the stitching hole, for the stitching repair were optimized, and the factors affecting the repair effect were discussed through both finite element analysis and experiments. The results showed that for a carbon fiber/bismaleimide composite plate with a circular delamination roughly 30 mm in diameter, the in-plane compressive strength can be recovered from 54.45% to 84.23% of the pristine plate, and the modulus was fully recovered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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15 pages, 1588 KiB  
Article
Optimization of a New Composite Multicellular Plate Structure in Order to Reduce Weight
by György Kovács
Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3121; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153121 - 31 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1240
Abstract
Currently, the most important structural design aims are weight reduction, corrosion resistance, high stiffness and vibration damping in several industrial applications, which can be provided by the application of advanced fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites. The main research aim was to develop [...] Read more.
Currently, the most important structural design aims are weight reduction, corrosion resistance, high stiffness and vibration damping in several industrial applications, which can be provided by the application of advanced fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites. The main research aim was to develop novel and innovative multicellular plate structures that utilize the benefits of lightweight advanced FRP and aluminum materials, as well as to combine the advantageous characteristics of cellular plates and sandwich structures. Two new multicellular plate structures were developed for the structural element of a transport vehicle. The first structure consists of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) face sheets and pultruded glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) stiffeners. The second structure consists of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic face sheets and aluminum (Al) stiffeners. The second main goal of this research was the development of an optimization method of minimal weight for the newly developed all-FRP structure and the CFRP-Al structure, considering seven design constraints. The third main purpose was to confirm in a real case study that lightweight multicellular composite constructions, optimized by the flexible tolerance optimization method, provide significant weight saving (86%) compared to the all-steel structure. The added value of the research is that optimization methods were developed for the constructed new composite structures, which can be applied in applications where weight saving is the primary aim. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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10 pages, 3534 KiB  
Article
Studying the Interfacial Properties of Carbon/Glass Hybrid Composites via the Nanoindentation Method
by Xin Jiang, Mingze Gao, Jing Zhu, Hongwei Ji and Fengchao Lang
Polymers 2022, 14(14), 2897; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14142897 - 16 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1411
Abstract
The mechanical properties of hybrid composite interfaces are critical in determining the overall properties of composite materials. To investigate the mechanical performance of hybrid composite interfaces, an accurate and efficient method must be developed. In this work, nanoindentation is used in this work [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of hybrid composite interfaces are critical in determining the overall properties of composite materials. To investigate the mechanical performance of hybrid composite interfaces, an accurate and efficient method must be developed. In this work, nanoindentation is used in this work to investigate the mechanical performance of the carbon/glass interface and the influence of the distance between carbon and the glass fibers on the modulus of the thermoset matrix. The results show that the interface sizes around the carbon and glass fibers are around 1.5 and 2.0 μm, respectively. The modulus around the carbon fibers is 5–11 GPa without the fiber effect, while that around the glass fibers is 4–10 GPa. The modulus of the matrix is not affected by the two types of fibers when the distance between them is greater than 4.5 μm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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23 pages, 8332 KiB  
Article
Effect of Long-Term Thermal Relaxation of Epoxy Binder on Thermoelasticity of Fiberglass Plastics: Multiscale Modeling and Experiments
by Maxim Mishnev, Alexander Korolev, Bartashevich Ekaterina and Ulrikh Dmitrii
Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14091712 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1590
Abstract
The work is devoted to the prediction and experimental research of the elastic bending modulus of glass-reinforced plastics with an epoxy matrix on anhydride hardener reinforced with different glass fabrics. Experimental studies have been carried out to assess the effect of thermal relaxation [...] Read more.
The work is devoted to the prediction and experimental research of the elastic bending modulus of glass-reinforced plastics with an epoxy matrix on anhydride hardener reinforced with different glass fabrics. Experimental studies have been carried out to assess the effect of thermal relaxation of the polymer matrix structure due to long-term exposure to elevated temperatures (above the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix) on the GRP elastic bending modulus at temperatures ranging from 25 to 180 °C. It has been shown that due to the thermal relaxation of the polymer matrix structure, the GRP modulus increases significantly at temperatures above 110 °C and decreases slightly at lower temperatures. Using a multiscale simulation based on a combination of the finite-element homogenization method in the Material Designer module of the ANSYS software package and three-point bending simulation in the ANSYS APDL module, the elastic modulus of FRP was predicted concerning the temperature, its averaged structural properties, and thermal relaxation of the polymer matrix structure. We have also carried out the prediction of the temperature dependences of the modulus of elasticity of glass-reinforced plastics on different types of glass fabrics in the range from 25 to 200 °C by using the entropic approach and the layered model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites)
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