FlatChem

Gaurav A., Singh K.K., Shrivastava R., Sankar R.

Laminated composites are indispensable to the modern composite structures, as multiply laminates are designed to satisfy specific loading conditions. Change in fiber orientation of a specific ply may or may not change the in-plane properties of entire laminate and hence a particular fiber orientation can be used without changing overall composite properties. This placement of plies with specific fiber orientations adjacent to each other gives rise to a number of stacking terminologies such as cross-ply, unidirectional (UD), symmetric, asymmetric, quasi-isotropic, balanced, etc. This chapter delineates the effects of stacking sequence on the quasi-static (tensile, compressive, flexure) and dynamic (tensile, compressive, flexure, impact) mechanical properties of laminated composites. Polymer composites are visco-elastic materials which means their mechanical properties greatly depends on the ambient temperature. Stacking sequence are found to alter the DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis) and TMA (Thermomechanical Analysis) results of laminated composites. Response of composites to external factors depends greatly on the materials and now-a-days selection of materials is directly associated with product sustainability.

Ghosh S., Toki G.F., Islam M.N., Habib S., Mia R., Ahmed T.

This chapter focuses on the mechanical and thermal properties of synthetic fibers in hybrid non-woven fabric polymeric composites. In the nonwoven industry, synthetic fibers are extensively utilized, with natural fibers playing a lesser role due to impurities and higher costs. The production of nonwovens involves arranging small fibers in sheets or webs, which are then bound together using mechanical or thermal techniques. The most commonly used synthetic fibers in this industry are polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), as well as specialty fibers such as glass and carbon. PET nonwoven fabric exhibits exceptional mechanical strength and can withstand high temperatures without degradation. Non-woven polypropylene fabric is held together through the mechanical, thermal, and chemical entanglement of fibers, resulting in a resilient and long-lasting material. The current invention focuses on polyethylene nonwoven fabric made of fine fibers with a small diameter, which exhibits excellent formation properties and finds applications in sanitary and household items. Fiberglass nonwoven fabric is a soft and resilient material composed of fine glass fibers. Carbon fibers offer advantageous qualities including good thermal and electrical conductivities, excellent creep resistance, low density, high thermal stability in the absence of oxidizing agents, and exceptional tensile strength. To conclude, this chapter provides insights into the mechanical and thermal properties of synthetic fibers used in hybrid non-woven fabric polymeric composites. Additionally, it presents an overview of the diverse applications of these fibers in the nonwoven industry, further highlighting their significance and utility.

Vivek

This chapter presents the degradability behaviour of woven/non-woven fabric polymer laminates. The degradability behaviour of woven/non-woven fabric polymer laminates can be explained through different methods. Among all methods of the predicting degradability behaviour of woven/non-woven fabric, the degradability behaviour prediction through tensile strength test was most popular and reliable and explained in the current chapter. The result of tensile strength tests performed on geotextiles made from fabrics were explained in the current chapter. Further, the degradability behaviour of woven/non-woven fabric polymer laminates were reported on geotextile made from fabrics through the process of weaving or knitting fibres. The degradability behaviour reported in this chapter was explained after the performance evaluation of geotextile made from fabrics after the duration of 2, 6, 8, and 12 months and reduction in tensile strength were reported after the duration of 2, 6, 8, and 12 months. The application of these concepts was recommended in all the field of science and technology where the pattern of durability is important concerned with respect to strength and other characteristics.

Alave R.K., Toki G.F., Ahmed T., Mia R., Ghosh S.

The objective of this chapter is to comprehensively explore the mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid woven/non-woven fabric polymeric laminates containing plant and synthetic fibers. Fabric-based laminated composites find wide application in industries such as automotive, transportation, defense, and structural building due to their desirable characteristics of low cost, lightweight, and good strength. In particular, the versatility of laminating materials allows for the use of various fabric structures, including woven, nonwoven, and knit, in composite production. Among these options, hybrid composites combining synthetic and natural fibers have gained significant attention for their adaptable tensile and impact characteristics, making them suitable for construction purposes. Moreover, the availability of fabric components makes the production of laminated hybrids practical and cost-effective. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of factors such as fiber type, origin, content, and polymeric matrix on the properties of fabric composites is still lacking. In this chapter, we discuss the thermo-mechanical performances of plant/synthetic polymeric woven/nonwoven laminates. Additionally, we explore the potential applications of these laminated composites, based on limited experimental findings available. Through this analysis, we aim to provide conclusive insights into the mechanical and thermal behavior of hybrid fabric polymeric laminates and their suitability for various applications.

Vivek

The performance of synthetic/synthetic fibers in hybrid woven fabric polymeric composites depends upon the mechanical and thermal properties of the fibers. In this chapter, the characterization of mechanical and thermal properties of synthetic/synthetic fibers has been presented. Additionally, the factors affecting the bearing and tensile strengths of hybrid polymeric composites were discussed. The thermal property of fiber is explained by study of the effect of thermogravimetric analysis of woven synthetic/synthetic fibres in hybrid woven fabric polymeric composites in term of thermal conductivity, melting transition temperature, etc.

Maity S., Ray A., Gangwar A.K.

Lignin is a low-cost and readily available functional finishing material for textile woven fabric. It has adequate antimicrobial, ultraviolet (UV) protection and flame-retardant properties with its extremely high surface area and porous structure. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in using lignin in textile fabric, primarily to obtain functional and technical textile industries. An effort is also made to use lignin and lignosulphonate in textile composite materials. Finally, various applications of lignin from wood and non-wood resources of lignin-derived biodegradable woven fabric are discussed, along with potential future routes for sustainable and environmentally friendly lignin-derived textile materials. More attention is given to this chapter concerning the use of current intumescent systems for textile applications by means of coating or lamination of woven fabric.

Rawat P., Sai L., Zhu D.

Plant fiber composites (PFCs) are a combination of plant fibers (flax, banana, jute fibers) and matrix or resins. Plant fibers have a wide range of uses, including nonwoven applications such as short fibers, yarns, and ropes, as well as woven structures like mats and textiles. PFCs have been used for centuries in a variety of applications related to construction, furniture, and automotive parts. One advantage of plant fiber composites is that they are a sustainable alternative to conventional fiber-reinforced composites (FRPs). Plant fibers (PFs) are grown and harvested on a large scale, making them an attractive alternative to non-biodegradable materials such as glass and carbon fibers. Plant fiber composites also have a lower carbon footprint than traditional materials; they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) during growth. Plant fibers are generally lightweight and offer an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Therefore, plant fibers composites or composites made by plant fiber mats/woven are suitable for use in structural applications. They also have good impact resistance and moisture-resistant (after chemical treatments), making them ideal for indoor and outdoor applications. Several plant fibers are commonly used in engineering sectors (furniture, automobiles). Wood and jute fibers (in textiles or mates form) are the most used plant fibers in composites, as they are widely available and have good mechanical properties. Bamboo fibers are also gaining popularity due to their high strength and lightweight properties. Flax fibers and straw are not as extensively available as wood and bamboo fibers; thus, they have limited applications. The matrix material used in plant fiber composites can be a variety of materials, including resin, rubber, and a wide range of polymers. Multiple factors can affect the properties of plant fiber composites. Plant fiber type, matrix material (natural or synthetic), the manufacturing process (from extracting fibers to converting it into yarns or textiles), and the processing conditions are significant factors that influence the properties of PFCs. These properties can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of different applications by selecting the appropriate fiber type, matrix materials and by adjusting the processing conditions. Plant fiber composites have a wide range of applications and have the potential to replace traditional materials due to their sustainability aspect. Overall, PFCs are a promising material that can be used to meet the increasing demand for sustainable materials.

Mishra V., Agrawal A.

In recent years, natural fibre polymer composites have emerged as a significant alternative to synthetic fibres, garnering considerable attention for their potential to mitigate the adverse impacts associated with their artificial counterparts. These natural fibres manifest in various forms, including short, long, and woven iterations. Of these, woven fibres stand out as a popular choice for composite fabrication, finding extensive utility across diverse domains such as structural and non-structural components, aerospace and automotive parts, household items, ballistic materials, and flooring solutions. Woven fibre-reinforced polymer composites offer a multitude of advantages, boasting enhanced stability along both warp and weft directions, consistent properties within the fabric plane, heightened comfort, superior impact resistance, increased toughness, and dimensional stability across a broad temperature spectrum. Moreover, their inherent weaving structures render them adaptable, customizable to specific requirements, and endowed with exceptional mechanical properties. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the myriad benefits associated with woven fibre utilization in natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites, encompassing discussions on yarn attributes, fabric characteristics, and fabrication parameters. Additionally, it delves into the attendant challenges, prospects, and diverse applications of woven fiber-reinforced composites.

Miah M.R., Wang J., Zhu J.

Plant/artificial fiber-based woven and non-woven fabrics and their composites are used for next-generation multifunctional applications. Firstly, we have discussed the various types of woven and non-woven fabrics and their composites as well as potential excellent properties. Secondly, this chapter intends to discuss the fabrication methods, and thermo-mechanical fill-up morphological features of various woven, and nonwoven fabric-based composites over the last few decades. Nowadays, woven and non-woven reinforcement composites are increasing to fill-up the specific consumer demands in conditions of sustainability, cost awareness, high performance, and eco-friendliness, and so on. Moreover, Plant/artificial fiber-based woven and non-woven fabrics and composites are enhancing excellent performance for fiber hybridization and modification through the use of conventional techniques and 3D printing. Finally, plant/artificial fiber-based woven and non-woven fabrics and their composites to overcome major challenges are illustrated exclusively with their potential applications. For example, the aerospace and aircraft, sports equipment, automotive, construction, military, and defense, as well as safety and health sectors (2D and 3D non-woven masks), are presented in more detail via recent works.

El Messiry M.

Acoustic properties refer to the way a material absorbs, reflects, or transmits sound waves. The acoustic properties of woven and non-woven fabric polymeric composites can vary depending on the specific type of composite and the materials used. Woven fabric composites are made by interlacing two or more layers of fabric together using a weaving process. The acoustic properties of woven fabric composites can depend on the type of fabric used and the tightness of the weave. In general, woven fabric composites tend to be more rigid and have a higher density than non-woven fabric composites, which can make them more effective at blocking or reflecting sound waves. Non-woven fabric composites, on the other hand, are made by bonding fibers together using heat, pressure, or a chemical adhesive. Non-woven fabric composites tend to be more flexible and have a lower density than woven fabric composites, which can make them more effective at absorbing sound waves. The acoustic properties of a polymeric composite can also be influenced by the type of polymer used. Some polymers, such as rubber, are naturally good at absorbing sound, while others, such as plastic, tend to be more reflective. The thickness and density of the composite can also affect its acoustic properties. Overall, the acoustic properties of woven and non-woven fabric polymeric composites can be tailored by carefully selecting the materials and construction methods used. These properties can be important in applications such as noise control in buildings and vehicles and in the design of sound-absorbing materials for use in audio and acoustics applications. In summary, woven and non-woven fabric polymeric composites have proven to be effective in sound absorption applications across different industries. Their versatility, customized design options, and superior sound absorption properties make them valuable alternatives to traditional sound-absorbing materials, contributing to improved acoustic comfort and noise control in buildings. In the different sections of this chapter, we will try to acquaint the reader with the nature of the textile fibers, fabrics of unique designs, and finally, the composites made of it as a sound absorber. Moreover, the effect of fiber size, thickness, density, porosity, tortuosity, compression, composite design, etc. on sound absorption has been reviewed.

Zannat A., Mahmud S.T., Mia R.

Polymeric composites are extensively used in the various applications. The preparation of fabric-based composite depends on different influential factors. This chapter will discuss the mechanical and thermal properties of woven fabric based polymeric composites which are prepared using synthetic fibers. The synthetic fibers are produced by different chemical interactions, and it is mainly stronger than different natural fibers. The properties of woven fabric polymeric composites produced from carbon fiber, aramid fiber, glass fiber and so on are represented here. Various preparation processes with possible mechanism are also included in this chapter. The structure of the reinforcement materials and matrix, processing conditions, and history of the materials cause various changes in the ultimate composite. Mechanical and thermal evaluations of the materials are performed with various techniques. Therefore, this chapter will provide the details information regarding the woven fabric polymeric composites produced from synthetic fibers.

Ahmed T., Toki G.F., Mia R., Faridul Hasan K.M., Alpár T.

This chapter provides a concise overview of the mechanical and thermal properties of plant/plant fiber hybrid fabric woven polymeric composites. The growing demand for reduced energy consumption and environmental sustainability has fueled the development of natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs). Natural fibers offer advantages such as recyclability, compactness, affordability, improved stability, and excellent mechanical properties. However, challenges associated with plant-based natural fibers, including variations in yield attributes, limited mechanical capabilities, moisture content, low thermal stability, poor integration with hydrophobic matrices, and encapsulation tendencies, hinder their widespread adoption in NFRCs. Recent research efforts have focused on enhancing the features and applications of plant based NFRCs. This chapter provides a summary of the characteristics and reinforcement techniques employed in fabricating NFRCs using woven structures. It highlights advancements and approaches to improve the functionality of NFRCs, such as fiber adjustment, fiber transfection, integration of lignocellulosic fillers, traditional processing methods, additive manufacturing (including 3D printing), and the exploration of new fiber sources. The mechanical and thermal properties of these composites depend on the performance of plant based NFRCs. By presenting key findings and advancements, this chapter aims to deepen understanding of the potential and limitations of plant/plant fiber hybrid fabric woven polymeric composites. This understanding facilitates their development and utilization in various industrial applications. Concluding remarks underscore the significance of this research, identify potential future directions, and emphasize the ongoing need to explore and optimize plant/plant fiber hybrid fabric woven polymeric composites. These materials hold promise for meeting the evolving needs of industries seeking sustainable and high-performance solutions.

Shrivastava R., Singh K.K., Gaurav A.

Synthetic fibers such as glass, carbon and Kevlar are widely accepted in numerous applications. Their mechanical characterization is a mandatory step for understanding their real time performance. This chapter deals with their performance in hybrid formulation for numerous tests such as fatigue, impact, tensile, flexural, compression fracture and shear. The studies reflect importance of stacking sequence, fiber orientation and selection of fiber composition. The glass/carbon hybrid composites are preferred for enhanced strength with stiffness. Whereas glass/Kevlar fiber can be used to better impact response and toughness. The composition of carbon with Kevlar can bring additional abrasion resistance alongside strength and impact resistance. The combination glass, carbon and Kevlar brings balanced strength, stiffness and impact resistance. The evaluation in thermal tests were done by dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Further, the use of nanoparticle is prevalent and improve performance of these composites.

Chaudhary V., Radhakrishnan S.

In this present study, natural and synthetic resources were explored for potential application as reinforcement in polymer composites. Polymer composites required reinforcement in terms of woven and non-woven fabrics for laminated composites that enhanced the overall strength of the developed polymer composites. Natural fabric reinforcement extracts from the nature basket such as plant-based fabrics, animal-based fabrics, mineral based fabrics, and synthetic fabrics are produced by the chemical reactions. Some important natural fabrics are jute, hemp, flax, nettle, ramie, cotton, abaca, sisal, etc. And some important synthetic fabrics are glass, aramid, Kevlar, etc. Synthetic fabrics have higher strength as compared to natural fabrics, but natural fabrics give bio-degradable properties to the developed composite material. Natural and synthetic fabric based composite materials are replacing metallic material and playing a very vital role in every field of engineering for structural and non-structural components. A detailed study in terms of types of natural and synthetic fabrics, their properties, application, and future changes are discussed.

Toki G.F., Ahmed T., Habib S., Mia R., Alpár T.

Fabric-based polymeric composites are widely utilized across various industries such as automobile, transport, military, and civil construction for diverse applications. The scientific community has exhibited an increasing fascination with the fabrics employed in the creation of composite materials due to their favorable characteristics, including reduced manufacturing expenses, heightened durability, and decreased mass. Like other textile materials such as woven and knit fabrics, nonwoven fabrics are also employed for lamination, nonetheless with unique functional characteristics. Nonwoven textiles remain an area that warrants further exploration, as woven and knitted fabrics currently enjoy greater popularity as reinforcement materials. The variability of fabric composites is attributed to various factors, including but not limited to fiber type, origin, composition, and the polymeric matrix. Furthermore, the utilization of finite element analysis is facilitating the accurate prediction of ultimate composite properties. The feasibility and cost-effectiveness of creating hybrid plant composites using diverse fabric materials can be attributed to the global availability of such materials. This chapter presents a discussion on the fabrication, thermo-mechanical performances, and recent developments of nonwoven fabric-based composites that was prepared from plant/plant fibers.