FibersPub Date : 2023-02-09DOI: 10.3390/fib11020019
U. Skadiņš, Kristens Kuļevskis, Andris Vulāns, R. Brencis
{"title":"Thin-Layer Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Sandwich Walls: Numerical Evaluation","authors":"U. Skadiņš, Kristens Kuļevskis, Andris Vulāns, R. Brencis","doi":"10.3390/fib11020019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020019","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, structural thin-layer sandwich walls (SWs) made of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) without conventional reinforcements were investigated. Other researchers have shown that SWs with thin wythes can be used as load bearing structures in low-rise buildings, thereby reducing the amount of concrete by 2–5 times if compared to conventional reinforced-concrete SWs. In most studies, relatively warm climatic regions are the focus, and thin-layer SWs with shear connectors to obtain a certain level of composite action are investigated. In almost no studies has sound insulation been evaluated. In this study, a numerical investigation of structural, thermal and sound insulation performances was carried out. The load-bearing capacities of composite and non-composite SWs are compared. Regions with the lowest five-day mean air temperature of −20 ∘C were considered. The characteristics of the SW are compared to the requirements given in relevant European and Latvian standards. The minimum thermal insulation for family houses varies from 120 mm to 200 mm, depending on the material. To ensure sufficient sound insulation, the average thickness of the concrete wythes should be around 60 mm, preferably with a 15 mm difference between them. Structural analysis of the proposed wall panel was performed using non-linear finite element analysis software ATENA Science. The obtained load-bearing capacity exceeded the design loads of a single-story family house by around 100 times, regardless of the degree of composite action.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47250125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-02-03DOI: 10.3390/fib11020018
Virginia Puyana-Romero, Jorge Santiago Arroyo Chuquín, Saúl Israel Méndez Chicaiza, Giuseppe Ciaburro
{"title":"Characterization and Simulation of Acoustic Properties of Sugarcane Bagasse-Based Composite Using Artificial Neural Network Model","authors":"Virginia Puyana-Romero, Jorge Santiago Arroyo Chuquín, Saúl Israel Méndez Chicaiza, Giuseppe Ciaburro","doi":"10.3390/fib11020018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020018","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental sustainability and environmental protection represent essential challenges for the well-being of the community. The use of eco-sustainable materials in architecture is necessary for the transformation of urban centers into modern sustainable cities, to reduce air pollution and protect natural ecosystems, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve the energy efficiency of buildings. In this study, sugar cane processing waste was used as an alternative and ecological acoustic material, combining it with natural binders used in construction, such as plaster and clay. To make the composite, the fibers were separated from the bark, then the fibers were assembled with the binder in the frames, and finally the frame with the composite was subjected to a drying process. Specimens of various thicknesses were prepared and the sound absorption coefficient (SAC) at normal incidence was calculated. Subsequently, to compare the acoustic performances of the samples, a simulation model for the prediction of the SAC based on the artificial neural network (ANN) was created. The results suggest the adoption of the simulation model to review the acoustic properties of the material.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41742484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-02-01DOI: 10.3390/fib11020017
Vojtěch Růžek, A. Dostayeva, J. Walter, T. Grab, K. Korniejenko
{"title":"Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites: A Review","authors":"Vojtěch Růžek, A. Dostayeva, J. Walter, T. Grab, K. Korniejenko","doi":"10.3390/fib11020017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020017","url":null,"abstract":"The article summarizes the state of the art in carbon-reinforced geopolymers. It takes into consideration various types of matrices and types of carbon fibers (CFs). The article shows the growing importance of this composite in the investigation conducted in recent years. Today, it is one of the most promising modern research areas, taking into account the decrease in the prices of CFs and their appearance on the market waste-based CFs, as well as research on new methods of producing CFs from sustainable precursors. The research methods applied in the article are critical analyses of the literature. The results of the literature analysis are discussed in a comparative context, including production methods and the influence of CFs on geopolymer properties. The potential applications for carbon fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites are shown. Additionally, the current research challenges for geopolymer composites reinforced by CFs are presented.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48532143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-01-29DOI: 10.3390/fib11020016
B. Kandola, Trishan A. M. Hewage, Muhammed Hajee, A. Horrocks
{"title":"Effect of Cross-Linkers on the Processing of Lignin/Polyamide Precursors for Carbon Fibres","authors":"B. Kandola, Trishan A. M. Hewage, Muhammed Hajee, A. Horrocks","doi":"10.3390/fib11020016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020016","url":null,"abstract":"This work reports the use of cross-linkers in bio-based blends from hydroxypropyl-modified lignin (TcC) and a bio-based polyamide (PA1010) for possible use as carbon fibre precursors, which, while minimising their effects on melt processing into filaments, assist in cross-linking components during the subsequent thermal stabilisation stage. Cross-linkers included a highly sterically hindered aliphatic hydrocarbon (Perkadox 30, PdX), a mono-functional organic peroxide (Triganox 311, TnX), and two different hydroxyalkylamides (Primid® XL-552 (PmD 552) and Primid® QM-1260 (PmD 1260)). The characterisation of melt-compounded samples of TcC/PA1010 containing PdX and TnX indicated considerable cross-linking via FTIR, DSC, DMA and rheology measurements. While both Primids showed some evidence of cross-linking, it was less than with PdX and TnX. This was corroborated via melt spinning of the melt-compounded chips or pellet-coated TcC/PA1010, each with cross-linker via a continuous, sub-pilot scale, melt-spinning process, where both Primids showed better processability. With the latter technique, while filaments could be produced, they were very brittle. To overcome this, melt-spun TcC/PA1010 filaments were immersed in aqueous solutions of PmD 552 and PmD 1260 at 80 °C. The resultant filaments could be easily thermally stabilised and showed evidence of cross-linking, producing higher char residues than the control filaments in the TGA experiments.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45640492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-01-28DOI: 10.3390/fib11020014
Romy Peters, Dawon Jang, D. S. Wolz, Sungho Lee, H. Jäger, Mirko Richter, C. Cherif, Kiryl Vasiutovich, Marcus Richter, Xinliang Feng, T. Behnisch, M. Gude
{"title":"Investigation of the Influence of Hexabenzocoronene in Polyacrylonitrile-Based Precursors for Carbon Fibers","authors":"Romy Peters, Dawon Jang, D. S. Wolz, Sungho Lee, H. Jäger, Mirko Richter, C. Cherif, Kiryl Vasiutovich, Marcus Richter, Xinliang Feng, T. Behnisch, M. Gude","doi":"10.3390/fib11020014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020014","url":null,"abstract":"For several decades, carbon fibers have been used for lightweight engineering in aircraft automotive and sports industries, mostly based on high-quality polyacrylonitrile (PAN). We investigated a novel PAN-based precursor fiber (PF) modified with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, namely hexabenzocoronene (HBC), which is expected to improve the thermal conversion process and to create a carbon fiber (CF) with enhanced mechanical properties. For this purpose, the novel PF and a spun-like homopolymeric PAN-based PF were thermally stabilized and carbonized in continuous lab-scale plants. The effect of the additive HBC on the conversion processes, fiber diameter and shape, density, and mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that HBC seems to support stabilization reactions, and HBC/PAN-based PF show potentially higher stretchability of PF and stabilized fiber. The modified CF showed an improvement in Young’s modulus of about 25% at the same tensile strength compared to the unmodified PAN-based CF, resulting from enhanced crystalline orientation. The results showed a high potential of the HBC/PAN for energy-efficient production. In particular, the influence on tensile strength and modulus under optimized process conditions, as well as the possibility to use low quality PAN, need to be further investigated.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42157798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-01-28DOI: 10.3390/fib11020013
Sivasubramanian Palanisamy, K. MAYANDI, R. Nagarajan, José Maria Fernandes Marlet, C. Santulli
{"title":"Physical, Chemical, and Mechanical Characterization of Natural Bark Fibers (NBFs) Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Bibliographic Review","authors":"Sivasubramanian Palanisamy, K. MAYANDI, R. Nagarajan, José Maria Fernandes Marlet, C. Santulli","doi":"10.3390/fib11020013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020013","url":null,"abstract":"The specific interest for the use of bark in materials, instead than for energy recovery, is owed to circular economy considerations, since bark fibers are normally byproducts or even waste from other sectors, and therefore their use would globally reduce the amount of refuse by replacing other materials in the production of composites. For the purpose of promoting their application in polymer composites, mainly under a geometry of short random fibers, bark fibers are extracted and treated, normally chemically by alkali. Following this, investigations are increasingly carried out on their chemical composition. More specifically, this includes measuring cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content and their modification with treatment on their thermal properties and degradation profile, and on the mechanical performance of the fibers and of the tentatively obtained composites. This work aims at reviewing the current state of studies, trying to elicit which bark fibers might be most promising among the potentially enormous number of these, clarifying which of these have received some attention in literature and trying to elicit the reason for this specific interest. These can be more thoroughly characterized for the purpose of further use, also in competition with other fibers not from bark, but from bast, leaves, etc., and pertaining to developed production systems (cotton, hemp, flax, jute, etc.). The latter are already widely employed in the production of composites, a possibility scantly explored so far for bark fibers. However, some initial works on bark fiber composites and both thermoplastic and thermosetting are indicated and the importance of some parameters (aspect ratio, chemical treatment) is discussed.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45372162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-01-28DOI: 10.3390/fib11020015
Lisbeth Løvbak Berg, I. Klepp, Anna Schytte Sigaard, J. Broda, M. Rom, K. Kobiela-Mendrek
{"title":"Reducing Plastic in Consumer Goods: Opportunities for Coarser Wool","authors":"Lisbeth Løvbak Berg, I. Klepp, Anna Schytte Sigaard, J. Broda, M. Rom, K. Kobiela-Mendrek","doi":"10.3390/fib11020015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020015","url":null,"abstract":"Production and use of plastic products have drastically increased during the past decades and their environmental impacts are increasingly spotlighted. At the same time, coarse wool, a by-product of meat and dairy production, goes largely unexploited in the EU. This paper asks why more coarse wool is not used in consumer goods, such as acoustic and sound-absorbing products, garden products, and sanitary products. This is answered through a SWOT analysis of results from a desktop study and interviews with producers of these products made from wool, as well as policy documents relating to wool, waste, textiles, and plastic. Findings show that on a product level, the many inherent properties of wool create opportunities for product development and sustainability improvements and that using the coarser wool represents an opportunity for replacing plastics in many applications as well as for innovation. This is, however, dependent on local infrastructure and small-scale enterprises, but as such, it creates opportunities for local value chains, value creation, and safeguarding of local heritage. The shift to small-scale and local resource utilization requires systemic change on several levels: Here the findings show that policy can incentivize material usage transitions, but that these tools are little employed currently.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46877590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-01-26DOI: 10.3390/fib11020012
Anna Schytte Sigaard, K. Laitala
{"title":"Natural and Sustainable? Consumers’ Textile Fiber Preferences","authors":"Anna Schytte Sigaard, K. Laitala","doi":"10.3390/fib11020012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11020012","url":null,"abstract":"Textile fibers have become a major issue in the debate on sustainable fashion and clothing consumption. While consumers are encouraged to choose more sustainable and circular textile materials, studies have indicated that a reduction in production and consumption has the greatest potential to reduce the total environmental impact. This can be considered an ecocentric perspective with a focus on degrowth as opposed to a technocentric view where new technologies are expected to solve environmental problems while economic growth continues. Based on a survey in Norway (N = 1284), we investigate how the techno- and ecocentric perspectives impact Norwegian consumers’ fiber preferences and perceptions and the corresponding effects on their clothing consumption. We found that the majority of consumers preferred natural fibers compared to synthetic materials. This contradicts current market practices and the recommendations by material sustainability comparison tools such as the Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI), where many synthetics receive better ratings than natural fibers. We also found that perceptions of high sustainability regarding fibers were negatively correlated with reduced consumption. Our study suggests that a continued focus on material substitution and other technological measures for reducing climate change will impede the move toward sustainability in the textile sector.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48443434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
FibersPub Date : 2023-01-16DOI: 10.3390/fib11010011
{"title":"Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Fibers in 2022","authors":"","doi":"10.3390/fib11010011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11010011","url":null,"abstract":"High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46399928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of Fiber-Based Bag Filter Coated with Metal Oxides for Dust Adsorption","authors":"Marichelvam Mariappan Kadarkarainadar, Geetha Mariappan","doi":"10.3390/fib11010010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11010010","url":null,"abstract":"The production of cement increases every year, which leads to the emission of dust/gas/ particulate matter. The emission of unfiltered dust would create a significant environmental impact. Hence, it is the responsibility of industries to control the emission of dust. Air filters and electrostatic precipitators (ESP) play a significant role in controlling pollutants. Synthetic filter media which are dangerous to our environment are widely used in most industries. The disposal of synthetic filters is an arduous task as the biodegradability of synthetic materials is poor. Hence, it is essential to develop an eco-friendly air filter material. In this paper, a new type of bag filter was designed by using natural sisal fiber as filtering media. The biodegradability of sisal fiber is better than the synthetic polyester media and also sisal fiber is less expensive. The natural fibers were coated with zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles to improve the dust adsorption rate. Various tests were conducted as per standards to validate the performance of the filler media. The results were impressive. Hence, the proposed sisal fiber-based filter media can be used in cement industries for dust adsorption to minimize the environmental impact.","PeriodicalId":12122,"journal":{"name":"Fibers","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43042593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}