• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 2015

Natural fibers reinforced polymer composites are being used in several low strength applications. More research is going on to improve their mechanical and interface properties for structural applications. However, these composites have serious issues regarding flammability, which are not being focused broadly. A limited amount of literature has been published on the flame retardant techniques and flammability factor of natural fibers based polymer matrix composites. Therefore, it is needed to address the flammability properties of natural fibers based polymer composites to expand their application area. This paper summarizes some of the recent literature published on the subject of flammability and flame retardant methods applied to natural fibers reinforced polymer matrix composites. Different factors affecting the flammability, flame retardant solutions, mechanisms and characterization techniques have been discussed in detail.

• Carbon letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2000

Carbon fiber was reacted with gaseous silicon monoxide which is produced from pack-powder mixture at elevated temperature. As a result of the reaction, two kinds of SiC fiber were obtained. The first one was SiC fibers which were converted from carbon fiber. The fiber is constituted with polycrystal like fine grains or monolithic crystals that have a size from sub-micron to $10\;{\mu}m$. Their size depends on the temperature during the conversion reaction. The second one was ultra-fine SiC fibers that were found on the surface of the converted SiC fibers. The ultra-fine fibers have diameters from 0.08 to $0.2\;{\mu}m$ and their aspect ratio were larger than 100. The chemical composit ion of the ultra-fine fibers was analyzed using an Auger electron spectroscopy. In result, the fibers consist of 51% silicon, 38% carbon and 11% oxygen by weight.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.325-336
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• 2023

A significant component of many civil constructions such as buildings, reservoirs, bridges, and sports halls, concrete has become increasingly popular due to its versatile properties. Concrete's internal characteristics change due to the use of different types of fibers, including changes in its microstructure, volume, and hole dimensions. Additionally, the type, dimensions, and distribution of fibers in concrete can affect the results of flexural strength tests by affecting its compressive and tensile strength. Due to a lack of information, fiber concrete is a new composite material in the production industry that requires laboratory studies to determine its behavior. This study investigated the bending behavior of multilayer slabs made of concrete reinforced by polyamide-propylene fibers against impact in weight lifting exercises. Results showed that adding fibers to concrete slab samples improved the mechanical properties while replacing them hurt the mechanical properties and failure of polymer fiber-reinforced concrete. On the other hand, adding and replacing fibers increases durability and has a positive effect.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.269-282
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• 2007

Fully biodegradable high strength composites or 'advanced green composites' were fabricated using yearly renewable soy protein based resins and high strength liquid crystalline cellulose fibers. For comparison, E-glass and aramid ($Kevlar^{(R)}$) fiber reinforced composites were also prepared using the same modified soy protein resins. The modification of soy protein included forming an interpenetrating network-like (IPN-like) resin with mechanical properties comparable to commonly used epoxy resins. The IPN-like soy protein based resin was further reinforced using nano-clay and microfibrillated cellulose. Fiber/resin interfacial shear strength was characterized using microbond method. Tensile and flexural properties of the composites were characterized as per ASTM standards. A comparison of the tensile and flexural properties of the high strength composites made using the three fibers is presented. The results suggest that these green composites have excellent mechanical properties and can be considered for use in primary structural applications. Although significant additional research is needed in this area, it is clear that advanced green composites will some day replace today's advanced composites made using petroleum based fibers and resins. At the end of their life, the fully sustainable 'advanced green composites' can be easily disposed of or composted without harming the environment, in fact, helping it.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.213-222
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• 2011

The native extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of an integrated fibrous protein network and proteoglycan-based ground (hydrogel) substance. We designed a novel electrospinning technique to engineer a three dimensional fiber-hydrogel composite that mimics the native ECM structure, is injectable, and has practical macroscale dimensions for clinically relevant tissue defects. In a model system of articular cartilage tissue engineering, the fiber-hydrogel composites enhanced the biological response of adult stem cells, with dynamic mechanical stimulation resulting in near native levels of extracellular matrix. This technology platform was expanded through structural and biochemical modification of the fibers including hydrophilic fibers containing chondroitin sulfate, a significant component of endogenous tissues, and hydrophobic fibers containing ECM microparticles.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2007

In this study, commercially available pitch-based carbon fibers of general grade were post-heat-treated using a boxtype high temperature furnace at $1800^{\circ}C$, $2000^{\circ}$, $2200^{\circ}C$, and $2400^{\circ}C$, respectively. The fundamental characteristics of each heat-treated carbon fibers were investigated in terms of chemical composition, morphology, thermal stability, X-ray diffraction, single filament tensile test, and electrical resistivity. The result showed that the fiber properties were significantly influenced by the post-heat-treatment, indicating the greater effect with increasing treatment temperature. The carbon contents, thermal stability, and tensile properties of the carbon fibers used here were further increased by the post-heat-treatment, whereas the d-spacing between graphene layers and the electrical resistivity were reduced with increasing post-heat-treatment temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1993

In order to analyze the stress distribution and stress concentration factors in composite materials, especially, in the short fiber of the reinforced composite materials by photoelastic method, it is necessary to develop the photoelastic model material having short fibers with arbitrary size and orientation. In this paper, the orthotropic photoelastic model material having short fibers for the transparent type photoelastic device was developed by the embedded corrosion fiber method. It was found that the model material was satisfactory to the properties of photoelastic model material, and also that the embedded corrosion fiber method can be employed for developing a model material with arbitrary size and direction to analyze the stress distribution and crack problems of composite materials.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.108-111
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• 2004

The polypropylene(PP) fiber is poised as a low cost alternative for reinforcement in structural applications in comparison with other high performance fibers, such as the polyvinyl-alcohol(PVA), polyethylene, carbon and aramid fiber. The mechanical properties of the composite are strongly determined by the interfacial behavior of fiber and cementitious matrix. The crack bridging mechanism contribute to composite toughness from activation of the fiber-matrix interface where energy is dissipated through debonding of the interface and fiber pullout. In this study, therefore, the pullout behavior of PP fibers is investigated. Experimental work includes the investigation of the interfacial properties, and the composite property. The quantification of interfacial properties, the frictional bond is achieved through single fiber pullout test. A study on the effect of inclination angle on fiber pullout behavior is also conducted.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2013

This work presents the tensile properties and water uptake behavior of plasma treated abaca fibers reinforced epoxy composites. The composites were prepared by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. The effects of treatment on tensile properties and sorption characteristics of abaca fiber composites in distilled water and salt solution at room temperature were investigated. The tensile strength of the composites increased with plasma treatment. With plasma treatment, an improvement of 92.9% was obtained in 2.5 min exposure time in plasma. This is attributed to high fiber-matrix compatibility. Less improvement on tensile properties of hybrid treatment of sodium hydroxide and plasma was obtained. However, both treatments reduced overall water uptake in distilled water and salt solution. Hydrophilicity of the fibers decreased upon plasma and sodium hydroxide treatment, which decreases water uptake.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.59-60
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to produce the low-carbon eco-friendly inorganic composite at room temperature by an alkali accelerator without firing process at high temperature, and complement the problem of previous studies, the deterioration in strength caused by cracking, with incorporation of PVA fibers. Results of reviewing the changes in the strength properties of PVA showed that test body mixed with PVA fibers had the superiority in strength expression.