Discipline: Nanoscience or Materials Science
Subcategory: Materials Science
Session: 2
Room: Senate
Azizi Turner - Tuskegee University
Co-Author(s): Dr. Zaheer. Mohammad, Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University; Ezekiel Mills, Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University; Dr. Mohamed Abdalla, Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University; Dr. Maria Auad Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University; Dr. Shaik Jeelani, Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University; Dr. Shaik Zainuddin, Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University
Jute fiber reinforced polymer composite (Jute-MWCNTs-PHBV) is a natural fiber that is used to replace synthetic fiber reinforced composites like (Carbon fiber, Glass fiber and Kevlar fiber) by adding small increments of Multi-Walled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) polymer to improve the jute mechanical and thermal properties. The goals for this research are to fabricate an ecofriendly alternative that could be used in the industry such as automotive, aircraft or construction. We believe adding MWCNTs into the PHBV matrix will improve the crystallization of the PHBV in which should mechanical and thermal properties of the Jute fiber reinforced composite. The jute fibers were first treated by using an alkali treatment to improve the bonding between the PHBV polymer and jute fiber. The fabrication process consists of MWCNTs-PHBV made in a film form and the jute fiber and MWCNTs-PHBV film stacked on top of each other. The top and bottom consists of MWCNTs-PHBV film, and the stacked film is placed into a compression mold at 170°C to melt the film so that the polymer can bond with the fiber. The mechanical and thermal results show that the addition of MWCNTs improves the mechanical properties by 30% compared to the untreated Jute fiber during the flexure test and the short beam test. For the dynamic mechanical analysis experiment, the Jute-MWCNTs-PHBV had a higher storage modulus compared to the untreated jute fiber composite and Jute-PHBV composite. Jute-MWCNT-PHBV had a 29% increase compared to untreated Jute-PHBV fiber reinforced composite. The Jute-MWCNTs-PHBV had lower loss modulus and tan delta compared to the treated and untreated Jute-PHBV fiber reinforced composite. In conclusion, the addition of MWCNTs in the PHBV polymer improved the mechanical and thermal properties of the jute fiber. It is a good alternative to use industries such as automotive, aircraft and construction. Future work includes seeing which percentage of MWCNTs will improved the mechanical and thermal properties of Jute-PHBV.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF CREST and AL ESPCoR
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shaik Zainuddin, szainuddin@tuskegee.edu
Role: I did most of my research by fabricating the fiber reinforced composite and inserting the nanoparticles into the PHBV polymer. I got help from my colleagues with running experiments on my samples.