Title: Effect of different types of aramid fibres on mechanical and thermal properties of nano-cellulose composites for vehicle applications

Authors: Mohamed H. Gabr, Kaho Matsuoka, Kazuya Okubo, Toru Fujii

Addresses: 10 Adnan el-Malky Street, Ard Soultan, El-Minia, Egypt. ' YM224, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyo-Tanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan. ' YM224, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyo-Tanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe-city, Kyoto, 610-0394, Japan

Abstract: Natural-fibre composites have been embraced by car manufacturers and suppliers for door panels, seat backs, headliners, package trays, dashboards, and interior parts. Natural fibres offer such benefits as reductions in weight, cost, and CO₂. Eco-friendly green/composites were fabricated from nano-cellulose and bacterial cellulose (BC) reinforced by aramid fibres (AF). The purpose of this study is to propose an effective form of AF as reinforcement in cellulose composites instead of expensive conventional materials for interior car parts. Technora (AFT) and Kevlar29 (AFK) with fibre length 1 mm and 5 mm (AFT1, AFT5, AFK1, and AFK5) were used as reinforcement. These materials were characterised by different techniques, namely SEM, TGA, tensile, bending, and hardness tests. All composites showed good dispersion for fibres and strong adhesion between the fibres and the matrix. The composites prepared with BC displayed better flexural and Young|s modulus, hardness and significant decrease for the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Keywords: nanocomposites; aramid fibres; mechanical properties; thermal properties; nanotechnology; natural-fibre composites; nanocellulose; bacterial cellulose; interior automotive parts; interior vehicle components; bending tests; tensile tests; hardness tests.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2010.036681

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2010 Vol.6 No.2/3/4, pp.118 - 129

Available online: 05 Nov 2010 *

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