Non-woven flax fibre reinforced acrylic based polyester composites: The effect of sodium silicate on mechanical, flammability and acoustic properties

eXPRESS Polymer Letters

M. F. Ahmad Rasyid¹ 

关键词: polymer composites;    thermosetting resins;    mechanical properties;    non-woven flax fibre mat;    acoustic properties;   

DOI  :  10.3144/expresspolymlett.2019.47

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: eXPRESS Polymer Letters

【 摘 要 】

Non-woven flax fibre reinforced acrylic-based polyester (NFA) composites were prepared using an impregnationprocess. A mixture of acrylic-based polyester (Acrodur®) with varying sodium silicate (SS) loadings was applied to impregnatethe non-woven flax fibre mat. Flexural tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composites.Flammability properties were assessed via UL94 test and limiting oxygen index (LOI). The mechanical properties of NFAcomposites decreased substantially with increment in SS loading. The addition of SS resulted in significant improvement offlame retardancy, whereby UL94 rating enhanced from V-1 to V-0, while the LOI values increased from 24 to 40. Sound absorptioncoefficients of the NFA composites were measured via two-microphone transfer function technique in impedancetube. The sound absorption properties of NFA composites also improved with the incorporation of SS, whereby the soundabsorption coefficient increased up to 0.87 at 2000 Hz frequency. Based on the overall evaluation, 20 wt% of SS effectivelyincreased flame retardancy and sound absorption properties, along with moderate deterioration in flexural properties. Thescanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the composites surfaces displayed formation of voids and irregular structuresat higher SS loading, which reduced the mechanical properties of NFA composites. The SEM images offered supportiveevidences on the role of hollow lumen structures in natural fibres to ensure better sound absorption performance in NFAcomposites.

【 授权许可】

CC BY