Key Engineering Materials Submitted: 2019-07-14

ISSN: 1662-9795, Vol. 858, pp 41-46 Revised: 2020-03-24

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.858.41 Accepted: 2020-03-25
© 2020 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland Online: 2020-08-14

Mechanical Properties of Hollow Glass Microspheres Filled Jute Woven

Comingled Composites
Habib Awais1,a, Yasir Nawab2,b, Adnan Amjad1,c, Aslina Anjang1,d
and M. Shukur Zainol Abidin1,e*
1
School of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300, Penang, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Engineering and Technology, National Textile University, 37610 Faisalabad, Pakistan
a
habib.awais07@gmail.com, byasir.nawab@yahoo.com, ca.adiamondstar@gmail.com,
d
aeaslina@usm.my, eaeshukur@usm.my

Keywords: Comingled fabric, mechanical properties, hollow glass microspheres, compression

moulding

Abstract. Hollow glass microsphere (HGM) filled jute composites were fabricated using woven
comingled fabric. Tensile, drop weight impact and Charpy impact tests were conducted to study the
effects of HGM to the jute laminates. The tensile properties were enhanced with the addition of
1.5 % HGM (19 % tensile strength and 6 % modulus) while further addition of HGM up to 3 %
decreased the tensile properties (16 % tensile strength and 19 % modulus). The impact strength was
improved by 10 % with the incorporation of 1.5 % HGM and an increase of 19 % was observed in
the 3 % HGM composites compared to the control composites.

Introduction
The rising environmental concern due to the global climate change have encourged scientists to
develop alternative materials to reduce fossil fuel consumption [1]. Furthermore, better fuel
economy is also another important reason to replace the conventional metal parts with light-weight
substitutes particularly in the automotive and aerospace industries [2]. In this scenario, fibre-
reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have emerged as the ideal substitute for the metal parts due to
the significant weight reduction. Various fibres are being used worldwide but low density, high
specific strength, biodegradability and low cost renders the natural fibres attractive for FRP
composite fabrication [3–5]. Jute fibre is among the cheapest natural fibres with the highest
production volume. Jute fibre is being aptly used in FRP composites due to low cost and easy
availability [6].
Thermoplastic composites are nowadays gaining importance because of higher fracture
toughness and elongation with short processing time in comparison with thermoset composites [7].
Higher viscosities of the thermoplastic matrix are a major hurdle in the development of high-quality
thermoplastic composites with better mechanical properties. High viscosity became more crucial
when the flow distance of the matrix is increased. Therefore, partially impregnated intermediate
materials are being developed to minimize the flow distance and enhance the proper impregnation
of the matrix with reinforcements. These intermediate materials can be in the form of comingled
yarn, comingled fabric or powder impregnated fibre bundles [8].
Nevertheless, a certain level of reinforcement improvement is still required from thermoplastic
composites for engineering applications. Various methods i.e. fibre chemical treatments [9],
inorganic fillers [10], etc. are being adopted for such improvements. The addition of inorganic
fillers in the composite material can significantly improve certain performance properties [11].
Hollow glass microspheres (HGM) [12] are inorganic fillers in powder form with a low density
which make it suitable for light-weight composites fabrication. Various studies were conducted on
the utilization of HGM with bamboo fibre [13], polypropylene and carbon short fibre [14] but the
synergetic effect of HGM with continuous jute fibre polypropylene composite is yet to be explored.
The main objective of this study is to develop light-weight thermoplastic composites using hollow

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42 Polymer Science and Engineering

glass microspheres and jute woven comingled fabric. The effect of HGM on mechanical properties
of composite is measured and compared with reference specimen (without HGM).

Experimental Detail
Materials. Jute yarn was supplied by Sargodha Jute Mills Limited, Pakistan with an average
count of 2.45±0.15 Ne while polypropylene filament yarn was purchased from Synthetic fibres,
Karachi, Pakistan with a fineness of 2400 D. Hollow glass microspheres (Sigma Aldrich) were
procured by Nano Life Quest Sdn Bhd, Malaysia in a particle size range of 9-13µm.
Comingled fabric formation. Comingled woven fabric was developed using Rapier Loom
(BeatMax ISL888-ΙΙ, Japan) keeping jute yarn in the warp direction and polypropylene yarn in weft
direction (Fig. 1) with 4/1 satin weave.

Fig. 1. Jute woven comingled fabric

Hollow glass microspheres filled Composite fabrication. Two different homogeneous
solutions were prepared by suspending hollow glass microspheres in water using mechanical stirrer.
Dip and dry method was adopted for the deposition of HGM on woven comingled fabrics. Cross-
ply composite laminates were fabricated with six plies of HGM deposited comingled fabrics using
compression moulding at 185 °C temperature and 3.4 MPa pressure.
Characterization. The Strip method as per ISO 13934-1 was deployed to measure tensile
properties of comingled fabric on LRX Plus Universal Strength Tester (Lloyd Instruments, USA).
The gauge length for the tested specimen was 200 mm. ASTM D3039 was adopted to determine
the tensile properties of the composite using a universal testing machine (Z100, Zwick/Roell,
Germany). The tensile test was conducted at room temperature with 2 mm/min cross head speed
and 120 mm gauge length. The impact properties were measured using drop weight and Charpy
impact testers as per ASTM D7136 and ISO 179 standards respectively. The impact energy was 5 J
for drop weight test while 50 J impact energy was used for the Charpy impact test.

Results and Discussion

Tensile testing. The tensile strength and extension of jute woven comingled fabric was
measured by strip method in both warp and weft direction. The tensile strength of comingled fabric
in the weft direction was higher compared to the warp direction (Fig. 2a) as polypropylene yarn was
inserted in the weft direction. This can be attributed to the higher strength of polypropylene yarn
when compared to jute yarn. The same trend was observed in the extension behavior of comingled
fabric in both directions. Fig. 2b represents the reinforcing effect of HGM on tensile properties of
fabricated composites. Incorporation of 1.5 % HGM has a positive effect on reinforcing properties.
Both the tensile strength and modulus values were enhanced by the addition of 1.5 % HGM. An
increment of 19 % in tensile strength and 6 % in modulus was observed compared to the composite
specimen without HGM. However, a sudden drop in tensile strength and modulus was observed by
 Key Engineering Materials Vol. 858 43

the incorporation of 3 % HGM. This decrease can be attributed to the agglomeration of HGM in the
composites. Due to this agglomeration, stress concentration areas were generated which reduces the
tensile strength and modulus of the fabricated composite specimens. Therefore, the addition of 3 %
HGM has resulted in a decrease of 16 % and 19 % to the tensile strength and modulus respectively.

(a) (b)

Fig. 2. Tensile properties of (a) jute comingled fabric having jute in warp direcion,
polypropylene in weft direction and (b) jute composites
The stress-strain curves of composite laminates (Fig. 3) shows that the composite specimens
have not failed catastrophically but rather behave like pseudo-plastic materials due to the crystalline
nature of the polypropylene yarn. The curves indicate that 1.5 % HGM reduced the strain-to-failure
in laminates hence impart brittlness to the composite laminates. This reduction in strain can be
ascribed to restricting the movement of molecular chains by the HGM [13]. However the addition
of 3 % HGM, the value of strain induced increased which may be due to the agglomeration and
debonding of hollow particles (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3. Tensile stress behavior of jute composites as function of strain (%)

44 Polymer Science and Engineering

Fig. 4. SEM images of HGM suspension in the composite laminates

Impact testing. Drop weight and Charpy impact tests were carried out on the composite
laminates to understand the effect of hollow particles on the impact properties. The load-deflection
curves (Fig. 5) have exhibited close contours which indicate the occurrence of rebounding
phenomena during the impact test. These contours also indicate that impactor does not penetrate in
to the composite specimens at the 5 J energy level. At the point of maximum travel, the energy from
the impactor has transferred to the specimen and then, the specimen transfer this stored energy back
to the impactor to rebound it back which give rise these closed contours [15].

Fig. 5. Load deflection curves by drop weight impact test

The kinetic energy from the impactor has caused the deformation in the laminates, as the
absorbed energy taken by the specimen is equivalent to the energy for damage creation according to
the principle of conservation of energy. The absorbed energy values of 1.5 % and 3 % HGM were
lower than the specimen without HGM (Table 1). These lower values shows that the specimen with
HGM are more impact resistant.
 Key Engineering Materials Vol. 858 45

Table 1. Drop weight impact properties of laminates

Volume fraction of Maximum travel
Material Absorbed energy (J)
HGM (%) distance (mm)
0 12.87 4.69
Jute 1.5 11.23 4.52
3 10.95 4.43

Similarly, the maximum travel distance of the impactor was observed in the specimen without
HGM which is also a clear indication of an inferior impact resistance of the specimens.
Comparatively, the impactor travels less distance in the specimens with HGM which indicates that
specimen had rebound it earlier. Therefore, the maximum travel distance had also validated the
improved impact resistance of HGM specimens.
The un-notched woven comingled composite laminates were tested by Charpy impact tester to
understand the impact behavior of specimens at 50 J energy level. The addition of HGM had
continuously improved the impact properties. A 10 % and 19 % increase in the impact strength of
laminates was observed with the addition of 1.5 % and 3 % HGM respectively (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Effect of HGM on charpy impact strength of jute laminates

Conclusion
Light-weight engineered composite laminates were successfully fabricated using hollow glass
microspheres and the strength analysis was carried out to understand the effect of HGM. The
addition of HGM had enhanced the tensile properties up to a certain limit. After that limit, tensile
properties tend to decrease due to agglomeration and less chemical affinity. While the impact
properties linearly increased for both 1.5 % and 3 % HGM.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to National Textile University, for financial
support under “Faculty development program” and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) under FRGS
203/PAERO/6071410 for the current research work.
46 Polymer Science and Engineering

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