A research project on “The

Development and
Characterization of Fire-
retarding Flax Fiber
Reinforced Green Sandwich
Composites.
Presented by:
Group # 11
Muneer Ahmad (2016-PE-40)
Yusra Khalid (2016-PE-11)
Wajahat Ghulam Rasool (2016-PE-12)
Supervised by:
Dr. Atif Javaid
Why this
Project?
 Introduction

Literature review

Contents Methodology

Characterization techniques

Gant chart
 When two or more than
Matrix and reinforcement
two materials combined
are two main components
chemically or physically to
of a composite
form a single product

A matrix material may be

A reinforcement may be of
of thermoplastic resin-like
Introduction synthetic fibers (Carbon,
Glass) and Natural Fibers
(flax, jute, and cotton)
polyester, polypropylene
or thermosetting
polymers like epoxy

Natural fibers are

Synthetic fibers have a
biodegradable and
problem of non-
environmentally friendly
biodegradability and non-
in nature helps to form
recyclability
green composites
 Green sandwich composite will be
developed in this research

Continue….
Flax fiber will be used as a
reinforcement, chemically treated
epoxy will be used as a adhesive
matrix material, and PVC foam
will be used as a core material
Terms used Terms used in this research
• Green composites
in this •
•
Flax fibers
Core material
research •
•
Alkalization
Fire retardants
• Epoxy resin
• Ammonium hydroxide
Literature review
Name of research paper
Effect of surface treatment on the Panayiotis Georgiopoulos et al. in 2016
performance of Flax/biodegradable
composites
Flax/bio epoxy composites under Abdul Moudood et al. in 2019
different environmental conditions
Author name and publishing date
Work
• Fiber and matrix give poor-adhesion
due to which show low mechanical
properties.
• Surface treat was accomplished by
silanization, plasticization and
treatment with maleic anhydride.
• Surface treatment improved the
fiber-matrix adhesion.
• Environmental conditions can
degrade the mechanical properties
of the bio-composites.
• So, durability and mechanical
performance were evaluated.
Mechanical properties were
degraded by water ageing.
• Tensile strength and modulus was
decreased on immersing in water.
warmed humid environment and
freezing-thawing cycles have very
little effect on composites.
• These can be regained partially after
drying.
Continue…..
Name of research paper Author’s name and date work
Flame retardancy and tensile properties M. N. Prabhakar et al. in 2017 • The effects of Ammonium
of thermoplastic starch/flax fabric green Polyphosphate (APP) on thermal
composites properties and flammability of
composites were studied.
• Limiting oxygen index (LOI) and
horizontal burning test (HBT) were
conducted and results showed that
all the composites have resistance to
fire because LOI was greater than 41
HBT rating was V-O.
• TFA composites had higher strength
than TPS composites indicated by
mechanical properties.
• The results of this study provide the
development of biodegradable and
flame-retardant composites with
improved mechanical properties
Name of research paper
Mechanical behavior of composite
Reinforcing mechanisms of
fibers in green composites
Author’s name and date
Susilendra Mutalikdesai et al. in 2017
natural V. Mazzanti et al. in 2019
work
• Studied the mechanical
performance of composites by using
natural fiber.
• Hand lay-up method was used.
• Performed different mechanical
tests like impact test, tensile test,
and flexural test.
• composite with a high percentage of
flax/basalt fiber show high tensile
strength, flexural strength or impact
strength
• Alkalization
• Long hemp fibers is shortened and
dried overnight with PLA pellets
under vacuum conditions to remove
moisture from it.
• Performed some major tests which
include alkaline treatment, tensile
etc.
• Maximizing the mechanical
performance of green composites
• Improved the quality of fiber-matrix
interface and also minimize the
number of fibers or fibers bundle
Experimentatio Fabrication
Different characterization
reinforced
used to green
of the fire retarded
checksandwich
techniques
flax will
all thecomposite
properties
fiber-
be
will and
be
n done
characteristics
in differentofways.
the components.
 Flax Fiber (FF)

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)

Triethylenetetramine (TETA)

Ammonium polyphosphate (APP)

Materials
PVC foam

Aluminum trihydrate (ATH)

Sodium hydroxide

Acetic acid
 Alkalization of flax fiber

Treatment of epoxy resin

Continue …..
Face sheet composites

Sandwich composition
 Mechanical and flame retarding
properties of composites are
determined by different
CHARACTERIZA characterization techniques.
TION
TECHNIQUES
OF In these techniques, the UL-94 test,
COMPOSITES LOI test, TGA, Tensile test, three-point
bending test, and In-plane shear test
have great importance. General
description of these is given below.
Continue ….
Characterization
techniques

Mechanical Thermal
characterization characterization

UL-94 Test of
Tensile test of composites
composites

Limiting Oxygen
Three-point Index (LOI) test of
bending test of composites
composite
Thermo
Gravimetric
In-plane shear Analysis (TGA) of
test of composite fire-retardant
resin
Gant Chart
Thank you