Can the maximum volume fraction ensure optimum reinforcement in short‐fiber composites?

CRUCES, FLORENCIA; GARCÍA, MARÍA GUADALUPE; OCHOA, NELIO ARIEL

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: Hoboken NJ; Año: 2019

0021-8995

Short sisal fiber composites (SSFCs) based on a pectin matrix were prepared and characterized mechanical and optically.Different concentrations (1?30 wt %) of fibers were used to evaluate the packing effect on the reinforcement of a polymer matrix. Theoreticalmodels were used to obtain the maximum packing or volume fraction (ϕmax) of randomly oriented short fibers and its relationship with the mechanical parameters.A higher elastic modulus and tensile strength were observed when the fiber content was increased in the composite at a fixed aspect ratio (length/diameter = 2.8). Material selection charts showed that SSFCs with a fiber concentration of 20 wt % had a higher reinforcement effect at ϕmax, as was predicted through theoretical models. Nevertheless, SSFCs with a fiber concentration of 7 wt % presented optimum reinforcement because it resulted in the strongest and lightest composite material.