Nine great benefits of reciting the Quran

1.

Reading and reflecting over the Quran fulfils an Islamic

duty

2.

The Quran will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment

3.

The Quran will intercede for us on the

4.

Your status in this life will be raised Day of Judgment

5.

You will be from the best of the people

6.

There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the
Quran

7.

The reciters of the Quran will be in the company of the

noble and obedient angels

8.

Your position in Paradise is determined by the amount of

Quran you memorize in this life!

9.

The Quran will lead you to Paradise!

Previous Classes:
Definition

of composite
Matrix and reinforcement
Classification of composite
Examples of natural composites
Factors influencing composites
properties

Matrix properties
Reinforcement properties
Composition (ratio) of matrix vs reinforcement
Interface
Processing

Benefit of using composite materials

Chapter 2
Reinforcements and
the Reinforcements - Matrix
Interface

Contents
Natural

Fibres
Synthetic Fibres
Synthetic Organic Fibres (Aramid, PE fibre)
Synthetic Inorganic Fibres (Glass, Alumina,
Boron, Carbon, Silicon based)

Particulate

and Whisker
Reinforcements (SiC, etc)
Reinforcement Matrix Interface
Wettability
Interfacial bonding
Bond strength measurement

Natural fibers
Natural fibres such as cotton, silk,
wool are widely used for textiles, twine
and rope.
The strength and stiffness of these
fibres are low, compared to the
synthetic fibres.

Divisions of natural fibers

(Gassan & Bledzki 1999)
Fibers

Plant Fibers

Hair Fibers

Bast Fibers

Animal Fibers

Hard Fibers

Wool

Mineral Fibers

Silks

Flax
Cotton
Kapok

Kenaf
Jute
Ramie

Sisal
Henequen

Angora
Horse Hair

Silk
Wild Silks

Comparison on properties of NF & SF

Natural fibers of interest in

recent
Bamboo
Fibres from oil palm empty fruit bunch
(EFB)
Pineapple leaf
Sisal fibres
Rice husk (particles)

Mechanical properties of bamboo

Bamboo
(across
the fibre)

Bamboo
(along the
fibre)

Density
(10^3kg
m^- 3 )

Tensile
Strength
(MN m^-2)

Elongation
(ram)

Flexural
Strength
(MN m^-2)

Deflection
(mm)

Impact
strength
(kJ m^- 2)

0.802

8.6 ( 1.02)

0.10

9.04 (0.3)

Fibres
split

3.02 (1.08)

0.802

200.5
(7.08)

10.2

230.09
(9.06)

6.3

63.54 (4.63)

Empty Fruit Bunch Fibre

Oil Palm

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB)

4-Stage Dryer (20HP &

15HP) with dust
remover
system
- further reduces the
moisture

EFB Roller Crusher (30HP)

To loosen and remove the fruit
lets
from hard and unstripped
bunches

EFB Shredder & EFB Press (75HP)

-to shred before press machine
-to extract the press liquor from bunch
- moisture content in EFB after press 5
- oil content EFB after press 0.2 0.3 to

Strand Fibre after Hammer

Hammer Mill (50HP)

- to break down fibre into single
fibre strands

Strand Fibre

Bailing Machine

Bailed Fibre

Bailed Fibre ready for mark

Process
COMPOSITION OF EFB
Moisture content - 70 75%
Fibre - 23 25%
Oil content (wet basis) - 3.5 4.0%
PROCESSED FIBRE
Strands Fibre size 3 10" (75
250mm)
Bailed Fibre: weight 80 90 kg
Dimension - 20" W x 30" L x 20" H
(510mm x 760mm x 510mm)

Advantages of EFB Fibre

Availability
Renewability
Low

cost
Established technology to extract
the fibres
Non- hazardous

Disadvantages of EFB
fibres
Poor

compatibility between
hydrophobic polymer-matrix and
the hydrophilics fibres
Poor resistance to moisture
Limited processing temperature
Low dimensional stability

Applications of EFB Fibre

produce

bio-oil from empty fruit

bunches (EFB) of oil palm waste
using fast pyrolysis technology
Residential housing components
- fibre cement composite
Empty Fruit Bunch Application
as a Nutrient Source in Oil
Palm which are excellent
substitutes for inorganic fertilizer.

 Empty

fruit bunches (EFB), besides being

rich in plant nutrients, also improve soil
physical and chemical properties in the
following manner when used as mulch.
i. Increases soil organic matter content.
ii. Improves soil structure.
iii.Increase infiltration and aeration.
iv.Reduces run-off.
v. Improves soil water retention.
vi.Increases soil fauna micro activity.
vii.Increases cation exchange capacity.
viii.Reduces soil temperature fluctuation

PINEAPPLE
LEAF FIBRE

INTRODUCTION
Pineapple

leaf is categorized in
group of natural fiber
Local name-Pineapple
Scientific name-Ananas cosomus
Bromeliaceae family

Potential

as reinforcement in
thermoplastic composite
PALF can be used as reinforcement
due to high mechanical properties

Pictures/Structure

Celluloses

Optical Micrograph of Cross Section of PALF ( 160 magnification)

(Mukherjee et al., 1986)

PALF

is multi-cellular and lignocelluloses

materials extracted from the leave of
plant by retting (separation of fabric
bundles from the cortex).
PALF has a ribbon-like structure and is
cemented together by lignin
which contribute to the strength of the
fibre
The excellent mechanical properties of
PALF due to high cellulose and low
microfibrillar angel

Constituents

of ECO-PALF:

-cellulose

74.44%

Hemicellulose

13.39%

Lignin

7.12%

Pectic matter

2.89%

Aqueous extract

0.58%

Processing
PALF

is contained in the spiky leaves

of pineapple
These leaves were pressed using
two-roll mill to remove circa 90 % of
the water content
Fibres were extracted manually from
these semi-dried leaves by knife or
sharp edge tool.
Then fibres were chopped into
certain size and undergone cleaning
steps

Rapic Two-roll Mill Machine Used for Remove Water and

Composite
Compounding

Long PALF Extracted from Raw Leaf

Chopped PALF

The

short fibres were then undergone

cleaning steps where they were
washed thoroughly in 2 % detergent
solution at 70C followed by tape
water.
this removed most of the foreign
objects and impurities inside the
fibres.
dried in oven at 70C for 24 hours
before characterizing and chemical
treatment for further processing

Advantages
Biodegradable

Recycling agricultural waste

Reduce CO2 emission
Cheap

alternative and compatible to already

existing synthetic fiber
Natural-based product - not harm to human
Low cost (abundantly available), low density
(higher specific strength and stiffness) and low
energy type of fibre (low carbon released).
Can be easily process for industrial purposes
without any additional cost (raw material is highly
abundant)

Disadvantages
lack of good interfacial adhesion
poor resistance to moisture absorption

Applications
Use

for making traditional dresses

Wedding attire, kimonos, blousses

Pineapple silk is, in fact, considered the
queen of Philippine fabrics.
Table

linens

Bags
Mats
Anything

that are lightweight but

stiff and sheer fabric is needed

Sisal Fibre

INTRODUCTION
Sisal

fibers, which are extracted from the

leaves of the sisal plant.
Scientific name = Agave sisalana.
Planted in Brazil in 1903 in the state of
Bahia.
Nowadays, Brazil is the largest producer
of sisal fiber in the world and responds for
56% of the international trade.
(Li et al. 2000 & Pongprayoon, 2008)

The sisal leaf contains three types

of fibres: (Li et al. 2000)
The

mechanical fibres are mostly extracted

from the periphery of the leaf.
Ribbon fibres occur in association with the
conducting tissues in the median line of the
leaf.
Xylem fibres have an irregular shape and
occur opposite the ribbon fibres through the
connection of vascular bundles

SEM IMAGE
(Barreto et al. 2011)

TEM IMAGE
(Rodriguez et al. 2006)

Sisal nanofibre or nanowhiskers

Chemical Composition
(Pongprayoon, 2008)

Cellulose (%)

6778

Lignin (%)

8.011.0

Hemicellulose (%)

10.014.2

Physical Properties

(Pongprayoon, 2008 & Joseph et al. 1999)

Physical Properties
Fibre
Type

Diameter Length
(m) (m)

Density
(g cm-3)

Moisture
content
(%)

Sisal

100-300 1.0 -1.5

1.450

11.0

Mechanical Properties
(Pongprayoon, 2008)

Fibre Tensile Elongation Youngs Toughness

Type strength
(%)
modulus
(MN m-2)
(Mpa)
(GPa)
Sisal

468-640

3-7

9.4-2.2

1250

Sisal Fiber Process

Sisal

fiber made from the process of decortication.

Leaves are crushed and beaten by a rotating wheel
set with blunt knives, so that only fibers remain.
Decorticated fibers are washed before drying under
the sun or by hot air.
The fiber quality depends upon moisture content so
proper drying is important.
To get better grades of fiber artificial drying has been
found in place of sun drying. Dry fiber are machine
combed and sorted into size and groups.

Cut the sisal plant leafs

Drying process

Wash the fiber

before drying

crushed and beaten by a

rotating wheel

Advantages
Biodegradable
Renewable
Recyclable
Do

not present any health risk

Consume very low energy
(Silvaa, Chawlab, & Filho, 2009)
higher elastic modulus, increased impact
strength and moderate tensile and flexion
strengths.
(Pavithran et al. , 1987)

Application
Door

trim panel for volkswagen-Audi.

Reinforce durable cement composite.
(Silvaa, Chawlab, & Filho, 2009)
Automobile part: internal lining to cabin sides
and ceiling, head support and seat back,
external sun protection accessories (sun
strips), instrument board, tool bags, and
bumper.
(Morassi, 1994)

RICE HUSK PARTICLES

INTRODUCTION

Natural fibers have been used to reinforce materials

for over 3,000 years. More recently they have been
employed in combination with plastics.

Rice husk are the typical fibers which have been

widely studied due to their suitability as filler in
polymer composites.

major food crop in many regions of the world

Rice husk (RH) is a cellulosic-based fiber, which has

been widely utilized in the manufacture of
composite panels (Ndazi 2001; Vasishth 1971)

Physical Properties of Rice Husk

Fiber

Pictures /
Structure

Traditional Processing

Production of rice husk

Rice

husk is produced in the first

step in the milling process when
the husk is removed from the
grain in thehusking stageof the
rice mill.

Processing
Figure 1: Schematic of the process
involved in the production of RH
particleboards

Processing
Figure 2: Process Flow Diagram For
Producing RH Ceiling Board

Advantages
The main advantages of using RH as
biodegradable filler are their low cost,
low density, high specific strength and
modulus, and recyclability (Ismail et
al. 2001; Ndazi 2001).
It has been shown that the use of RH
in natural rubber/ linear low-density
polyethylene composite results in an
increase in tensile modulus and
hardness (Mwaikambo & Ansell 1999).

Advantages
The reasons behind the use of RH
in the construction industry are
high availability, low bulk density
(90-150kg/m3)
toughness
abrasive in nature
resistance to weathering

Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of using
RH as reinforcing filler for
composite material is the poor
interaction between rice husk
particle and polymer matrix
(Avella et al. 1998).

Applications
as

silicon carbide whiskers to

reinforced ceramic cutting tools
as aggregates and fillers for
concrete and board production