Affordable Bio-polymer Matrix Composites for Lightweight Vehicular Structures Automotive News Conference June 13-15, 2005 Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, AL by A. Haque 1, D. Daly 2 and R. Rogers 3 1 Associate Professor, Dept. of Aero. Engineering & Mechanics 2 Director AIME, 3 Director Center of Green Manufacturing, The University of Alabama
Goals : To achieve efficient, safe and environmentally friendly vehicles Objectives : To develop, characterize and analyze a) Long/Short fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites b) Bio-polymer matrix composites ThrustsClients Lightweight General Motor Fuel Efficient Daimler Chrysler Low Emission Ford Bio-degradable Applications : Interior and exterior body parts, Chassis components Advanced Vehicle Technology
Current Research Areas Process Development -Long/Short fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites -Cellulose based thermoplastic composites -Hybrid Nanocomposites Investigation of Structures and Properties -Dispersion, void contents, Glass Transition Temperature, Strength, Modulus, Failure Strains Fiber-Matrix Interface -Surface Treatment -Stress Analysis -Stress Transfer 2-D unit cell stress transfer model oo L Y X 2L eff b a oo platelet matrix
Ionic Liquid Process Filtering Dissolving Reconstitution Pulp [C 4 mim]Cl Steam water
Process Development for Cellulose based Bio- Composites through Ionic Liquid Route
Process Development: Long/Short Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic PPN resin Heated die Pulling Mechanism Cutter Pultrusion Fiber Cooling channels Melt feed(PPHN) ExtrusionCompression Molding
Tensile Properties of Cellulose Film & PP- Cellulose Composites Material MAPP (%) Failure Strength MPa Failure Strain mm/mm Yield Stress MPa Yield Strain mm/ mm Elastic Modulus GPa PP sheet PP- Cellulose PP- Cellulose Cellulose Film PP Film
Effects of MAPP concentration on Flexural & Interlaminar Shear Properties of PP-Cellulose Composites Material FlexuralInterlaminar MAPP (%) Ultimate Failure Strength MPa Failure Strain mm/mm Yield Stress MPa Yield Strain mm/mm Elastic Modulus GPa Shear Strength MPa Polypropylene-37 MPa PP-Cellulose MPa PP-Cellulose1.028 MPa Fractured specimen
Flexural Properties of various Natural Fibers/ Polypropylene (PP) Composites Material Failure Strength MPa Failure Strain mm/mm Yield Stress MPa Yield Strain mm/mm Elastic Modulus GPa PP-Coir PP-Jute PP-Kantala PP-Palm