“Investigation of the mechanical behavior of pre-tensioned vegetable fiber reinforced composites” Doctoral Thesis

Author, institution: Anne Širvaitienė, Kaunas University of Technology

Science area, field: Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering (08T)

The Doctoral Dissertation is available at the library of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio St. 20, Kaunas).

Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Virginija JANKAUSKAITĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T)

Dissertation defence board of Materials Engineering Science Field:

Prof. Dr. Rimvydas MILAŠIUS (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T) – chairperson;
Dr. Erika ADOMAVIČIŪTĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T);
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mindaugas ANDRULEVIČIUS (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T);
Dr. Remo MERIJS MERI (Riga Technical University, Latvia, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T);
Prof. Dr. Habil. Ričardas MAKUŠKA (Vilnius University, Physical Sciences, Chemistry – 03P).

Annotation:

To reduce the environmental impact and the price, attempts are made to replace synthetic reinforcement fibers with biodegradable vegetable fibers. Although, insufficient fiber-matrix adhesion and lower mechanical properties of vegetable fibers, related with their hierarchical heterogeneous structure and weak orientation of fibrils and fiber bundles, determines the lower mechanical properties of biocomposites.
To improve the mechanical properties of vegetable fibers, the fiber pre-tensioning is proposed. This method could significantly improve the mechanical behavior of vegetable fiber reinforced biocomposites and thereby expand the field of application and to improve environmental conditions. In addition, the replacement of the traditional textile treatment methods used for the improvement of fiber-matrix interaction by environmentally-friendly low-pressure plasma and yarn twisting techniques could reduce water pollution.
The fiber pre-tension technique could not only improve the mechanical properties of fibrous reinforcement and reduce their price, but also allow the forming of the sequence of complex three-dimensional composite parts and thereby create a precondition for mechanized industrial manufacturing.