Poor wetting leads to underperforming composite properties and has been a major obstacle in implementing low cost carbon fibers in SMC parts. The objective of this project is to solve the technical challenge of poor carbon fiber wet-through during Sheet Molding Composite (SMC) process. Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) partnered with ORNL to develop a new sizing technique called Point Sizin...

Current research finds the suitability of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites for industrial, automotive, marine, aerospace, and military vehicle applications, among others; they process being lightweight, high strength, ecofriendly, recyclable, biodegradable. Bamboo fiber (Bambusoideae) mat, groundnut shell (Cocos nucifera) powder, copper particle, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) ...

UNLABELLED This pilot study compared impact strain at the core and root surfaces between two different post-core systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS The form of a bovine mandibular front tooth was modified to resemble that of a human maxillary incisor as a test specimen. A cast post and core (Metal PC) and composite resin and glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin post (Fiber-Resin PC) system were tes...

Carbon fiber electrodes are crucial for the detection of catecholamine release from vesicles in single cells for amperometry measurements. Here, we describe the techniques needed to generate low noise (<0.5 pA) electrodes. The techniques have been modified from published descriptions by previous researchers (1,2). Electrodes are made by preparing carbon fibers and threading them individually in...

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Resinous die materials have several important advantages including strength, abrasion resistance, and detail reproduction. Despite these advantages, the shrinkage of resinous die materials during polymerization has limited their widespread acceptance. PURPOSE This study determined whether a retarded setting reaction could improve the accuracy of an epoxy resin die system,...

Carbon fiber composite materials are increasingly being used in the design and fabrication of transportation vehicles. In particular, the aviation industry is increasing transitioning from metals to this class of composites due to the high strength and low weight of the materials. Most aviation structural composites are thermoset, meaning they require thermal processing to harden the epoxy. In ...

Vapor-grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNF) were functionalized with amine-containing pendants via a Friedel–Crafts acylation reaction with 4-(3-aminophenoxy)benzoic acid. The resulting H2N-VGCNF was treated with epichlorohydrin, followed by sodium hydroxide solution to afford N,N-diglycidyl-modified VGCNF that is designated as epoxy-VGCNF. Subsequently, epoxy-VGCNF was dispersed in an epoxy resin (E...

The optimization of fiber-matrix adhesion is a persistent challenge in any fiber-based composite materials. Usually, commercial sizing agents are applied to carbon fiber surfaces, but these unknown complex mixtures proprietary nature. Here, naturally derived terpenes, borneol and terpeniol, were chemically modified used as for fibers. To tailor the surface interactions, fibers possessing enrich...

Fiber-reinforced composites are increasingly used as an outer shell of sporting helmets alternative to conventional thermoplastic shells like Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyurethane (PU), and polycarbonate (PC) for improved protection. The current research presents a detailed study manufacture novel woven carbon/Elium® (WEL) composite investigate the details based on impact tests fo...