Impact of gamma radiation and multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the mechanical and acoustical properties of reinforced sisal fiber/polyester resin composites

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 189; p. 109768
• Main Authors: Abdel-Hakim, A., Awad, Eman H., El-Nemr, Khaled F., El-Basheer, Tarek M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Absorption; Acoustic; Acoustic properties; Composite materials; Damping; Dynamic mechanical analysis; Flexural strength; Gamma radiation; Gamma rays; Industrial applications; Irradiation; Mechanical properties; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Polyester resins; Polyesters; Radiation; Sisal; Sound transmission; Storage modulus; Tensile strength; Mechanical properties; Gamma radiation; Acoustic; Dynamic mechanical analysis
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2021.109768

In this work, the effect of exposure to 5 kGy of Gamma radiation and the addition of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in different concentration 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 wt% to sisal fiber/unsaturated polyester resin (SF-UP) composites (40/60) on the mechanical and acoustical properties was investigated. An enhancement in the mechanical properties was achieved by addition MWCNT up to 0.4%, and then decreased at 0.6%. Also, irradiation of the composite manifested an enhancement in the mechanical properties more than unirradiated ones. The tensile strength and flexural strength of irradiated SF-UP composite which contains 0.4% MWCNT were higher than unirradiated SF-UP composite which contains 0% MWCNT by 73.2 and 91.9%, respectively. The addition of MWCNT and exposure to 5 kGy of gamma radiation increased both the storage modulus and the Tg while the damping factor (tan δ) decreased. Increasing the MWCNT % enhanced the sound absorption at the higher frequencies (0.6% MWCNT (unirradiated)∼0.9 within 5000–6300 Hz), while the irradiation shifted the highest absorption toward lower frequencies (0.6% MWCNT (irradiated)∼0.63 within 2500–3150 Hz). The produced composite displayed appreciable mechanical and acoustical properties which makes it as a new partner for many advanced industrial applications.
•Sisal fiber/unsaturated polyester resin (SF-UP) composite was reinforced by MWCNT.•The optimum mechanical properties were obtained at 0.4% MWCNT at 5 kGy.•The addition of MWCNT % increased the sound absorption at the higher frequencies.•The irradiation shifted the highest Sound absorption toward lower frequencies.