Md Salah Uddin^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.4, pp. 1051-1073, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.070688 - 26 December 2025

Abstract Carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs) have a wide range of applications in the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors. A higher specific strength-to-weight ratio is desired in high-performance applications. The failure mechanism of CFRCs involves multiscale phenomena, such as failure that can occur at the matrix, fibers, interface, layers, lamina, and laminates. When an impactor hits the CFRCs, the design involves analyzing each of these stages to prevent failure and optimize the properties of CFRCs under various loading conditions. A numerical model was employed to predict the fracture toughness of CFRCs with varying weight fractions and orientations.… More >

Minjie Li¹, Wanhao Shi¹, Dingqian Yang², Manman Yuan², Jiabao Du², Xuandong Liu^1,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.10, pp. 4297-4312, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.066337 - 30 September 2025

Abstract In Xinjiang, China, Oil-immersed paper bushings used in reactors are highly susceptible to discharge breakdown faults due to drastic fluctuations in environmental and oil temperatures. To mitigate this problem, oil-free and explosion-proof epoxy resin-impregnated paper (ERIP) bushings are recommended as replacements. This study develops a multi-physics(electric-thermal-fluid) coupling model for 750 kV high voltage reactors ERIP bushings. The model aims to comprehensively assess their thermal and electrical performance under extreme ambient temperatures ranging from −40°C to 90°C and oil temperatures varying from −10°C to 90°C. The results demonstrate that the bushing temperature rises consistently with increases… More >

Ashwini Bhat¹, Nagaraj N. Katagi¹, M. C. Gowrishankar², Manjunath Shettar^2,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.85, No.2, pp. 2715-2728, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.069842 - 23 September 2025

Abstract This research explores the water uptake behavior of glass fiber/epoxy composites filled with nanoclay and establishes an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict water uptake percentage from experimental parameters. Composite laminates are fabricated with varying glass fiber and nanoclay contents. Water absorption is evaluated for 70 days of immersion following ASTM D570-98 standards. The inclusion of nanoclay reduces water uptake by creating a tortuous path for moisture diffusion due to its high aspect ratio and platelet morphology, thereby enhancing the composite’s barrier properties. The ANN model is developed with a 3–4–1 feedforward structure and learned… More >

Kartikey Shahi, Velmurugan Ramachandran^*, Ranjith Mohan, Boomurugan Ramachandran

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.2, pp. 477-496, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.062481 - 14 July 2025

Abstract A Shape Memory Polymer Composite (SMPC) is developed by reinforcing an epoxy-based polymer with randomly oriented short glass fibers. Diverging from previous research, which primarily focused on the hot programming of short glass fiber-based SMPCs, this work explores the potential for programming below the glass transition temperature (Tg) for epoxy-based SMPCs. To mitigate the inherent brittleness of the SMPC during deformation, a linear polymer is incorporated, and a temperature between room temperature and Tg is chosen as the deformation temperature to study the shape memory properties. The findings demonstrate an enhancement in shape fixity and More >

Yongming Li, Dingyuan Zhang^*, Yadong Chen, Jiandu Ye

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.2, pp. 261-277, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.060033 - 06 March 2025

Abstract Resin plugging agents play a pivotal role in addressing casing damage in oil and gas fields. However, the widespread use of epoxy resin is constrained by its high cost and non-renewable origin, while plant-based resins often suffer from inadequate mechanical properties, which limit their effectiveness in such applications. This study introduces BEOPA, an innovative, renewable, high-strength resin plugging agent derived from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and enhanced with bisphenol A-type benzoxazine (BZ). In this study, the synthesis process, reaction mechanism, and application performance of this novel material are systematically presented, explored and optimized. It is… More >

Jéssica da Silva Chagas^1,2, José Elson Soares Filho^1,2, Natália Fernanda Inocêncio Silva^1,2, Marcelo Massayoshi Ueki³, Eliton Souto de Medeiros^1,2, Renate Maria Ramos Wellen¹, Mauricio Pinheiro de Oliveira⁴, Gelsoneide da Silva Gois⁵, Yêda Medeiros Bastos de Almeida⁵, Amélia S. F. Santos^1,2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.12, pp. 2079-2094, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.055361 - 20 December 2024

Abstract Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biothechnological and biodegradable thermoplastic polymer from the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) family, whose chain regularity, high molecular weight, and physical and mechanical properties comparable to polypropylene (PP) are characteristics that have made PHB a prominent commercial bioplastic. Nevertheless, its susceptibility to thermal degradation and hydrolysis has limited many applications. To address the challenges associated with processing, a random copolymer of 95.86 mol% 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4.14 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (referred as PHB) was compounded without (neat PHB) and with 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt% of chain extender (Joncryl^®ADR 4368), consisting of multifunctional epoxy groups, and… More >

Subburayan Manickavasagam Suresh Kumar¹, Sundaravel Balachandran², Seong Cheol Kim³, Balamurugan Rathinam^4,*, Vanaraj Ramkumar^3,5,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 207-218, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.057901 - 16 December 2024

Abstract The present study focuses on sustainable biopolymer composites created from coconut sheath and basalt fibres, which are biodegradable, environmentally benign, and have low carbon footprints. High specific strength, superior mechanical performance, reduced weight, and improved thermal stability are all displayed by these materials. Four hybrid epoxy composites (C1–C4) were produced utilizing five stacking sequences and compression moulding, demonstrating that hybridization considerably enhances mechanical characteristics. The hybrid and pure basalt fibre composites have larger storage moduli than untreated coconut sheath fibre-reinforced epoxy (2.1 GPa). The greatest glass transition temperature (Tg) for C4 has been determined to More > Graphic Abstract

Aswinraj Anbazhagan¹, Piyali Roy Choudhury¹, Sahila Sambandam², Jayakumari Lakshmanan Saraswathi^1,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 299-313, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.056261 - 16 December 2024

Abstract Petroleum-based cured epoxy polymers, used widely in aerospace, marine, and automotive industries, pose environmental threats due to their toxicity. Therefore, developing alternative curing systems for epoxy resin is crucial. This study explores the use of bio-based phenalkamines as curing agents for epoxy resin to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer composites and fiber-reinforced laminates. The functional groups, morphology, and thermal properties of the composites were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties of two epoxy systems—EP-TETA (triethylenetetramine-cured) and EP-PA (phenalkamine-cured)—were evaluated according to ASTM standards. More > Graphic Abstract

Somasundaram Karthiyaini¹, Mohan Sasikumar^2,*, Abraham Jebamalar³, P. A. Prasob²

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 219-237, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.053829 - 16 December 2024

Abstract This manuscript presents the projectile impact behavior of hybrid jute/epoxy composite laminates using an instrumented air gun impact setup with the projectile moving in the vertical direction. An approach based on the stiffness change is used to predict the projectile impact response of hybrid jute epoxy-filled laminates impacted with a stainless-steel projectile. The experimental validation of the parameters like dynamic hardness (Hd) coefficient of restitution (COR), natural frequency, damping factor, and loss factor was used to analyze the impact behavior of jute/epoxy composites strengthened with fillers ZrO₂, ZnO, and TiO₂. The free vibration tests of the More >

Zhoucheng Su^1,*, Dan Wang¹, Yucheng Zhong²

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012259

Abstract In this study, we developed a micromechanical model for exploring the longitudinal tensile behavior of unidirectional discontinuous flax fiber reinforced epoxy composites, emphasizing the significant roles of the aspect ratio of fibers and fiber-matrix interfacial properties. Representative volume elements (RVEs) are built using a novel approach which accounts for the randomness of the fiber distribution, discontinuity of the fibers, and the modeling of the interfaces as cohesive zone elements.
Finite element simulations of the RVEs under longitudinal tension were performed with proper periodic boundary conditions (PBCs). We investigated how fiber aspect ratio, interfacial properties and matrix… More >