Work

Green Fiber-Reinforced Laminates: Styrene-Free UPe with VTES-Functionalized ZrO2 and Flax Fabrics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Natural fiber-based composites are gaining attention as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fiber-reinforced materials. Herein, styrene-free unsaturated polyester (UPe) nanocomposites and flax-fabric laminates reinforced with vinyl-triethoxy-silane (VTES) functionalized zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO2-VS) were studied. Nanoparticles were dispersed by high-shear mixing, and ZrO2-VS was benchmarked against unmodified ZrO2 and neat UPe. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tracked cure conversion; scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), tensile testing, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) evaluated structure-property relationships. ZrO2-VS improved dispersion and interfacial adhesion, yielding higher tensile strength and storage modulus compared with unmodified ZrO2. In flax-fabric laminates, ZrO2-VS/UPe achieved a tensile strength of 72.2 ± 3.6 MPa, exceeding both unmodified ZrO2/UPe and neat UPe controls. DMA showed pronounced increases in storage modulus across temperature with small, non-significant changes in Tg. These results highlight a low-styrene-hazard UPe matrix and natural fiber reinforcement pathway to improved mechanical performance via silane-mediated nanoparticle-matrix-fiber bridging.

Source: Polymers

DOI: 10.3390/polym18010070

Authors: Slavko Mijatov, Milica Rančić, Tihomir Kovačević, Jelena Vujančević, Vladimir B. Pavlović, Jelena D. Gržetić

Institutions: Military Technical Institute, University of Belgrade, Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA

Language: English

Topic: Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258