Experimental Investigation and Characterization of Abaca Fiber Lumens as Potential Carriers in Self-Healing Applications. Issue 1 (31st December 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: K, Venakata Chalapathi; Prabhakar, M. N.; Song, Jung-Il
• Is Part Of: Journal of natural fibers. Volume 20:Issue 1(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-12-31
• Subjects: Abaca fiber lumens -- vinyl ester core -- single-fiber tensile test -- self-healing; 阿巴卡纤维管腔 -- 乙烯酯芯 -- 单纤维拉伸试验 -- 自愈; Textile research -- Periodicals; Textile research; Periodicals; 677.005
• DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2022.2140324
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1544-0478

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a novel plant-derived core-shell fiber carrier that can be used in self-healing applications. The study used abaca fiber lumens as a self-healing carrier for the first time. The fibers were characterized under SEM at different positions to know the lumen structure and achieved a 39.19% lumens fraction and 16.13 µm lumen diameter. Healing resins were embedded in the lumens using modified VARTM. The core was confirmed using FESEM-EDX. Thermal degradation was determined via TGA under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mechanical and self-healing properties, as well as a single-fiber tensile test, were conducted with a cell load of 5 kgf. The healing resin (VE-CN)-embedded fibers showed a strength improvement of 14.78% compared with the strength of pure abaca fibers. The improved strength is attributed to the reorientation of the crystalline cellulose in the tensile direction. Additionally, some of the tensile-fractured fibrils self-healed after 24 h and showed a restored strength of 100.71 MPa. The restored strength explains that the fiber lumens are the potential to carry a healing resin and release upon the damage.