Sohel Rana

A New Processing Route for Improving Fibre-Matrix Interface and Mechanical Properties of Plant-Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

Abstract:

Plant fibre-reinforced polymer composites are attractive in various industrial applications due to their low cost and high specific strength. However, one of the key challenges with these composites is the poor fibre-matrix interface which strongly affects their mechanical properties. In thermoplastic matrices, the high melt viscosity of the polymers leads to improper impregnation of fibres with the polymer, leading to the generation of voids and inferior mechanical performance. Therefore, the fabrication of high-quality and high-strength plant fibre-based thermoplastic composites is always a challenge. Homogeneous mixing of plant fibres with thermoplastic fibres (such as polypropylene) and their subsequent melting and consolidation results in better fibre impregnation, significantly lower void content and improved fibre-matrix interface. In this talk, the use of the carding process in the homogeneous mixing of plant and thermoplastic fibres will be discussed. The effect of this mixing process on the void content and various properties of plant fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites such as pull-out strength, interlaminar shear strength and mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, impact, etc.) will be discussed in detail.

Biography:

Dr. Sohel Rana is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT. Delhi). He previously worked as a Senior Lecturer in Technical Textiles at the University of Huddersfield, UK. He obtained his PhD degree in Fibre Science and Technology (2011) from IIT Delhi and worked as a Post-doctoral Fellow at the University of Minho, Portugal. Dr Rana is actively involved in the research and development of advanced textile structures, functional fibrous and composite materials, nanocomposites, bio-composites, and natural fibres. He has been a key researcher in developing multi-functional and bio-based hierarchical composites and high-performance auxetic structures and composites for personal protection applications. Dr Rana has edited several books on advanced textiles and composites with leading publishers, among which “Advanced Composites in Aerospace Engineering” (Woodhead Publishing), “Braided Structures and Composites” (CRC Press), “Fibrous and Textile Materials for Composite Applications” (Springer) received recognition within the scientific community. To his credit, Dr. Rana has published over 120 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and conferences and delivered several keynote/invited talks. He has also served as a member of organising and scientific committees of many internal conferences as well as editorial and review panels of numerous well-recognised journals in the area of textiles and composites.