The paper deals with research focused on the use of fillers in the field of polymeric materials produced by additive technology SLA (stereolithography). The aim of the research is to evaluate 3D printing parameters, the mechanical properties (tensile strength, hardness), and the interaction of individual phases (polymer matrix and filler) in composite materials using SEM analysis. The tested fillers were cotton flakes and ground carbon fibres in different proportions. For the photosensitive resins, the use of cotton flakes as filler was found to have a positive effect on the mechanical properties not only under static but also under cyclic loading, which is a common cause of material failure in practice. The cyclic stress reference value was set at an amplitude of 5-50% of the maximum force required to break the pure resin in a static tensile test. A positive effect of fillers on the cyclic stress life of materials was demonstrated. The service life of pure resin was only 168 ± 29 cycles. The service life of materials with fillers increased to approximately 400 to 540 cycles for carbon fibre-based fillers and nearly 1000 cycles for cotton flake-based fillers, respectively. In this paper, new composite materials suitable for the use of SLA additive manufacturing techniques are presented. Research demonstrated the possibilities of adding cotton-based fillers in low-cost, commercially available resins. Furthermore, the importance of material research under cyclic loading was demonstrated.

• Keywords
• 3D printing, carbon filler, cotton filler, cyclic loading, low cycle test, polymer composite,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of untreated and 5% aqueous NaOH solution-treated filler of the plant Jatropha Curcas L. on the mechanical properties of adhesive bonds, especially in terms of their service life at different amplitudes of cyclic loading. As a result of the presence of phorbol ester, which is toxic, Jatropha oilseed cake cannot be used as livestock feed. The secondary aim was to find other possibilities for the utilization of natural waste materials. Another use is as a filler in polymer composites, that is, in composite adhesive layers. The cyclic loading of the adhesive bonds was carried out for 1000 cycles in two amplitudes, that is, 5-30% of the maximum force and 5-50% of the maximum force, which was obtained by the static tensile testing of the adhesive bonds with unmodified filler. The static tensile test showed an increase in the shear strength of the adhesive bonds with alkali-treated filler compared to the untreated filler by 3-41%. The cyclic test results did not show a statistically significant effect of the alkaline treatment of the filler surface on the service life of the adhesive bonds. Positive changes in the strain value between adhesive bonds with treated and untreated filler were demonstrated at cyclic stress amplitudes of 5-50%. SEM analysis showed the presence of interlayer defects in the layers of the tested materials, which are related to the oil-based filler used.

• Keywords
• NaOH treatment, material utilization, natural filler, oilseed cake, single-lap bond,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Additive production is currently perceived as an advanced technology, where intensive research is carried out in two basic directions-modifications of existing printing materials and the evaluation of mechanical properties depending on individual production parameters and the technology used. The current research is focused on the evaluation of the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed test specimens made of pure PLA and PLA reinforced with filler based on pinewood, bamboo, and cork using FDM (fused deposition modeling) technology. This research was carried out in response to the growing demand for filaments from biodegradable materials. This article describes the results of tensile fatigue tests and image analysis of the fracture surface determined by the SEM method. Biodegradable PLA-based materials have their limitations that influence their applicability in practice. One of these limitations is fatigue life, which is the cyclic load interval exceeding 50% of the tensile strength determined in a static test. Comparison of the cyclic fatigue test results for pure PLA and PLA reinforced with natural reinforcement, e.g., pinewood, bamboo, and cork, showed that, under the same loading conditions, the fatigue life of the 3D-printed specimens was similar, i.e., the filler did not reduce the material's ability to respond to low-cycle fatigue. Cyclic testing did not have a significant effect on the change in tensile strength and associated durability during this loading interval for PLA-based materials reinforced with biological filler. Under cyclic loading, the visco-elastic behavior of the tested materials was found to increase with increasing values of cyclic loading of 30%, 50% and 70%, and the permanent deformation of the tested materials, i.e., viscoelastic behavior (creep), also increased. SEM analysis showed the presence of porosity, interlayer disturbances, and at the same time good interfacial compatibility of PLA with the biological filler.

• Keywords
• 3D-printing, PLA polymer, SEM, additive manufacturing, biological filler, cyclic test,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The research is focused on the evaluation of mechanical properties of adhesive bonds with a composite layer of adhesive to increase their service life (safety) under cyclic loading of different intensities. Cyclic loading represents a frequent cause of adhesive bond failure and, thus, a reduction in their service life. Waste from the production of coconut oil, that is, coconut shells in the form of particles, was used as a filler. Coconut shells are in most cases incinerated or otherwise uselessly incinerated, but they can also be used as a natural filler. Cyclic loading (quasi-static tests) was performed for 1000 cycles in two intensities, that is, 5-30% (157-940 N) of maximum force and 5-50% (157-1567 N) of maximum force. The results of the experiment showed a positive effect of the added filler, especially at an intensity of 5-50%, when the service life of adhesive bonds with a composite adhesive layer (AB10, AB20, AB30) increased compared to adhesive bonds without added AB0 filler, which did not withstand the given intensity. A more pronounced viscoelastic behavior of adhesive bonds was demonstrated at an intensity of 5-50% between the 1st and 1000th cycle. SEM analysis showed reduced wetting of the filler and matrix and delamination due to cyclic loading.

• Keywords
• SEM, coconut shell powder, cracking, material utilization, mechanical properties, natural filler, quasi-static test, secondary product,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

This study is focused on the mechanical properties and service life (safety) evaluation of hybrid adhesive bonds with shaped overlapping geometry (wavy-lap) and 100% natural cotton fabric used as reinforcement under cyclic loading using various intensities. Cyclic loading were implemented between 5-50% (267-2674 N) and 5-70% (267-3743 N) from the maximum strength (5347 N) measured by static tensile test. The adhesive bonds were loaded by 1000 cycles. The test results demonstrated a positive influence of the used reinforcement on the mechanical properties, especially during the cyclic loading. The adhesive bonds Tera-Flat withstood the cyclic load intensity from 5-70% (267-3743 N). The shaped overlapping geometry (wavy-lap bond) did not have any positive influence on the mechanical performance, and only the composite adhesive bonds Erik-WH1 and Tera-WH1 withstood the complete 1000 cycles with cyclic loading values between 5-50% (267-2674 N). The SEM analysis results demonstrated a positive influence on the fabric surface by treatment with 10% NaOH aqueous solution. The unwanted compounds (lignin) were removed. Furthermore, a good wettability has been demonstrated by the bonded matrix material. The SEM analysis also demonstrated micro-cracks formation, with subsequent delamination of the matrix/reinforcement interface caused by cyclic loading. The experimental research was conducted for the analysis of hybrid adhesive bonds using curved/wavy overlapping during both static and cyclic loading.

• Keywords
• SEM, cyclic fatigue, mechanical properties, natural cotton fabric, polymer composite, quasi-static test, safety, service life, wavy-lap bond,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Composite materials with natural fillers have been increasingly used as an alternative to synthetically produced materials. This trend is visible from a representation of polymeric composites with natural cellulose fibers in the automotive industry of the European Union. This trend is entirely logical, owing to a preference for renewable resources. The experimental program itself follows pronounced hypotheses and focuses on a description of the mechanical properties of untreated and alkali-treated natural vegetable fibers, coconut and abaca fibers. These fibers have great potential for use in composite materials. The results and discussion sections contribute to an introduction of an individual methodology for mechanical property assessment of cellulose fibers, and allows for a clear definition of an optimal process of alkalization dependent on the content of hemicellulose and lignin in vegetable fibers. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of alkali treatment on the surface microstructure and tensile properties of coir and abaca fibers. These fibers were immersed into a 5% solution of NaOH at laboratory temperature for a time interval of 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h, rinsed and dried. The fiber surface microstructures before and after the alkali treatment were evaluated by SEM (scanning electron microscopy). SEM analysis showed that the alkali treatment in the NaOH solution led to a gradual connective material removal from the fiber surface. The effect of the alkali is evident from the visible changes on the surface of the fibers.

• Keywords
• abaca, alkali treatment of fibers, coir, tensile properties, vegetable fibers,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

This research evaluates the mechanical properties of hybrid adhesive bonds with various 100% cotton fabrics in static and quasi-static conditions and the influence of alkali surface treatment (NaOH) of the cotton fabrics on the mechanical properties. Biological fibers in polymers are characterized by low wettability with the matrix, which decreases mechanical properties. Adhesive bonds usually operate in cyclic stress, which causes irreversible failure before maximal strength. In this paper, a quasi-static test was used to load the adhesive bonds in 5-50% (192-1951 N) and 5-70% (192-2732 N) intervals with 1000 cycles. The results of SEM analysis showed good wettability of alkali treated cotton fabric with NaOH solution in hybrid adhesive bonds. The static test proved the influence of reinforcing cotton fabrics on shear tensile strength against pure resin, i.e., sample Erik up to 19% on 14.90 ± 1.15 MPa and sample Tera up to 21% on 15.28 ± 1.05 MPa. The adhesive bonds with pure resin did not resist either quasi-static tests. Reinforcing cotton fabrics resisted both quasi-static tests, even shear tensile strength increases up to 10% on 16.34 ± 1.24 MPa for the fabric Erik. The results of strain difference of adhesive bonds with Tera and Erik confirmed that a lower value of the difference during cyclic loading positively influenced the ultimate shear tensile strength.

• Keywords
• SEM analyses, alkali treatment, biological fabric, fatigue and fracture mechanics, green composite, mechanical behavior,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The paper is focused on the research of the cyclic loading of hybrid adhesive bonds based on eggshell microparticles in polymer composite. The aim of the research was to characterize the behavior of hybrid adhesive bonds with composite adhesive layer in quasi-static tests. An epoxy resin was used as the matrix and microparticles of eggshells were used as the filler. The adhesive bonds were exposed to cyclic loading and their service life and mechanical properties were evaluated. Testing was performed by 1000 cycles at 5-30% (165-989 N) and 5-70% (165-2307 N) of the maximum load of the filler-free bond in the static test. The results of the research show the importance of cyclic loading on the service life and mechanical properties of adhesive bonds. Quasi-static tests demonstrated significant differences between measured intervals of cyclic loading. All adhesive bonds resisted 1000 cycles of the quasi-static test with an interval loading 5-30%. The number of completed quasi-static tests with the interval loading 5-70% was significantly lower. The filler positively influenced the service life of adhesive bonds at a higher amount of quasi-static tests, i.e., the safety of adhesive bonds increased. The filler had a positive effect on adhesive bonds ABF2, where the strength significantly increased up to 20.26% at the loading of 5-30% against adhesive bonds ABF0. A viscoelasticity characteristic (creep) of the adhesive layer occurred at higher values of loading, i.e., between loading 5-70%. The viscoelasticity behavior did not occur at lower values of loading, i.e., between loading 5-30%.

• Keywords
• cyclic loading, hybrid adhesive bond, mechanical properties, polymer composite, service life,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

This article presents the initial test results examining basic technological factors, such as type of modifying agent and seasoning time, which influence properties of adhesive epoxide compositions. The aim of the study was to prepare adhesive compositions with 2% content of the selected natural fillers (montmorillonite NanoBent ZR-2, ground chalk (powder)-CaCO3, and activated carbon powder C) and to examine their strength properties. A polymeric matrix used to prepare an adhesive composition consisted of the epoxide resins used in industry: Epidian 5 and Epidian 53 cured by addition of an aminomethyl group, where curing occurred through the Mannich reaction. A composition of epoxide resins with a curing agent and without any modifying agents was used as reference. The examinations described in the present article aimed to show the significance of the impact of the fillers used on the strength properties of the examined compositions. A fracture surface of epoxide adhesive compositions modified with the selected fillers was tested by means of a scanning electron microscope.

• Keywords
• SEM, epoxy resins, fillers, modification,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH