Presents state-of-the-art processing techniques and readily applicable knowledge on processing of polymer composites The book presents the advancement in the field of reinforced polymer composites with emphasis on manufacturing techniques, including processing of different reinforced polymer composites, secondary processing of green composites, and post life cycle processing. It discusses the advantages and limitations of each processing method and the effect of processing parameters on the overall performance of the composites. Characterization and applications of reinforced polymer composites are also introduced. Reinforced Polymer Composites: Processing, Characterization and Post Life Cycle Assessment starts off by providing readers with a comprehensive overview of the field. It then introduces them to the fabrication of both short fiber/filler reinforced polymer composites and laminated reinforced polymer composites. Next, it takes them through the processing of polymer-based nanocomposites; the many advances in curing methods of reinforced polymer composites; and post life cycle processing, re-processing, and disposal mechanisms of reinforced polymer composites. Numerous other chapters cover: synthetic versus natural fiber reinforced plastics; characterization techniques of reinforced plastics; friction and wear analysis of reinforced plastics; secondary processing of reinforced plastics; and applications of reinforced plastics. -Presents the latest development in materials, processing, and characterization techniques, as well as applications of reinforced polymer composites -Guides users in choosing the best processing methods to produce polymer composites and successfully manufacture high quality products -Assists academics in sorting out basic research questions and helps those in industry manufacture products, such as marine, automotive, aerospace, and sport goods Reinforced Polymer Composites: Processing, Characterization and Post Life Cycle Assessment is an important book for materials scientists, polymer chemists, chemical engineers, process engineers, and anyone involved in the chemical or plastics technology industry.

Table of Contents:
1 Overview and Present Status of Reinforced Polymer Composites 1 Furkan Ahmad, Inderdeep Singh, and Pramendra K. Bajpai 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 FRPCs 4 1.2.1 Fabrication of Fiber Reinforced Composites 4 1.2.2 Present Status of FRPCs 5 1.3 FRPCs Applications and Future Prospects 9 1.4 Conclusion 12 References 12 2 Fabrication of Short Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites 21 Ujendra K. Komal, Manish K. Lila, Saurabh Chaitanya, and Inderdeep Singh 2.1 Introduction 21 2.2 Challenges with Composite Materials 23 2.3 Preprocessing of Natural Fibers and Polymeric Matrix 25 2.3.1 Fiber Surface Modification 25 2.3.2 Compounding of Natural Fibers and Polymeric Matrix 25 2.4 Processing of Polymeric Matrix Composites 26 2.4.1 Selection of Processing Techniques 28 2.4.2 Injection Molding 29 2.4.2.1 Operating Parameters 29 2.4.2.2 Challenges in Injection Molding of Natural Fiber-Based Composites 33 2.4.2.3 Fabrication of Polymeric Composites by Injection Molding Process 34 2.4.2.4 Mechanical Performance of Injection Molded Composites 34 2.5 Conclusions 35 References 36 3 Fabrication of Composite Laminates 39 Sandhyarani Biswas and Jasti Anurag 3.1 Introduction 39 3.2 Fabrication Processes 40 3.2.1 Hand Lay-up Process 40 3.2.2 Filament Winding Process 42 3.2.3 Compression Molding Process 43 3.2.4 Vacuum Bagging Process 45 3.2.5 Autoclave Molding 46 3.2.6 Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) Process 46 3.2.7 Pultrusion Process 48 3.3 Conclusions 49 References 50 4 Processing of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites 55 Ramesh K. Nayak, Kishore K. Mahato, and Bankim C. Ray 4.1 Introduction 55 4.2 Classification of Nanomaterials 58 4.2.1 Nanocomposites 58 4.2.2 Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites 59 4.3 Fabrication Techniques of Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites 60 4.3.1 Ultrasonic and Dual Mixing 61 4.3.2 Three-Roll Mixing of Nano-fillers in PMC 63 4.3.3 Intercalation Method 64 4.3.4 Sol–Gel Method 67 4.3.5 Direct Mixing of Polymer and Nano-fillers 68 4.3.5.1 Melt Compounding 68 4.3.5.2 Solvent Method 69 4.4 Future Perspective and Challenges 70 Acknowledgment 71 References 71 5 Advances in Curing Methods of Reinforced Polymer Composites 77 Ankit Manral, Furkan Ahmad, and Bhasha Sharma 5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 Curing Method 79 5.3 Thermal Curing of FRPC 81 5.3.1 Autoclave Curing 81 5.3.1.1 Properties of FRPCs Influenced by Autoclave Parameters 85 5.3.2 Induction Curing 86 5.3.3 Resistance Curing 89 5.3.4 Microwave Curing 90 5.3.4.1 Properties Influenced by Microwave Curing of FRPC 92 5.3.5 Ultrasonic Curing 93 5.4 Radiation Curing of FRPCs 93 5.4.1 Electron Beam Radiation Curing 96 5.4.2 Ultraviolet Curing (UV) 98 5.5 Conclusion 99 References 100 6 Friction and Wear Analysis of Reinforced Polymer Composites 105 Pawan Kumar Rakesh and Lalit Ranakoti 6.1 Introduction 105 6.1.1 Fiber Reinforced Plastics 105 6.1.2 Failure Mechanism of Fiber Reinforced Plastics 106 6.1.3 Adhesion Wear 107 6.1.4 Abrasive Wear 109 6.1.5 Fatigue Wear 109 6.1.6 Wear Testing Method 111 6.2 Results and Discussion 114 6.3 Conclusions 116 References 116 7 Characterization Techniques of Reinforced Polymer Composites 119 Manish K. Lila, Ujendra K. Komal, and Inderdeep Singh 7.1 Introduction 119 7.2 Fiber Reinforced Polymers 120 7.3 Characterization of FRPs 121 7.4 Chemical Characterization 122 7.5 Physical Characterization 126 7.5.1 Microscopic Characterization 126 7.5.2 Density 128 7.5.3 Void Fraction 129 7.5.4 Surface Hardness 130 7.5.5 Surface Roughness 131 7.6 Mechanical Characterization 132 7.6.1 Tensile test 133 7.6.2 Compression Test 134 7.6.3 Flexural Test 135 7.6.4 Impact Test 136 7.6.5 Shear Test 136 7.7 Thermal Characterization 137 7.7.1 Thermal Properties 138 7.7.2 Thermogravimetric Analysis 139 7.7.3 Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) 139 7.7.4 Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) 140 7.8 Durability Characterization 140 7.8.1 Creep Testing 141 7.8.2 Fatigue Testing 141 7.8.3 Wear Testing 142 7.8.4 Fire Testing 143 7.8.5 Environmental Testing 143 7.9 Conclusion 144 References 144 8 Detection of Delamination in Fiber Metal Laminates Based on Local Defect Resonance 147 Tanmoy Bose, Subhankar Roy, and Kishore Debnath 8.1 Introduction 147 8.2 Local Defect Resonance Based Nondestructive Evaluation 149 8.2.1 Concept of Local Defect Resonance 149 8.2.2 Modeling of GLARE-Fiber Metal Laminate 150 8.2.3 Determination of LDR Frequency from Steady State Analysis 152 8.3 Super-Harmonic and Subharmonic Excitation in Fiber Metal Laminates 153 8.4 Detection of LDR Frequency Using Bicoherence Analysis 155 8.4.1 Theory of Bicoherence Estimation 155 8.4.2 Case Study of a Flat Bottom Hole 157 8.4.2.1 Modeling of a Flat Bottom Hole 157 8.4.2.2 Determination of LDR Frequency Using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Plot 159 8.4.2.3 Determination of LDR Frequency Using Bicoherence Analysis 159 8.4.2.4 Validation of the LDR Frequency Using Steady State Analysis 161 8.5 Concluding Remarks 161 References 162 9 Secondary Processing of Reinforced Polymer Composites by Conventional and Nonconventional Manufacturing Processes 165 Manpreet Singh, Sarbjit Singh, and Parvesh Antil 9.1 Introduction 165 9.2 Secondary Processing of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites by Conventional Machining 166 9.2.1 Conventional Drilling of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 166 9.2.2 Grinding Assisted Drilling of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 167 9.2.3 Vibration Assisted Drilling (VAD) of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 168 9.2.4 High Speed Drilling (HSD) of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 168 9.2.5 Drilling of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites with Drill Bit Geometry of Different Materials 168 9.2.6 Milling of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 171 9.2.7 Turning of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 171 9.3 Secondary Processing of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites by Nonconventional Machining 173 9.3.1 Laser Beam Machining of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 173 9.3.2 Ultrasonic Machining of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 174 9.3.3 Abrasive Water Jet Machining of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 175 9.3.4 Electrical Discharge Machining of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 178 9.3.5 Electrochemical Discharge Machining of Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites 179 9.4 Concluding Remarks 180 References 181 10 Hybrid Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites: Mechanical Strength Characterization and Life Assessment 189 Parvesh Antil, Sarbjit Singh, and Manpreet Singh 10.1 Introduction 189 10.2 Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) 191 10.2.1 Matrix 191 10.2.2 Reinforcement 191 10.2.3 Fabrication of HGFRPC 192 10.2.4 Morphology of Normal and Hybrid PMC 193 10.2.5 Mechanical Strength Analysis 194 10.2.6 Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy 197 10.3 Environmental Degradation of PMCs 199 10.4 Life Assessment of PMCs 201 10.4.1 Morphological Inspection 202 10.5 Conclusions 205 References 206 11 Fire Performance of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Composites 209 Divya Zindani, Kaushik Kumar, and João Paulo Davim 11.1 Introduction 209 11.2 Flammability Aspects and Thermal Properties of Natural Fibers and Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Composites 210 11.3 Fire Retardants 216 11.4 Flame Retardants 216 11.4.1 Mineral Flame Retardants 216 11.4.2 Bulging of Flame Retardants 217 11.5 Fire Performance for Usability as Materials in Transportation 218 11.6 Fire Performance for Usability as Building Materials 219 11.7 Summary 220 References 221 12 Post Life Cycle Processing of Reinforced Thermoplastic Polymer Composites 225 N.H. Salwa, S.M. Sapuan, M.T.Mastura, and M.Y.M. Zuhri 12.1 Introduction 225 12.2 Polymer Composites 226 12.2.1 Thermoplastic Polymer 227 12.2.2 Reinforcing Fibers in Composites 228 12.2.3 Green Bio-composites 229 12.3 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 230 12.3.1 Definition 230 12.3.1.1 Goal and Scope 233 12.3.1.2 Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) 234 12.3.1.3 Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) 235 12.3.1.4 Life Cycle Results Interpretation 237 12.4 LCA Studies on Bio-composites 238 12.4.1 LCA Bio-composites 238 12.4.1.1 LCA Natural Fiber 239 12.4.2 LCA Biopolymer 240 12.5 LCA Limitations 241 12.6 Conclusions 243 Acknowledgment 244 References 244 13 Reprocessing and Disposal Mechanisms for Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites 249 Vijay Chaudhary, Khushi Ram, and Furkan Ahmad 13.1 Introduction 249 13.2 Reprocessing or Recycling Methods of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites 251 13.3 Mechanical Recycling 252 13.4 Chemical Recycling 254 13.5 Hydrolytic Degradation of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite 255 13.6 Photodegradation of Polymer Composite 256 13.7 Biodegradation of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites 257 13.8 Conclusion 258 References 262 Index 267