RESEARCH PROJECTS

My research projects have been focused on the natural fibre composite materials, rubber-toughened polymer, polymer nanocomposites, cellulose nanocomposites, biomaterials – including biodegradable polymers and shape memory polymer.

List of Current Projects:

1. ENHANCED DUCTILITY AND STRENGTH OF MICRON SILK FIBROIN FIBERS REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

Natural fiber reinforced composites have recently been investigated with considerable interest in research, due to their advantages such as high specific strength, low density, promising biodegradability and environmental friendliness. Generally, plant fibres (e.g. flax, hemp and jute, kenaf, oil palm) has been used to reinforced composites and have been the focus of natural fibres composites. However,animal-sourced fibres (such as silkworm and spider silk ) have seldom found to be utilised as composite reinforcements. Silk from domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori is highly crystalline in the molecular structure and stands as the only continuous filament of natural fibrous fibre. Silk has attracted attention of researcher nowadays as new filler/reinforcer in polymer matrix. Few studies has been focused on woven and non woven silk fibroin (SF) fiber/epoxy composites however the general effect of short silk fiber as reinforcements to improve the mechanical properties of polymer and composites has not been studied extensively. SF fibers with various lengths (1mm, 500 micrometer, 1 micrometer) will be prepared by hydrolyzing degummed in alkali solution. SF fibers/epoxy composites will be prepared by vacuum infusion technique. The mechanical behavior of the composites will be studied specifically on tensile, flexural, Izod impact and dynamic mechanical analysis. The thermal properties of the composites will be based on differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. From this study, it is expected that the SF/epoxy composites enhance the mechanical performance by incorporating the natural silk fibroin fibers. 

2. DEVELOPMENT OF CROSSLINK POLYETHYLENE (XLPE) NANOCOMPOSITES: MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES CHARACTERIZATION AND ANALYSIS

This project focuses on the development of crosslink polyethylene (XLPE)/aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanocomposites as a function of filler concentration by direct melt compounding using a conventional twin screw extruder and injection molded into the standardized specimens. The filler concentration will be varied from 0-10 wt%. The and nanocomposites of XLPE as a function of filler type such as silica dioxide (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2),zinc oxide (ZnO) and clay will also be developed with same filler concentration of 5 wt%. The investigation will also be conducted on XLPE/Al2O3/clay ternary hybrid systems of Al2O3 and clay in 1:1and 2:1 ratios.

3. ALIGNED HIGH PERFORMANCE SILK FIBRE, KEVLAR-49 FIBRE AND E-GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES: SYNTHESIS AND COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE CHARACTERISTIC OF COMPOSITES

Natural fibre reinforced composites have recently been investigated with considerable interest in research, due to their advantages such as high specific strength, low density, promising biodegradability, and environmental friendliness. Generally, plant fibres have been used to reinforced composites and have been the focus of natural fibres composites. However, animal-sourced fibres (such as silkworm and spider silk) have seldom found to be utilised as composite reinforcements. Silk from domestic silkworm Bombyx mori (B. mori) is highly crystalline in the molecular structure and stands as the only continuous filament of natural fibrous fibre. Silk has attracted attention of researcher nowadays as new reinforce in polymer matrix. Here, a high performance silk fibre (HPSF) will be produced from a new bioinspired approach called straining flow spinning (SFS). This new approach is inspired in the flow focusing technology that controls the flow of a fluid. SFS is shown to be a robust and versatile spinning technology found in natural spinning glands. This HPSF fibre which is expected comparable with synthetic fibres such as Kevlar-49 and E-glass fibre. The mechanical properties of the single strand fibre of HPSF are similar to the Kevlar-49 and E-glass. However, there is no study specifically on HPSF reinforced epoxy composite and also study on comparative properties between HPSF, Kevlar-49 and E-glass fibres reinforced epoxy composites. These composites will be prepared by vacuum infusion technique. This study will be an interesting study since it will discover what influence these high performance fibres as reinforcement into epoxy composites. Fibres with different loading and different orientation (0 deg; and 90 deg;) will be used into epoxy composites. The mechanical and thermal behaviour of the composites will be explored and studied. From this study, it is expected that the HPSF reinforced epoxy composites has comparable mechanical performance with Kevlar-49 and E-glass fibre.

4. INVESTIGATING THE POTENTIAL USED OF TIN SLAG POLYMER CONCRETE FOR STRUCTURAL APPLICATION

Polymer concrete (PC), also known as synthetic resin concrete and plastic resin concrete, posed high structural engineering properties. PC is valued for its high compressive strength, chemical resistance, short curing time and impact resistance. Tin slag considered a potential material that can be proposed in the civil construction field as an aggregate for PC production to reduce the consumption of natural resources. Further research is highly encouraged to investigate the potential research area between the concrete structure and properties changes in relation to particle and surface characteristics. The previous study reported has focused on the shape, size, physical and mechanical properties of tin slag to assess its suitability for road pavements. However, the structural performance of the PC due to the effect of particle sizes and long-term durability needs to be investigated. Therefore the aim of this study is to determine the potential of using tin slag PC (TSPC) structure in relation to long-term tropical weathering exposure. A novel way is to incorporate tin slag in polyester to prepare PC by adopting a range of aggregate grading i.e. gap-graded, open graded, well graded and uniformly graded to identify the impact on mechanical properties. The depth of range of studies which required to be made in respect of aggregate to understand their widely varying effect and influence on properties of concrete such as compressive strength and durability. A field experiment will be carried out to investigate the effect features such as mechanical behavior, moisture ingression, creep, acidic and UV degradation due to laboratory and outdoor and aggressive environment exposure conditions. The expected finding could provide feasibility on sustainability and performance scale for it to be accepted as structural grade material for PC.

5. A STRATEGY AND MECHANISM OF FABRICATING RAMIE FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITE WITH IMPROVING THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Natural fiber reinforced composites have recently been investigated with considerable interest in research, due to their advantages such as high specific strength, low density, promising biodegradability and environmental friendliness. Generally, plant fibres (e.g. flax, hemp and jute, kenaf, oil palm) has been used to reinforced composites and have been the focus of natural fibres composites. In this study, ramie fiber (RF) will be used as reinforcement in composite polymers and showed to have good mechanical properties compared to other types of natural fiber. A strategy method need to be emphasized to optimize of composite manufacturing process which is an important means for improving mechanical properties and thermal properties of natural fiber composites. In this project, short ramie fiber (RF) was respectively, modified by alkaline and silane treatment and then composite will be prepared using vacuum infusion process technique Few studies have been focused on long ramie and ramie yarn fiber /epoxy composites however; general effect of short silk fiber as reinforcements to improve the mechanical properties of composites has not been studied extensively. RF fibers with various lengths (5mm, 1mm, & 500micron) and different ramie fiber content of RF fibers/epoxy composites will be prepared by vacuum infusion technique. The mechanical behavior of the composites will be studied specifically on tensile, flexural, Izod impact and dynamic mechanical analysis. The thermal properties of the composites will be based on differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The comparison with the ramie fiber without  treatment was also done. It is expected that treated ramie fiber has better mechanical and thermal properties than the untreated one.