The introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto glass fibre (GF) to create a hierarchical structure of epoxy laminated composites has attracted considerable interest due to their merits in improving performance and multifunctionality. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to analyze the woven hybrid GF-CNT. The results demonstrated that CNT was successfully deposited on the woven GF surface. Woven hybrid GF-CNT epoxy laminated composites were then prepared and compared with woven GF epoxy laminated composites in terms of their tensile properties. The results indicated that the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the woven hybrid GF-CNT epoxy laminated composites were improved by up to 9% and 8%, respectively compared to the woven hybrid GF epoxy laminated composites.

This paper elucidated the potential of electron backscatter diffraction analysis for ground granulated blast furnace slag geopolymers at 1000°C heating temperature. The specimen was prepared through the mechanical ground with sandpaper and diamond pad before polished with diamond suspension. By using advanced technique electron backscatter diffraction, the microstructure analysis and elemental distribution were mapped. The details on the crystalline minerals, including gehlenite, mayenite, tobermorite and calcite were easily traced. Moreover, the experimental Kikuchi diffraction patterns were utilized to generate a self-consistent reference for the electron backscatter diffraction pattern matching. From the electron backscatter diffraction, the locally varying crystal orientation in slag geopolymers sample of monoclinic crystal observed in hedenbergite, orthorhombic crystal in tobermorite and hexagonal crystal in calcite at 1000°C heating temperature.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the mechanical properties and microstructure of geopolymer repair materials mixed using fly ash (FA) and concrete substrates. An optimal combination of FA and concrete substrate was determined using the compressive test of geopolymer mortar mixed with various concrete substrate classes. It was found that the contribution of (C35/45) concrete substrates with the FA geopolymer mortar increases the 28-day bonding strength by 25.74 MPa. The microstructure analysis of the samples using scanning electron microscopy showed the denser structure owing to the availability of high calcium and iron elements distribution. These metal cations (Ca2+ and Fe3+) are available at OPC concrete substrate as a result from the hydration process reacted with alumina-silica sources of FA and formed calcium aluminate silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) gels and Fe-bonding linkages.

Herein, the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical and dielectric performance of hybrid carbon nanotube-woven glass fiber (GF) reinforced epoxy laminated composited are investigated. CNTs are deposited on woven GF surface using an electrospray deposition method which is rarely reported in the past. The woven GF deposited with CNT and without deposited with CNT are used to produce epoxy laminated composites using a vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding. The tensile, flexural, dielectric constant and dielectric loss properties of the epoxy laminated composites were then characterized. The results confirm that the mechanical and dielectric properties of the woven glass fiber reinforced epoxy laminated composited increases with the addition of CNTs. Field emission scanning electron microscope is used to examine the post damage analysis for all tested specimens. Based on this finding, it can be prominently identified some new and significant information of interest to researchers and industrialists working on GF based products.

This study summarised the recent achievement in developing fiber reinforced geopolymer concrete. The factor of replacing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) which is due to the emission of carbon dioxide that pollutes the environment globally is well discussed. The introduction towards metakaolin is presented. Besides, the current research trend involved in geopolymer also has been reviewed for the current 20 years to study the interest of researchers over the world by year. Factors that contribute to the frequency of geopolymer research are carried out which are cost, design, and the practicality of the application for geopolymer concrete. Besides, the importance of steel fibers addition to the geopolymer concrete is also well discussed. The fundamental towards metakaolin has been introduced including the source of raw material, which is calcined kaolin, calcined temperature, chemical composition, geopolymerisation process, and other properties. Alkali activators which are mixing solution between sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) have been reviewed. The mechanical properties of fibers reinforced metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete which is compressive and flexural are thoroughly reviewed. The compressive and flexural strength of fiber-reinforced metakaolin geopolymer concrete shows some improvement to the addition of steel fibers. The reviews in this field demonstrate that reinforcement of metakaolin geopolymer concrete by steel fibers shows improvement in mechanical performance.

The density, compressive strength, and thermal insulation properties of fly ash geopolymer paste are reported. Novel insulation material of glass bubble was used as a replacement of fly ash binder to significantly enhance the mechanical and thermal properties compared to the geopolymer paste. The results showed that the density and compressive strength of 50% glass bubble was 1.45 g/cm3 and 42.5 MPa, respectively, meeting the standard requirement for structural concrete. Meanwhile, the compatibility of 50% glass bubbles tested showed that the thermal conductivity (0.898 W/mK), specific heat (2.141 MJ/m3K), and thermal diffusivity (0.572 mm2/s) in meeting the same requirement. The improvement of thermal insulation properties revealed the potential use of glass bubbles as an insulation material in construction material.

Filler surface modification has become an essential approach to improve the compatibility problem between natural fillers and polymer matrices. However, there is limited work that concerns on this particular effect under dynamic loading conditions. Therefore, in this study, both untreated and treated low linear density polyethylene/rice husk composites were tested under static (0.001 s ^–1, 0.01 s ^–1 and 0.1 s ^–1) and dynamic loading rates (650 s ^–1, 900 s ^–1 and 1100 s ^–1) using universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar equipment, respectively. Rice husk filler was modified using silane coupling agents at four different concentrations (1, 3, 5 and 7% weight percentage of silane) at room temperature. This surface modification was experimentally proven by Fourier transform infrared and Field emission scanning electron microscopy. Results show that strength properties, stiffness properties and yield behaviour of treated composites were higher than untreated composites. Among the treated composites, the 5% silane weight percentage composite shows the optimum mechanical properties. Besides, the rate of sensitivity of both untreated and treated composites also shows great dependency on strain rate sensitivity with increasing strain rate. On the other hand, the thermal activation volume shows contrary trend. For fracture surface analysis, the results show that the treated LLDPE/RH composites experienced less permanent deformation as compared to untreated LLDPE/RH composites. Besides, at dynamic loading, the fracture surface analysis of the treated composites showed good attachment between RH and LLDPE.