Browsing by Author "Kozlov, Pavel"

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    Enhancing structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of Acacia pennata natural fibers through benzoyl chloride treatment for construction applications
    (2023) Sheeba, K. R. Jaya; Priya, R. Krishna; Arunachalam, Krishna Prakash; Avudaiappan, Siva; Flores, Erick Saavedra; Kozlov, Pavel
    In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring natural fiber reinforced composites as potential alternatives to conventional materials in various structural applications. The aim of this study on Acacia pennata fibers (APFs) and treating them with benzoyl chloride was to explore their potential as reinforcement in construction-related materials. The aim was to investigate the physico-chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of these fibers to understand their suitability for applications in concrete reinforcement, retrofitting, roofing, and wall panels. By enhancing the understanding of the treated fibers' characteristics, this study contributes to the development of sustainable and high-performance construction materials. The fibers were extracted using both water retting and chemical retting methods. The physico-chemical properties of the fibers were assessed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which determined a calculated crystalline index (CI) of 72.14% and a crystalline size of 2.6 nm. Thermo-gravimetric analysis was conducted to evaluate the thermal stability of the APFs, revealing a temperature of 366 degrees C and a maximum degradation temperature of 226.7 degrees C. Mechanical analysis included measurements of the APFs' tensile strength (467.86 MPa), tensile modulus (14.62 GPa), microfibrillar angle (14.79), and elongation at break (3.2%). The findings derived from these analyses suggest that the APFs that underwent treatment exhibit desirable mechanical characteristics, rendering them a viable option for utilization in construction-related materials like reinforcement in concrete, retrofitting, roofing and wall Pannels. This research presents a novel exploration of Acacia pennata fibers (APFs) treated with benzoyl chloride, aiming to establish their potential as reinforcements for construction materials. While natural fiber-reinforced composites have drawn interest, the unique application of APFs in construction and their treatment with benzoyl chloride to enhance properties remain relatively unexplored in the literature. This study fills a significant
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    Performance of recycled Bakelite plastic waste as eco-friendly aggregate in the concrete beams
    (2023) Mohan, R.; Chakrawarthi, Vijayaprabha; Nagaraju, T. Vamsi; Avudaiappan, Siva; Awolusi, T. F.; Roco-Videla, Angel; Azab, Marc; Kozlov, Pavel
    The use of plastic waste as a partial or complete replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete mixtures has been studied in recent years. However, the quality and quantity of coarse plastic waste particles have been a challenge. This study aims to investigate the mechanical performance of concrete with Bakelite plastic waste as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate. Six different concrete mixtures with various Bakelite dosages, ranging from 0 % to 10 %, were tested. The results indicate that the addition of Bakelite plastic alters the behaviour of the concrete and re-duces compressive and flexural strengths at lower dosages. The inclusion of Bakelite waste in concrete mixtures generally leads to a decrease in compressive and split tensile strength, with the exception of the mixture containing 6 % Bakelite, which showed increased strength. Although there is a slight reduction in flexural strength, Bakelite waste prevents sudden specimen breakage and maintains specimen integrity. The ultimate load capacity of reinforced concrete beams with Bakelite waste is generally lower compared to the control beam, except for the 8 % waste Bakelite beam which demonstrated a similar ultimate load capacity of 60 kN. Although managing Bakelite waste can be difficult because it can lead to the creation of microplastics in landfills over time, utilizing Bakelite waste in concrete can be a sustainable method of waste management. The innovative use of Bakelite waste as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete offers a sustainable solution to the problem of waste management and addresses the environmental concerns related to the disposal of non-biodegradable plastics. This research provides a practical solution for developing eco-friendly and cost-effective construction materials while promoting sustainable waste management practices.