Enhancing dynamic viscoelastic performance of flax fiber/fly ash hollow cenosphere‐reinforced composites coated by in situ fabrication of ultrasonically synthesized nanotitanium dioxide

• DOI: 10.1002/app.55843
• Publication Date: 2024-06-05T10:22:59Z
• Authors: Xiaomeng Wang; Muhammad Tayyab N...; Michal Petrů; Guozheng Kang
• Keywords: Cenosphere; Syntactic foam

Abstract This study demonstrates a novel, single‐step, and low‐energy ultrasonic approach to fabricate lightweight, high‐performance flax fiber‐reinforced composites enhanced by nanotitanium dioxide coating fly ash hollow cenospheres. innovative leads remarkable 23% weight reduction compared with conventional composites, making it ideal for the applications demanding both lightweight superior mechanical properties. Through dynamic testing, is found that composites' viscoelastic behavior, including storage modulus damping factor, significantly influenced frequency temperature. By applying time–temperature superposition principles, composite's properties are comprehensively characterized across wider range. A modified fractional calculus Huet–Sayegh model accurately captures observed behavior. The combined effect of coating, which strengthens fiber–matrix interface, inclusion rigid cenospheres results in significant improvements (10% increase at room temperature) peak loss factor (80% increase) uncoated composites. nanocoating cenospheres' shells contribute stiffness, while structure provides efficient energy dissipation mechanisms, leading an improved performance. offers promising sustainable method synthesizing natural fiber nanocomposites