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A decision-making model for selecting the most appropriate natural fiber – polypropylene-based composites for automotive applications


Citation

Al-Oqla, Faris M. and Salit, Mohd Sapuan and Ishak, Mohamad Ridzwan and Abdul Aziz, Nuraini (2016) A decision-making model for selecting the most appropriate natural fiber – polypropylene-based composites for automotive applications. Journal of Composite Materials, 50 (4). pp. 543-556. ISSN 0021-9983; ESSN: 1530-793X

Abstract

Recent emphasis on the proper utilization of the available natural resources as well as the compatibility between industrial sustainability and the environment have recognized the natural fiber reinforced polymer composites as a valuable type of materials. The final features of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are strongly influenced by the characteristics of their constituents. Several factors affect implementing natural fiber reinforced polymer composites in automotive applications, which make it a matter of multi-criteria decision making problem. In this work, a decision-making model is introduced to evaluate and select the most appropriate non-woven natural reinforcement fiber/polypropylene-based composites for interior parts in the automotive industry considering various evaluation criteria simultaneously. The analytical hierarchy process was utilized to assess 15 potential alternatives of different natural fiber/polypropylene composites. The evaluation process considered simultaneous six evaluation criteria, namely tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength and the maximum water absorption of the composites. Such approach is implemented here for the first time to enhance the selection process of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites for automotive application and to expand the future sustainable design possibilities in this sector. Both impact and flexural strengths were found to have the major priority in the evaluation process. The treated flax/polypropylene composite with 30 wt% fiber loading alternative was found to be the best with regard to the overall evaluation criteria. Date palm fiber/polypropylene composites were found to be potential considering the whole desired evaluation criteria.


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Official URL or Download Paper: http://jcm.sagepub.com/content/50/4/543

Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Faculty of Engineering
Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998315577233
Publisher: Sage Publications
Keywords: Automotive industry; Bio-based composites selection; Date palm fibers; Decision-making model; Polypropylene; Sustainable products
Depositing User: Nabilah Mustapa
Date Deposited: 08 Jun 2016 01:17
Last Modified: 08 Jun 2016 01:17
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.1177/0021998315577233
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16227
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