Ibrahim Mohammed Alarifi

This study investigates the AI-assisted analyses of radiation disinfection effects on the mechanical properties of recycled date kernel powder–epoxy composites for medical applications, utilizing Euclidean distances and the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm. Tensile and compression tests were conducted on twenty specimens following ASTM standards, with the data analyzed using a t-test to evaluate the impact of the UVC disinfection process on the material’s mechanical properties. The application of AI through the KNN algorithm successfully identified the three most representative curves out of five for both tensile and compression tests. This targeted curve selection minimized variability and focused on the most relevant data, enhancing the reliability of the analysis. Following the application of UVC and AI, tensile tests showed a 20–30% increase in ultimate stress. Similarly, compression tests revealed a 25% increase in transition stress, an 18–22% improvement in ultimate stress, and approximately a 12% rise in fracture stress. This research underscores the potential of combining AI, sustainable materials, and UVC technology to develop advanced composites for medical applications. The proposed methodology offers a robust framework for evaluating material performance while promoting the creation of eco-friendly, high-performance materials that meet the stringent standards of medical use.

Dried leaves are the outstanding origin of cellulosic plant matter, and it is securing reputation as a renewable resource. Dried leaves fiber is suggested to possess the capability to substitute synthetic fibers in polymer laminates as a reinforcing component. The novelty of the present study reveals the effect of dried leaves fiber, cobalt, nickel, and ferrous reinforcement on the physical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of epoxy, vinyl‐ester, and polyester polymers using artificial neural network (ANN) technique. These composites were fabricated using ultrasonication bath‐assisted wet layup method under ambient condition. The outcomes of this research exhibit that the dried leaves‐cobalt fillers reinforced in all three polymers possess higher mechanical and thermal stability characteristics when compared with other samples. The reason may be assigned to producing novel hydroxyl functional groups and strong interfacial bonding of fillers within the matrix as observed from Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, respectively. Moreover, as observed from the thermogravimetric analysis, the dried leaves‐ferrous filler‐reinforced polymer hybrid composites provided higher thermal stability. Statistical analysis was performed using the one‐way ANOVA technique and found that outcomes were significant statistically under the confidence level of 95%. Hence, this investigation not only emphasize the significance of investigating new polymer composites but also highlight the benefits of engaging advanced modeling to forecast the material characteristics precisely. Highlights: Dried leaves and cobalt/nickel/ferrous are applied reinforcement to polymers. Composites fabricated using ultrasonication bath‐assisted wet layup technique. LM Algorithm‐based ANN selected for predicting the best composite. Higher mechanical and thermal stability with dried leaves‐cobalt filler. One‐way ANOVA proved statistically significant within the material properties.

In this work, artificial bones composed of hydroxyapatite (HA)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared as a potential replacement for natural bone. The cylindrical specimens included an auxetic system with artificial osteons. HA/PAN and PLA were used to fabricate composite filaments by fused deposition modeling three‐dimensional (3D) printing, and the obtained filaments were applied to produce reentrant artificial bone materials. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the scaffold morphology and functional groups. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy was used for elemental analysis. The compressive properties of the samples were studied to determine the optimal scaffolding prototype. Compressive tests were also performed to assess the behavior of the cellular structure from a mechanical perspective. Finally, ANOVA and residual plots were used to investigate the contributions of the design elements, predict the y ‐coordination of the stress values, and evaluate the printing orientation. The results indicated that the auxetic cells influenced the bone macrostructure, which displayed different stiffness characteristics in one working direction. Polymeric solution biomaterials based on HA/PAN and PLA biopolymers have enormous potential as high‐performance liquid synthetic organic polymers for light‐supported extrusion‐based 3D printing. PLA/HA scaffoldings with outstanding medical conversion capability may be used as biomaterial composites for bone deficiency restoration. Highlights: Composite filaments for FDM 3D printing were used to manufacture reentrant artificial bone. A replacement method was utilized to determine the porosity of the scaffolds. Mechanically, this cellular structure was evaluated using compressive studies. SEM was used to assess scaffold morphology, functional categories, and elements. Create biodegradable constructions using as little material as possible.

This work investigated the influence of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and aggregate of CNFs with micro‐sized short carbon fibers (SCFs) on the mechanical, thermal, and fracture properties of epoxy (80%) ‐ Polylactic acid (PLA) (20%) composite. Epoxy‐PLA composite loaded with CNFs (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 wt.%) and a combination of CNFs and SCFs (0.2 and 0.4 wt.% with equal content of each filler) were manufactured by sonication and manual casting. The synergistic effects of CNFs and SCFs in the epoxy matrix were investigated through mechanical and fracture characterization of nanocomposites. In comparison to CNF‐reinforced nanocomposites, the composites reinforced with integrated multiscale fillers have higher tensile, flexural, impact strength, and fracture toughness. Tensile, flexural and impact strength increased by 17.18–25.72%, 39.24–44.07%, and 39.87–97.05% respectively with the incorporation of both CNFs and SCFs into epoxy‐PLA matrices. An improvement in fracture toughness in the range of 37.93–38.77% was observed in hybrid nanocomposites in comparison to pristine epoxy‐PLA composite. The synergetic mechanism of nano and micro fillers was studied by using the fracture surfaces from tensile tests using scanning electron microscopy. The numerical analysis was also carried out to simulate the effects of filler concentration on the tensile and bending strength of nanocomposites through representative volume element using an ANSYS workbench.

In the present investigation, moringa oleifera and bamboo fibers extracted from Ethiopia are studied to understand their mechanical properties. Three types of woven composites namely moringa/epoxy, bamboo/epoxy and moringa/bamboo/epoxy (hybrid) are fabricated by maintaining 60 vol% fiber content. Additionally, neat epoxy samples are prepared for comparison. Tensile and flexural properties are investigated in terms of strength and modulus. Tensile test results depict brittle failure for all composites and infer increase in fracture strain of woven composites as compared with neat epoxy. Tensile modulus and strength of woven composites increase in the range of 19%–39% and 18%–281%, respectively as compared with neat ones. Flexural stress–strain profiles of neat epoxy, moringa/epoxy and moringa/bamboo/epoxy composites linear curves until failure indicating brittle mode while bamboo/epoxy composites shows non‐linear stress–strain profiles revealing non‐brittle mode of failure. Flexural properties exhibited by bamboo/epoxy and moringa/bamboo/epoxy reveal comparable properties to each other yet superior than moringa/epoxy and neat epoxy composites mainly attributed to the good bonding of constituents and compatibility. All the woven composites reveal an increase in flexural modulus and strength and are in the range of 31%–96% and 5.79%–51.12%, higher than the neat epoxy. Finally, fractured surfaces of specimens are analyzed using scanning electron microscope to understand the structure property correlations.

Novel composite comprising of Kulkual fibers and Titanium diboride (TiB₂) filler reinforced epoxy composites is investigated in the current work. Kulkual also known as Opuntia ficus‐indica is a plant abundantly found throughout Ethiopia are utilized in the form fibers in combination with TiB₂ as reinforcement to synthesize epoxy matrix composites. Six types of composites including neat epoxy are fabricated using varying content of Kulkual fibers (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 vol%) and fixed TiB₂ content of 5 vol%. The fibers were obtained by drying the leaf‐like stem of Kulkual and collecting the skeleton structure found in cladodes. Alkaline treatment of Kulkual fiber to study its physical properties was also investigated. All composites' tensile moduli rise with increasing fiber content and are between 21% and 162% higher than the pure epoxy. All the composites tensile strength increase in the range from 43% to 211% compared to neat epoxy with EK‐10 composite revealing the greatest improvement. Flexural properties of all the composites increase with increase in Kulkual fiber content in comparison with neat epoxy. Good bonding of constituents and alkaline treatment of fibers results in enhanced properties of composites. Finally, fractured surfaces are analyzed with scanning electron micrographs to recognize structure property correspondences.