Bio-composites are increasing in demand due to governmental incentives across the globe for both environmental and human health reasons. The ideal bio-composite is renewable, recyclable, available, and non-toxic. To properly engineer bio-composite products, the physical properties of the fiber as well as fiber/matrix interactions must be known. The problem lies in the fact that many suitable natural fibers are not currently available in a material form that may be easily worked with. This research investigates methods to process raw kenaf (hibiscus cannabinus) on a scale that allows researchers to make more consistent samples for testing. Though kenaf is highlighted, these processing methods may be applied to any natural fiber. The raw fibers are processed into kenaf chopped strand mats (KCSM) by adapting basic paper-making techniques. KCSM exhibit paper-like qualities and mechanical properties and provide a material of uniform thickness for use in composite parts. Also presented are a basic understanding of natural fiber constituents and effects of mechanical and co-mechanical treatments on those constituents. To test KCSM, samples are made for the ASTM D3039 tensile testing and for testing in a dynamic material analyzer (DMA). Both mechanically and chemo-mechanically processed samples are made for the purpose of comparison. Also, I-beam bridges are built with KCSM to demonstrate how KCSM may be used to create a structure. This is spurred on by the annual SAMPE bridge competition that includes special categories for natural fiber beams. The lay-up procedure is shown in detail to provide a framework that future competitors may use to build quality I-beams for this competition. The properties obtained by using the KCSM are competitive with other reported properties for kenaf-based composites. A kenaf I-beam demonstrates a strength-to-weight ratio that is 65% of a berglass I-beam built to the same dimensions. Trade-os of using KCSM are the random 2d-fiber orientation and brittle failure, which are not usually desirable in composite components. The chemically treated samples indicate a higher degree of crystallinity but demonstrate inferior mechanical properties when compared to the untreated samples.

The diploma thesis is focused on determining mechanical properties of alloys produced by powder metallurgy methods. Two alloys were studied, namely a highly entropic CrMnFeCoNi alloy and an oxide dispersion-strenthened FeAlO alloy. Both alloys were made in laboratory amount of test material and miniature test specimens were used to measure their mechanical properties. The main goal of the diploma thesis was to develop a crack preparation methodology, to examine and to evaluate the properties of miniature test specimens for materials with low levels of resilience. In the analytical part of the thesis, tensile and deformation properties and fracture toughness of both alloys were measured. For the highly-entropic CrMnFeCoNi alloy, the thesis focused on the effect of the strain rate on the properties of the alloy. For the oxide dispersion-strenthened FeAlO, the effect of temperature in the 23-600 °C temperature range on its mechanical properties was studied.

This thesis focuses on the description of 3D printing technologies using the FDM method, which uses deposition of molten thermoplastics and their subsequent cooling and solidification layer by layer. This unique structure then shows a strong anisotropy of mechanical properties and, as a result, their testing and print settings are very important. Tensile testing of plastic materials, including indicators of mechanical properties, are described in this thesis according to ČSN EN ISO standard. The practical part presents the concept of a device capable of performing these tests. The block diagram indicates the functional elements and the connections among them. Tensile strength test is described together with results processing. Necessary product documentation is also included.

Master‘s thesis focuses on concrete combined with polypropylen fibres produced commercially, fibres without surface modifications and fibres modificated by plasma. Most important topic of the thesis is experimental verification of influence of plasma modificated fibres on attributes of fresh concrete and physical-mechanical attributes of solidified concrete. Based on the results of the tests perfomed on examin units compares results and anylyses applicability of different fibre surface modifications.