Tensile and flexural behaviour of graphite filler particles and pineapple leaf fiber (palf) reinforced polymer composites

New composites materials are developed to meet the demand for medical devices, vehicles, protective equipment, sporting goods, etc. In present investigations, the effects of graphite filler particles in the epoxy were studied separately by preparing epoxy with 5 and 10 vol.% of graphite filler particles composites by hand layup technique. Further, the combined effect of graphite filler particles and pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) on the mechanical behaviour of epoxy composites was studied by preparing epoxy with 5 vol.% of graphite -30 vol.% of PALF and epoxy with 10 vol.% of graphite -30 vol.% of PALF composites. Prepared composites were subjected to evaluating various mechanical properties like tensile strength, elongation, and flexural strength as per ASTM standards. By adding graphite filler particles and PALF fibers tensile, and flexural strength were improved with a slight reduction in the percentage elongation. Further, these conventional results were validated by FEM analysis using MSC Patran and Nastran Student Version

Impact of micro graphite particles addition on the mechanical behavior of Al2011 alloy metal composites

Abstract Micron‐sized graphite particles additions to Al2011 alloy were investigated to know their impact on mechanical properties. The stir cast method was used to manufacture the Al2011 alloy with 2 and 4 wt% of graphite particles reinforced composites. The microstructural analysis and mechanical properties of the synthesized composites were tested. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectrums were used to characterize the microstructure of the samples that were obtained from the casting. SEM micrographs indicated the homogeneous distribution of particles and the EDS patterns confirmed the presence of graphite particles. Al2011 alloy hardness was decreased with the addition of graphite particles. Further, with the addition of 2 and 4 wt% of graphite particles in the Al2011 alloy, the ultimate tensile and yield strengths of composites were increased with increase in elongation. SEM micrographs of tensile fractured surfaces were used to study the various fractured behaviors in the Al2011 alloy‐graphite composites