Tensile and Flexural Properties of Chopped Strand E-glass Fibre Mat Reinforced CNSL-Epoxy Composites.

Glass fibres have the principal advantages such as high tensile strength, high chemical resistance, low cost, and excellent insulating properties which makes them an important constituent in fibre reinforced plastic and composite industry. In this study, E-glass fibre in the form of Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) with different weight fractions such as 15%, 30%, and 45% were used as reinforcement in CNSL-epoxy resin composites. Fabrication of the composites was done by hand layup technique. Micro-hardness, tensile and flexural properties were investigated for all the composite panels of different compositions. The results clearly indicated an improvement in micro hardness, tensile and flexural properties with the increase in fibre content

Tensile and Flexural Properties of Chopped Strand E-glass Fibre Mat Reinforced CNSL-Epoxy Composites.

Glass fibres have the principal advantages such as high tensile strength, high chemical resistance, low cost, and excellent insulating properties which makes them an important constituent in fibre reinforced plastic and composite industry. In this study, E-glass fibre in the form of Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) with different weight fractions such as 15%, 30%, and 45% were used as reinforcement in CNSL-epoxy resin composites. Fabrication of the composites was done by hand layup technique. Micro-hardness, tensile and flexural properties were investigated for all the composite panels of different compositions. The results clearly indicated an improvement in micro hardness, tensile and flexural properties with the increase in fibre content

Influence of TiO2 nanoparticle modification on the mechanical properties of basalt-reinforced epoxy composites

AbstractThis research work aims to experimentally evaluate the influence of resin modification using Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on the mechanical properties viz. flexural, tensile and Inter Laminar Shear Strength (ILSS) of basalt reinforced epoxy composites based on ASTM standards. The laminates were fabricated using a combination of hand lay-up and compression moulding techniques. Five different weight proportions of TiO2 nanoparticles were considered ranging from 1% to 5% with an increment of 1% by weight. To assess the quality of fabrication, void fractions were evaluated and were found to be in the range of 1.17% to 3.98%. The mechanical properties of TiO2 modified epoxy basalt composites were compared with composites without any TiO2 nanoparticles in it. The results indicated a significant improvement in the mechanical properties due to the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles. When compared to samples without TiO2, the highest mechanical properties were observed in samples having 4% TiO2 nanoparticles wherein an increase of around 60%, 40% and 70% was seen in flexural (526 MPa), tensile (420 MPa) and ILSS (30.6 MPa), respectively. A dip was observed in all the properties with further increase in nanoparticle content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to analyse the fractured surface for dispersion of the nanoparticles and the failure mechanisms. SEM micrographs confirmed uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles while the major failure mechanisms observed were brittle fracture and fiber-matrix debonding. Results suggest that such composites can be used as a material in engineering applications wherein the loading is light to moderate

Design, Fabrication and Testing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Drive Shaft for All Terrain Vehicle using Filament Winding

Filament winding is a composite material fabrication technique that is used to manufacture concentric hollow components. In this study Carbon/Epoxy composite drive shafts were fabricated using filament winding process with a fiber orientation of [852/±452/252]s. Carbon in the form of multifilament fibers of Tairyfil TC-33 having 3000 filaments/strand was used as reinforcement with low viscosity epoxy resin as the matrix material. The driveshaft is designed to be used in SAE Baja All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) that makes use of a fully floating axle in its rear wheel drive system. The torsional strength of the shaft was tested and compared to that of an OEM steel shaft that was previously used in the ATV. Results show that the composite shaft had 8.5% higher torsional strength in comparison to the OEM steel shaft and was also lighter by 60%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs were studied to investigate the probable failure mechanism. Delamination, matrix agglomeration, fiber pull-out and matrix cracking were the prominent failure mechanisms identified

Design, Fabrication and Testing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Drive Shaft for All Terrain Vehicle using Filament Winding

Filament winding is a composite material fabrication technique that is used to manufacture concentric hollow components. In this study Carbon/Epoxy composite drive shafts were fabricated using filament winding process with a fiber orientation of [852/±452/252]s. Carbon in the form of multifilament fibers of Tairyfil TC-33 having 3000 filaments/strand was used as reinforcement with low viscosity epoxy resin as the matrix material. The driveshaft is designed to be used in SAE Baja All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) that makes use of a fully floating axle in its rear wheel drive system. The torsional strength of the shaft was tested and compared to that of an OEM steel shaft that was previously used in the ATV. Results show that the composite shaft had 8.5% higher torsional strength in comparison to the OEM steel shaft and was also lighter by 60%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs were studied to investigate the probable failure mechanism. Delamination, matrix agglomeration, fiber pull-out and matrix cracking were the prominent failure mechanisms identified

Effect of Hybridization on the Mechanical Properties of Chopped Strand Mat/Pineapple Leaf Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites

Hybridization of synthetic and natural fibres as reinforcement makes the polymer composites environmental friendly and sustainable when compared to synthetic fibres based polymer composites. In this study chopped strand mat/pineapple leaf fibres were hybridized. Four laminates with six layers each, with different stack sequence (GGGGGG, GPPPPG, PGGGGP and PPPPPP) were fabricated using hand layup technique while maintaining a fibre to matrix ratio of 30:70 by weight with polyester resin as matrix. Mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength were determined and morphology of fractured specimens was studied. Maximum tensile strength of 180 MPa was obtained for the laminate with six layers of chopped strand mat followed by hybrid laminate with four layers of chopped strand mat at the centre (120 MPa). Tensile strength of hybrid laminate with four layers of pineapple leaf fibres at the centre was in third position at 86 MPa. Least tensile strength of 65 MPa was obtained for the laminate with six layers of pineapple leaf fibres. Similar trend was observed in case of flexural behaviour of the laminates with maximum flexural strength of 255 MPa and minimum flexural strength 107 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy of the fractured specimen reinforced with chopped strand mat only, indicated, fibre pull out, matrix cracking and lack of matrix adhesion to fibres. In case of hybrid composite (GPPPPG and PGGGGP) delamination was observed to be prominent due to improper wetting of the pineapple leaf fibres with the matrix. More significant delamination led to lesser strength in case of pineapple fibres reinforced composites even though the fibre pull out was relatively less

Effect of Hybridization on the Mechanical Properties of Chopped Strand Mat/Pineapple Leaf Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites

Hybridization of synthetic and natural fibres as reinforcement makes the polymer composites environmental friendly and sustainable when compared to synthetic fibres based polymer composites. In this study chopped strand mat/pineapple leaf fibres were hybridized. Four laminates with six layers each, with different stack sequence (GGGGGG, GPPPPG, PGGGGP and PPPPPP) were fabricated using hand layup technique while maintaining a fibre to matrix ratio of 30:70 by weight with polyester resin as matrix. Mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength were determined and morphology of fractured specimens was studied. Maximum tensile strength of 180 MPa was obtained for the laminate with six layers of chopped strand mat followed by hybrid laminate with four layers of chopped strand mat at the centre (120 MPa). Tensile strength of hybrid laminate with four layers of pineapple leaf fibres at the centre was in third position at 86 MPa. Least tensile strength of 65 MPa was obtained for the laminate with six layers of pineapple leaf fibres. Similar trend was observed in case of flexural behaviour of the laminates with maximum flexural strength of 255 MPa and minimum flexural strength 107 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy of the fractured specimen reinforced with chopped strand mat only, indicated, fibre pull out, matrix cracking and lack of matrix adhesion to fibres. In case of hybrid composite (GPPPPG and PGGGGP) delamination was observed to be prominent due to improper wetting of the pineapple leaf fibres with the matrix. More significant delamination led to lesser strength in case of pineapple fibres reinforced composites even though the fibre pull out was relatively less

Borassus and Tamarind Fruit Fibers as Reinforcement in Cashew Nut Shell Liquid-Epoxy Composites

In this study borassus and tamarind fruit fibers were extracted and their physical and mechanical properties such as diameter, density, tensile strength and interfacial adhesion strength (IAS) were experimentally determined. To study the effect of alkali treatment, both the fruit fibers were treated with 5% vol. sodium hydroxide solution for 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h durations. Morphological studies of untreated and alkali treated fibers by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the presence of the surface impurities on the untreated fiber whereas the same were absent on the treated fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis also confirmed the elimination of amorphous hemicellulose of the fibers on treatment. Borassus fruit fine fibers and tamarind fruit fibers treated for 2 h exhibited better mechanical properties and improved IAS with Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) -Epoxy matrix