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

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

Influence of Sawdust Bio-filler on the Tensile, Flexural, and Impact Properties of Mangifera Indica Leaf Stalk Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites

The need to have biodegradable composites is aloft in today’s market as they are environment friendly and are also easy to fabricate. In this study, mangifera indica leaf stalk fibres were used as reinforcement along with saw dust as bio-filler material. Unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin was used as the matrix. The fibres were treated with 6 % vol. NaOH and neutralized with 3 % vol. of dilute HCl. Treatment of sawdust fillers was done by using 2% vol. NaOH solution. Hand layup method and compression moulding technique was used to fabricate the composite laminates. Specimens for evaluating the mechanical properties were prepared by using water jet machining. The results indicated an increase in tensile, flexural and impact strength of composites with addition of sawdust upto 3%. Further addition of the bio-filler resulted in decrease of mechanical properties

Influence of Sawdust Bio-filler on the Tensile, Flexural, and Impact Properties of Mangifera Indica Leaf Stalk Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites

The need to have biodegradable composites is aloft in today’s market as they are environment friendly and are also easy to fabricate. In this study, mangifera indica leaf stalk fibres were used as reinforcement along with saw dust as bio-filler material. Unsaturated isophthalic polyester resin was used as the matrix. The fibres were treated with 6 % vol. NaOH and neutralized with 3 % vol. of dilute HCl. Treatment of sawdust fillers was done by using 2% vol. NaOH solution. Hand layup method and compression moulding technique was used to fabricate the composite laminates. Specimens for evaluating the mechanical properties were prepared by using water jet machining. The results indicated an increase in tensile, flexural and impact strength of composites with addition of sawdust upto 3%. Further addition of the bio-filler resulted in decrease of mechanical properties

Evaluation of physico-mechanical characteristics of cashew nut shell liquid-epoxy composites with Borassus and Tamarind fruit fibres as reinforcements

In this study, Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL)-epoxy matrix-based composites reinforced with borassus and tamarind fibres were fabricated using compression moulding technique. Three different types of composites were fabricated, namely Borassus fruit fine fibre/CNSL-epoxy composites (BF composites), Tamarind fibre/CNSL-epoxy composites (TF composites) and Tamarind/Borassus fruit fine fibre CNSL-epoxy hybrid composites (HB composites). In addition, CNSL-epoxy neat polymer was also fabricated for comparison. Physical properties such as micro-hardness, void percentage, and mechanical properties like tensile, flexural, Interlaminar Shear Strength (ILSS), and impact strength were investigated. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to study the failure mechanism of the composites. Experimental results indicate that tensile and flexural properties of BF composites were higher when compared to TF and HB composites. Micro-hardness and impact strength of HB composites were better than the others. SEM images indicated better fibre-matrix bonding in BF composites indicating improved resistance to delamination. Thus, borassus and tamarind fibre reinforced CNSL-epoxy composites can be used as an alternative material for light to moderately loaded structural engineering applications