Performance of buri palm (corypha utan) reinforced epoxy composite : effect of alkali treatment

The development of polymer composites using natural fiber reinforced polymer has grown in recent years due to increase in environmental awareness. Natural fibers are much cheaper than synthetic fibers and can be used as a subtitute in applications, where the cost concern outweighs strength requirements. Due to the low cost in comparison to synthetic fibers, the buri (corypha utan) fiber reinforced composites have great potential to be used in engineering applications. The aim of this study was to analyse density, Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), and physical and mechanical properties of the single- strand buri palm fiber in different conditions of surface modification, one with 5 wt.% and the other with 10 wt.% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 1 and 24 h immersion. This study was to fabricate the buri palm fiber reinforced epoxy composite and evaluate the effects of fiber treatment on water absorption, tensile properties and flexural properties. The density of buri palm fiber showed that a higher NaOH solution concentration and immersion period leads to lower density. The best treatments of single-strand treated with 5 wt.% 24 h immersion showed the highest tensile strength of 159.16 MPa. It was used to fabricate the composite of four-layers and five-layer stacking sequence composite made by using hand lay-up technique and hydraulic press. The water absorption experiment was conducted by immersing the specimen in distilled water at room temperature until it reached the saturated moisture absorption. The percentage of moisture uptake was reduced to 69% and 95% in treated four-layer and five-layer sequences. It is observed that the thickness swelling of the composite increased with the increase of sequence layering, while the thickness swelling decreased with the treated fiber. The results for dry composites show that the five-layer treated gave the highest tensile strength and flexural of 33.51 MPa and 56.72 MPa. Finally, morphology examinations were carried out to analyse the fracture behavior and fiber failure on the tensile test specimen by using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microscope analysis. In conclusion, it would appear that the mechanical properties increased as increase of sequence layering treated fiber composite. Alkali treatment affected the properties of buri palm fiber which improved the interfacial bonding between the fiber and epoxy matrix for better tensile properties and reduced water absorption

Tensile properties of hybrid woven glass fibre/PALF reinforced polymer composite

The world today is experiencing a significant global warming problem. One of the causes of the problem is due to the use of excessive and uncontrolla-ble material. Replacing the material with more environmentally friendly is a priority today, especially from wasted natural materials such as pineapple leaf fibre (PALF). Therefore, the aim of the study is on an investigation of tensile properties from composites made by reinforcing woven glass fibre and short fibre PALF into epoxy resin. The fibre contains a fixed glass fibre with 20wt% and PALF contains with a range of 5wt%, 10wt% and 15wt%. The architecture of hybrid composite comprises of bottom and top are wo-ven glass fibre meanwhile middle layer is short fibre of PALF. Epoxy resin was poured into it, then hand lay-up technique was used to spread the epoxy evenly. Cold compression method was used to cure the composite. The re-sults show that 10wt% of PALF and 20wt% woven glass fibre have shown the best tensile strength and stiffness. This concluded that the best filler of PALF is at 10wt%

Characterisation of the woven fabric of jute, ramie and roselle for reinforcement material for polymer composite

The current research aims to describe the natural woven of jute, ramie and roselle as a reinforcement material for the future applications. On the woven jute, ramie and roselle, four (4) forms of mechanical testing were conducted consisting of grab strength, tearing strength, puncture strength, and fibre pull-out testing. Additionally, the unsaturated polyester resin (UPE) was reinforced with all the woven fabric to determine its effect on the properties of the tensile. The test result for jute and ramie is 103.5N and 137.9N from multiple fiber pull-out, so more force is required in the warp direction to pull the fiber out than in the weft direction which is 102.5N and 124.3N. The result of grab test is opposite from multiple fibre pull-out test. Woven fabric in weft direct required more force which is about 1.4-29.2%. Less than 115N needed for splitting ramie in warp and weft direction compared jute and roselle fabric. The different energy provided by rosselle compared to jute and ramie fabric is 1-1.5Nm based on the puncture resistance test. Result of fibre reinforced UPE is obtained are in range of 21.4 - 27.9MPa which analogous to yarn and textile testing

The effect of hybridisation on mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of woven jute/ramie reinforced epoxy composites

Recently, the most critical issue related to the use of natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites (NFRPC) is the degradation properties of composites exposed to the environment. NFRPC’s moisture absorption behaviour has adverse effects on the composite’s mechanical properties and dimensional stability. The purpose of this study is to analyse the mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced by jute–ramie hybridisation. This study also analysed the effect of stacking sequence hybridisation of the jute–ramie composite on water absorption behaviour. A five-layer different type of stacking sequence of single and hybrid jute–ramie is produced with the hand lay-up method. The results obtained from this study found that the mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of a single jute fibre are lower compared to a single ramie fibre. The hybrid of jute–ramie has been able to increase the performance of composite compared to pure jute composites. The mechanical properties of the hybrid jute–ramie composite show a reduction effect after exposure to an aqueous environment due to the breakdown of fibre matrix interfacial bonding. However, after 28 days of immersion, all types of the stacking sequence’s mechanical properties are still higher than that of pure epoxy resin. In conclusion, the appropriate sequence of stacking and selecting the material used are two factors that predominantly affect the mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour. The hybrid composites with the desired and preferable properties can be manufactured using a hand-lay-up technique and used in the various industrial applications

Mechanical properties of hybrid sugar palm/ramie fibre reinforced epoxy composites

There has been a dramatic increase in natural fibre composites over the past century when natural fibre has performed well as polymer reinforcement. The present study was conducted on the mechanical properties of reinforced epoxy hybrid composites on sugar palm fibre (SPF) (long fibre)/ramie fibre (woven). The hybridizing effect of sugar palm (S) and ramie (R) fibres at different weight ratios was studied at S: R = 15:10 and R:S = 15:10, and thus maintaining the total fibre load by 25% in weight. The composite hybrid specimen consisted of five layers of fibre was prepared alternately. The mechanical properties of composites were analysed by tensile and flexural tests, respectively. The result showed that the tensile and flexural strength of five layer ramie composite was greater than the five-layer SPF composite. On the RSRSR hybrid composite with higher tensile (52.66 MPa) and flexural (80.70 MPa) strength properties among the five-layer SPF and SRSRS hybrid composites, positive hybridisation effects were observed. Since studies on hybrid composite reinforced long fibre SPF were combined with ramie woven reinforced epoxy to improve mechanical performance, the aim to achieve a green composite has become successful

The effect of hybridisation on mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of woven jute/ramie reinforced epoxy composites

: Recently, the most critical issue related to the use of natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites (NFRPC) is the degradation properties of composites exposed to the environment. NFRPC’s moisture absorption behaviour has adverse effects on the composite’s mechanical properties and dimensional stability. The purpose of this study is to analyse the mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced by jute–ramie hybridisation. This study also analysed the effect of stacking sequence hybridisation of the jute–ramie composite on water absorption behaviour. A five-layer different type of stacking sequence of single and hybrid jute–ramie is produced with the hand lay-up method. The results obtained from this study found that the mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour of a single jute fibre are lower compared to a single ramie fibre. The hybrid of jute–ramie has been able to increase the performance of composite compared to pure jute composites. The mechanical properties of the hybrid jute–ramie composite show a reduction effect after exposure to an aqueous environment due to the breakdown of fibre matrix interfacial bonding. However, after 28 days of immersion, all types of the stacking sequence’s mechanical properties are still higher than that of pure epoxy resin. In conclusion, the appropriate sequence of stacking and selecting the material used are two factors that predominantly affect the mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour. The hybrid composites with the desired and preferable properties can be manufactured using a hand-lay-up technique and used in the various industrial applications