Title: Investigation on the effect of hybridisation and weathering behaviour of natural fibre polymer composites

Authors: I. Siva, J.T. Winowlin Jappes

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, (Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education), Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil-626 190, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam University, (Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education), Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil-626 190, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: The performance and behaviour of various natural fibres and their hybrids with synthetic glass fibre composites were investigated in this work. The composites were fabricated using moulding method. The tensile compressive and flexural strength of the fabricated composites were tested using universal testing machine (UTM). From the load-displacement graph obtained from UTM, the effect of fibres and its hybridisation with glass fibre on the ultimate stress and the displacement on loading were analysed. The impact strength of the un-notched composites was analysed using charpy impact tester. The water immersion tests were also conducted to ensure the weathering behaviour/suitability of this moulded composite under some moisture conditions. From the experimentations it was concluded that the natural fibres can become a best competitor to eliminate or decrease the use of conventional fibre reinforcement. In general, the hybridisation of natural fibre composites enhances the mechanical properties.

Keywords: natural fibres; hybrid composites; glass fibre composites; mechanical properties; moulding; hybridisation; weathering behaviour; natural fibre composites; polymer composites; fibre reinforced composites; compressive strength; tensile strength; flexural strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2011.042364

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2011 Vol.3 No.5/6, pp.559 - 569

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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