Abstract
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.
Highlights
With the increased use of polymer composites in our day to day activities comes the need to reduce the cost of manufacturing the polymer composites, making it a safer and sustainable material
Glass fibre in the form of Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) is used as a reinforcing material in many Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) as they form relatively strong and lightweight composites popularly known as Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)
On the other hand composites made of natural fibres have a much lower cost, they are more sustainable in comparison to synthetic fibres with lower density values (1.5 g/cm3 vs 2.6 g/cm3) for pineapple fibres and chopped strand mats respectively [4,5]
Summary
With the increased use of polymer composites in our day to day activities comes the need to reduce the cost of manufacturing the polymer composites, making it a safer and sustainable material. Two major drawbacks in the selection of natural fibre as reinforcement in composites is that, they offer lower strength in comparison to glass fibres and they are prone to moisture absorption either through direct contact or through the environment leading to swelling and the formation of voids in the polymer composite. Higher cellulose content of pineapple fibres make them a good choice for reinforcing material as it offers better mechanical properties [7]. Pavithran et al studied the Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)/polyester composites with unidirectional orientation of the fibres. They observed that an increase in fibre angle resulted in increased composite toughness [10].
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