Enhancemenet of Mechanical and Vibrational Properties of Plywood for Packaging and Container Applications

Abstract

Abstract Commercially available plywood has been used in doors, windows, interior decorations of hose and commercial complexes, containers for transportation of goods. Moisture absorbs by the plywood (W) and deteriorates its physical and mechanical properties leads to degradation of its durability and reliability of the laminates. Therefore, hybridization with synthetic glass (G) fiber is one of the solutions to avoid water absorption and improves its mechanical strength of the hybrid composites in hygrothermal environment. Therefore, the present investigation emphasizes the effect of glass fiber position in the hybrid composites on its mechanical and vibrational responses as compared to plain plywood laminates. There were three types of hybrid composites were considered for this investigation. It was observed that maximum impact strength of 5.325 J/m2 was found to be in GWG2WG type hybrid composite, maximum flexural strength and modulus was found to be in G2WG2 type of hybrid composite and maximum natural frequency of 52.515 Hz was found to be in WG4W hybrid composite. However, the overall mechanical and vibrational properties were improved for G2WG2 type hybrid composites as compared to others. Therefore, the presence of glass fiber in the outer surface of the hybrid composites is the better position to achieve desirable mechanical and vibrational properties of the hybrid composites as compared to other positions. This hybrid composite may be used as alternative materials for containers in goods transport sectors.