Experimental analysis of sugarcane and coconut shell fibre impregnated with glassfiber composite for aircraft application

Abstract

Natural fibers' adaptability, sustainability, and environmental friendliness make them useful in a variety of sectors and applications. Sugarcane bagasse and coconut shell, which are made from industrial waste, have great promise as a sustainable substitute for traditional materials. How sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell, and glass fiber interact with an epoxy composite matrix is the subject of the present experimental investigation. The Semi Compression Moulding Machine (SCMM) was used to make the following compositions: 50 % matrix, 20 %-30 % sugarcane fiber, 10 %-25 % glass fiber, and 5 %-10 % coconut shell fiber. The ASTM-compliant composite plate structure that was built has a tensile strength ranging from 20 to 25 MPa and a tensile fatigue failure stress of 7 to 8 MPa, all tested over a range of 14,000 to 16,000 cycles. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for morphology examination, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed for crystalline properties. The use of natural fibers impregnated into glass fiber reinforced composites allowed for the creation of low density, very stable materials, which were essential for the skin and control surfaces of aircraft.