Experimental investigation of hemp fiber hybrid composite material for automotive application

Abstract

Abstract In present work, experimental investigation has been carried out to study the effect of hybridization of glass fiber with untreated hemp fiber and treated hemp Fiber on mechanical properties. The Hemp fiber were alkaline treated using NaOH solution and its mechanical properties is also studied. Reinforcement of hemp and glass fiber was done with epoxy as a matrix material and it is fabricated using Hand layup technique. The test specimens were prepared with stacking sequence of glass fiber /epoxy composite (C-1), glass fiber /untreated hemp fiber/epoxy composite(C-2) and glass fiber /treated hemp fiber epoxy composite(C-3) based on ASTM standards. Tensile test, impact test, hardness test was carried out for the fabricated samples in order to attain the mechanical properties. Further, interfacial analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscope to assess the voids, fractures and fiber pull-out. The experimental test results point out that glass fiber epoxy composite exhibits good tensile strength but has poor impact strength and hardness values whereas the natural fiber hybrid composite has significantly lower tensile strength but very good impact strength and hardness values. Hence these natural fiber hybrid composites can be used extensively in the field of automobiles where it requires high impact strength and hardness.