Hygric Strain Behaviour of Natural Composites

Abstract

Extracted pineapple and banana fibres are incorporated in polyester resin matrix to prepare pure pineapple and pure banana fibre composites using hand layup technique. For comparison purpose glass fibre composites are also fabricated under similar processing conditions. A separate test setup has been designed for determination of hygric strain (β). All the specimens were subjected to moisture test in order to estimate hygric strain. Specimen deflections were measured periodically with respect to time. All samples are also exposed to the same environment are removed periodically from the water bath and weighed on an analytical balance to determine the relative weight gain, ‘M’. The average moisture concentration ‘C’ is computed using relative weight gain and densities of composite and water. Coefficient of hygric strains are determined from moisture concentration (C) and hygric strains (β).