Improvement of impact strength of epoxy matrix composites reinforced with E-glass fiber and novel calophyllum inophyllum filler in comparison with plain GFRP composite

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate Izod impact strength on epoxy matrix composite reinforced with E-Glass fiber and calophyllum inophyllum powder novel Hybrid composite in comparison with plain GFRP epoxy composite. The E-glass fiber was used as the reinforcement material and Epoxy (LY556), hardener (HY951), were used as the matrix materials.Calophyllum inophyllum powder with 5 % and 10 % volume fraction was used as the filler material. Composites were prepared by hand lay up method. Impact test was conducted as per ASTM-D256 standards. The sample size per group was 20. The pre test power for testing was 80 %, Alpha = 0.05 % and CL was 95 %, G power test was used to fix the number of samples for each group. Calophyllum inophyllum filler with 10 % volume fraction added with epoxy matrix reinforced by glass fiber laminate exhibits more Izod impact value when compared to 5 % volume fraction of calophyllum inophyllum filler added with epoxy laminate and plain GFRP laminate. The Significance value (p) obtained by the experimental and control groups was 0.000 (p < 0.05). A hybrid composite made by epoxy matrix with addition of 10 % volume fraction of novel calophyllum inophyllum filler reinforced by glass fiber hybrid composite enhances improved impact strength than plain and 5 % filler added composite.