Investigating the Influence of Water Absorption and Mechanical Properties of Composites Reinforced with Banana and Roselle Fibers

Abstract

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are the best at many things because they have high specific strength and modulus. Plastics are reinforced with artificial or natural fibers. Glass, carbon, and other synthetic fibers have long been used in fiber-reinforced plastics. Despite having high specific strengths, glass and other synthetic fiber-reinforced plastics are rarely used due to the high cost of production. For this, researchers have studied roselle, a plentiful natural fiber from India. Natural fibers are lightweight, strong, and reasonably priced. This study develops and characterizes a new class of natural fiber-based polymer composites using roselle fiber and banana fiber reinforcement. The new composites' mechanical characteristics are described. Research is being done to better understand the mechanical behaviour of epoxy-based polymer composites. Composites made of banana fiber and roselle fiber are gaining attention as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to synthetic fiber composites. In this study, six different compositions of these natural fiber composites were prepared, and six specimens were tested using tensile tests and water absorption tests, in accordance with ASTM standards. The results showed an increase in tensile strength with a 68% improvement observed when compared to pure epoxy resin. The water absorption tests were conducted by varying the weights of the composites and increasing the weights gradually over a period of 10 days. The findings showed that the composites exhibited excellent resistance to water absorption, with the weight gain being significantly lower than that of pure epoxy resin. These results suggest that composites made of banana fiber and roselle fiber can be a promising alternative to traditional synthetic fiber composites, with improved mechanical properties and resistance to water absorption.