Investigations On Mechanical Properties Of Glass And Sugarcane Fiber Polymer Matrix Composites

Abstract

Most of the developing countries are very rich in agricultural and natural fibres. It has got a very large percentage of production of rice husk, jute, stalk, baggase and coconut fibre in India. All these natural fibers have excellent physical and mechanical properties and can be utilized more effectively in the development of composite materials for various industrial applications. The present study deals with the effects of natural fibers on some mechanical properties of the Epoxy composites. This research was carried out by reinforcing the matrix (Epoxy) resin with natural fibre (cane sugar fibers) and glass fiber. The natural fibers were exposed to chemical treatment before reinforcement. The hybrid composites reinforced with chopped glass and cane sugar fibers were produced using hand layup method. Each sample was fabricated with different 10, 20, and 30 percent by volume of sugar cane fiber. After preparation of composite material, the mechanical properties like flexural and impact strength were studied. Cane sugar fibre composites were found to have the higher values of flexural strength (490.77 MPa) and impact strength 93.92 KJ/m2) than chopped glass fiber composites (flexural strength 93.19 MPa and impact strength (23.92 KJ/m2). It was found that the addition of natural fibers (cane sugar) along with chopped glass fibers improve the mechanical properties of hybrid composites.