Manufacturing and Processing of Banana Fiber-Based Polymer Composite

Abstract

AbstractRecently, many industries try to minimize petroleum-based materials and products due to the ecological issues and the requirement for more flexible materials. This makes industries to use polymer composites based on natural fibers due to their unique properties. In fact, use of banana fiber in manufacturing of polymer composites is increased recently for various applications. Apart from the physical, chemical and mechanical properties, these composites undergo various secondary operations before actual use. In this chapter, an attempt is made on manufacturing and machinability study of short banana fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites. Convectional hand layup process is used for manufacturing while CNC milling process is used for machinability of BFRP composite. Processing parameters like % fiber, speed and feed rate on MRR, process time, and thrust force are studied according to the Taguchi (L9). Using AHP-TOPSIS method, optimal processing parameters for CNC milling are established. Results show that hand layup process and CNC milling process is feasible in processing of BFRP composites and produce better products. Ideal setting for BFRP composites obtained as % fiber: 10%, speed: 500 rpm and feed rate: 180 mm/rev and parameter %fiber and speed found more significance during the processing of BFRP composite.KeywordsBFRP compositeCNC milling processParametric analysisANOVARegression analysisOptimization