Mechanical characterization of E-glass fiber/aluminium powder filled with and without coconut fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composite

Abstract

In recent years, hybrid composites have played an important role in automobiles and aircraft applications. Coconut and peanut are the most used natural fillers due to their advantages such as easy availability, low density, low production costs, and good mechanical properties. Composites are prepared using epoxy resin, high-quality aluminium micro particle, E-glass fiber and coconut coir. Aluminium powder and epoxy resin at constant load 4.0 wt% and 82.0 wt%, which is in added with E-glass fiber: 8.0 wt% and coconut coir: 6.0 wt% (EAECC). Another composite compromising of 4.0 wt% Al, E-glass 14.0 wt% (EAE) was also fabricated and their properties are compared. Experimental research demonstrated the epoxy hybrid polymer composite without coconut coir inclusion remarkably has superior the mechanical properties more than 20% as compared with EAECC composite. Without the addition of coconut coir, considerable improvements in impact, flexural, compressive and tensile characteristics were made (97.2 J/m2, 144 MPa, 101 MPa and 94 MPa). There is a marginal difference in hardness with and without coconut inclusion in hybrid composite.