Optimization of Fabrication Parameters on Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composite by ANN Design

Abstract

Natural fiber based composites fabricated usually posses low strength and finds less use in automotives. Hybridization with stronger synthetic fibers like carbon or glass improves the strength. Composites prepared with synthetic fibers as outer layers and natural fibers as inner core shall serve in automotives. This work explodes the potential reinforcement of fibers from palm fruit for fabricating polymer composites. The fibers were pre-treated with glass fibers to form as fiber mats and hybridized with glass fibers prior to reinforcement. These mats were reinforced in the polyester resin matrix as different layers to form a hybrid composite. Experiments were done by varying the length of fiber, fiber volume and with different treatments using response surface methodology. Tensile strength was measured as response. The tensile strength was spotted maximum in 8% potassium permanganate (KMnO4) treated palm fibers with optimum fiber length 40 mm and volume fraction of 20%. The surface study on these composites through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) examination was satisfactory. Hence this specimen combination was best suited and recommended to manufacture components like car bonnet, bumper etc.