Prediction on tensile properties of cow dung powder filled glass- polyester hybrid composites

Abstract

In this paper the tensile strength and modulus of cow dung powder filled glass- polyester hybrid composites were studied. Two different hybrid composites such as treated and untreated cow dung fibers were fabricated and effect of alkali treatment of the cow dung fibers on these properties were studied. It was observed that, tensile strength and modulus of the hybrid composites increases with increase of cow dung percentage of weight. These properties found to be higher when alkali treated cow dung fibers were used in the hybrid composites. The eradication of amorphous hemi-cellulose with alkali treatment leading to higher crystalline of the cow dung fibers with alkali treatment might responsible for these observations. The effect of alkali treatment on the bonding between glass / cow dung composites was also studied. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was also conducted on the cross sections of fractured surfaces.