Processing and Mechanical Behavior of Banana Fibre Reinforced Epoxy based Composite with Alumina and silicon Carbide

Abstract

Polymer composites have outstanding qualities such as high strength, flexibility, stiffness, and lightweight. Currently, research is being performed to develop innovative polymer composites that may be used in many operational situations and contain a variety of fibre and filler combinations. Banana fibre has low density compared to glass fibre and it is a lingo-cellulosic fibre having relatively good mechanical properties compared to glass fibre. Because of their outstanding qualities, banana fibre reinforced polymer composites are now widely used in various industries. The primary goal of this study is to determine the effect of the wt.% of banana fibre, the wt.% of SiC, and the wt.% of Al2O3 in banana fibre reinforcement composites on the mechanical and physical properties of banana fibre reinforcement composites. Tensile strength and flexural strength of unfilled banana fibre epoxy composite increased with the increase in wt. of banana fibre from 0 wt.% to 12 wt.%. Further, an increase in wt.% banana fibre drop in mechanical property was observed. It has been concluded from the study that the variation in percentage weight of filler material with fixed amount (12 wt.%) of banana fibre affects the mechanical properties of filled banana reinforcement composites. Optimum mechanical properties were obtained for BHEC5 (72 wt.% Epoxy + Hardener, 12 wt.% banana fibre and 16 wt.% Al2O3).