Study on Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Properties of Banana Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

In recent decades, engineering applications involving polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers have increased significantly due to the advantages not only of favorable composite properties but also of fiber durability and environmental friendly nature. In the present work composites reinforced with upto 20 wt% fabric made of banana, a relatively known natural fiber from India. These banana fibers were cut into a similar average length of 10 and 20 mm and two sets of bio-composites were prepared by compression moulding process with varying weight percentage of epoxy resin by 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%. Experimental results showed tensile, flexural and impact strength of bio-composites with up to 15 wt% has increased compared with neat epoxy. However, the mechanical strength has decreased above 15 wt% fiber reinforcement. This is a study of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) that banana fiber-reinforced composites have high thermal stability up to 220 oC.