Synergy of hybridization of bauhinia vahlii and kenaf fiber on mechanical and sliding wear properties of epoxy composites: A Grey Taguchi Optimization Study

Abstract

The present research work aims to develop Bauhinia vahlii fibre epoxy composites with incorporation of different weight percentage (wt%) of kenaf fiber as secondary reinforcement to elevate the mechanical and wear properties of prepared composites (through hand layup method). Higher value of mechanical properties like tensile strength-114.85 MPa, flexural strength- 64.64 MPa, and hardness- 57.2 Hv are achieved for bauhina vahlii-epoxy composites. In case of hybrid composites, tensile strength-161.92 MPa; flexural strength- 93.28 MPa; and hardness- 76.0Hv for bauhinia vahlii/kenaf-epoxy composites at 10 wt% of fiber reinforcement. The design of experiment is developed by Taguchi L9 orthogonal array to optimize the experimental run with three control factors; sliding velocity, fiber wt%, and normal load. In order to assess the multiple responses, the fabricated composite is analysed by Grey-Taguchi method with optimal factor setting to improve the output responses i.e. specific wear rate, tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness. The optimal parameters which highly affect the properties of composites are sliding velocity (2.5 m/s), fiber wt% (10 wt %), and normal load (15 N). In wear mechanism analysis of composites by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it is demonstrated that the synergy of hybridization of bauhinia vahlii and kenaf fiber improved the mechanical and wear properties of composites.