The Effects of Natural Fiber Orientations on the Mechanical Properties of Brake Composites

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research aims to study the usage of natural fibers as composite reinforcement and their effects on mechanical properties. Because asbestos fibers have negative impacts on the environment and public health, in the manufacture of brake composites they were replaced with natural fibers. Compared to synthetic fibers, natural fibers are cheaper, higher manufacturability, and a better contributor to mechanical properties. Pineapple leaf fibers were prepared by a water retting process, and coconut and areca fibers were prepared by a separation process after drying. The samples were prepared in the different volume fraction of fibers (2 vol% – 10 vol%) and fiber orientations adjusted as random, perpendicular, and angle of 45°. They were fabricated by hot isostatic pressing method, tested using Rockwell hardness tester, wear testing machine, and universal testing machine, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The specimen in a fiber orientation of 45° performs the strongest tensile strength. The highest hardness (68 HRN) is found in the specimen with a volume fraction of 2 vol%, the lowest wear (1,64 × 10−4 mm2/kg) is obtained in the sample (10 vol%), and the highest tensile strength (14,5 MPa) is resulted by a specimen in angle orientation 45°.