Sisal Fiber Composites Research Articles

Exploration of Tensile, Flexural and Chemical Inertness Properties of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites-Surface Analysis

Our Experimentation finds, reaction of fibre external analysis on tensile, flexural and chemical resistance properties were studied for sisal fibre reinforced composites. Fibre surface analysis has done to produce link between fibre and the matrix to improve the mechanical properties. Fibre surface analysis were done by boiled the sisal fibres in different % of NaOH and treated the fibres in different % of NaOH, treated in acetic acid and methanol. Polyester resin have used as the matrix for preparing the composites and these properties for Natural sisal fibre reinforced composites were also studied. From the results it was observed that 25% NaOH boiled sisal fibre reinforced composites have higher tensile, flexural properties than other composites. Natural sisal fibre composites show fewer properties than treated composites. Chemical inertness properties indicate that all sisal fibre reinforced composites are resistance to all chemical agents except carbon tetra chloride.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Polyester Laminate Composites

The utilization of natural fibers as reinforcing composites has been widely used. Indonesia has natural fibers abundantly such as ijuk fiber (Arenga pinnata), sisal fiber (Agave Sisalana) and coconut fiber (Cocos Nucifera). Random orientation application of the fiber in composites affected to the lower properties. Therefore, the particular orientation of fibres wereapplied in manufacturing of composite by laminating the short fiber with Polyurethane (PU) adhesive. The size and moisture content (MC) of fiber were 14-15 cm and +10%, respectively. The resin content of PU was 5% by weight of the laminate sheet. The mixture of fibers and PU adhesive was cold pressed for 5 minutes with a thickness of 0.5-1 mm. The laminate sheet of PU-adhesive fibers then mixed with unsaturated polyester resin layer by layer. The fiber laminate composition of composite was varieted such as 1, 2 and 3 layers. The hand layup method was used in the manufacturing of the composite. The physical and mechanical testing like density, moisture content, water absorption, thickness swelling, flexural test (adapt to ASTM D 790 standard) and tensile test (adapt to ASTM D 638 standard) were carried out. In additionmorphological analyses were investigated on composite samples. The results research showed that the net density of polyester, ijuk fiber sheet, sisal fiber sheet, and coconut fiber sheet were 1.21, 0.9, 0.53 and 0.22 g/cm3. The range of composite density was 0.99-1.15 g/cm3. The single layer composite had lower thickness swelling and water absorption than those of the three layers composite. The highest tensile strength of three layers of sisal fiber composite was higher (33.84 MPa) than that of the three layers of coconut fiber composite (12.04 MPa). The flexural strength of double layers composite from fiber sisal was higher (63.16 MPa) than that of three layers coconut fiber composite (28.65 MPa).

Mechano-chemically activated fly-ash and sisal fiber reinforced PP hybrid composite with enhanced mechanical properties

This study explores the hybridizing effect of mechano-chemical activated fly-ash (FA) in polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with sisal fibers. Activation and resistance against agglomeration of FA has been achieved by modifying it with 2, 4, and 6 wt.% of the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C-tab). FA activation with C-tab and particle size reduction to nano-level (< 1 µm) have been appropriately achieved with a planetary ball milling and the same has been confirmed from the dynamic light scattering technique. The hybrid composite containing 25 wt.% of sisal fiber and 5 wt.% of (6 wt.% C-tab) treated FA shows much improved tensile (40.12 MPa), flexural (53.27 MPa), and impact strengths (0.75 kJ/m2) than that of virgin PP and its 30 wt.% sisal fiber composites. This increase in tensile and flexural strength was 30.54% and 48% higher than neat PP. Maximum notched impact strength of 0.80 kJ/m2 have been reported by hybrid composite containing FA treated with 2 wt.% of the C-tab. Micromechanical modelling using a combination of rule of mixture and inverse rule of mixture separately with Halpin–Tsai predicted a value close to the experimental Young’s modulus. DSC studies showed an increment in the composite's crystallinity upon fiber addition. Morphological analysis of the hybrid composite revealed good wettability of reinforcing fiber and FA within the matrix, whereas TGA showed an improved thermal stability of the composites.

Scheming of mechanical properties of molybdic acid added sisal glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite

The widespread use of sisal fiber and glass fiber-based composites has spawned a slew of novel applications in research and innovation. The goal of this project is to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of hybrid glass fiber-sisal reinforced epoxy with molybdic acids, such as tensile and hardness. Because of their biodegradability, increased qualities in more particular strength, and low weight, these materials-based composites are more intriguing. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the internal morphology of the composite and shattered details of structures are analyzed in order to study the surface aspects of materials. Variations in fiber and matrix content are used to test the qualities of the hybrid composite material. When the samples were further configured, the results indicated that 40 percent Fiber with 60 percent Matrix demonstrated excellent qualities. It is now possible to meet the structural endurance requirements of automotive inside, outside parts, suitcases, helmets, and lampshades using the solutions obtained.

Experimental investigation on characteristics of sisal fiber as composite material for light vehicle body applications

Sisal fiber composites became attractive due to their high specific strength, lightweight and biodegradability. The aim of this work is to examine characteristics of sisal fiber as composite material for light body vehicles on experimental basis. Composite materials prepared using biodegradable natural fibers are found to be most promising materials which can be used in vehicle body which results in reduction of overall weight of the vehicle. In this work sisal fiber was used. Sisal fiber was extracted using knife from the sisal plant leaves collected from Ethiopian highland. To remove cellulosic matter and improve surface roughness of the sisal fiber, it was immersed in sodium hydroxide solution for 24 h. The specimen of composite material is prepared using the general purpose resin as a matrix, the hardener and the sisal fiber as a reinforcement material with the fiber orientation of 00, ±450, 00 & 900 by using experimental (hand layup fabrication technique). The specimen was prepared and tested as per ECAE and ASTM standard. From the test results it was found that sisal fiber composite is a good light weight replacement for conventional materials in vehicle body applications. From the experiment result it was observed that different orientation of fiber has shown enhanced mechanical properties of the sisal fiber composite material.

Preparation and Assessment of Natural Fiber Composites for Marine Application

In the present study, a natural fiber, i.e., sisal fiber, is chosen to prepare composite samples of different compositions. The other materials taken for the preparation of composite are glass fiber and epoxy. After preparations, samples are subjected to different tests such as tensile strength and three-point bend test to assess their mechanical strength. Then, samples are immersed in seawater for 30 days. Again, their mechanical property assessed to know how these composites behave in a saline environment and compared with previous results. It is seen that sisal fiber composites show positive results in the seawater environment.

Polyurethanes from plant- and fossil-sourced polyols: Properties of neat polymers and their sisal composites

Polyurethanes are synthesized from polyols, which can be fossil- or plant-sourced. The goal of this study was to investigate how the use of plant-sourced polyols, i.e., the ricinoleic acid triglyceride (the main component of castor oil, CO) and lignosulfonate, impacts the properties of the materials, as well as of their composites reinforced with sisal fibers. To reach this objective, the properties of polyurethanes from plant-sourced polyols were compared with those of their counterparts synthesized using fossil-sourced diethylene glycol (DEG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). As far as is known, this approach is unheard-of. Polyurethanes and lignopolyurethanes (neat PUs and LigPUs) were synthesized under temperature and compression molding from CO, DEG, and PEG (PUs), and in LigPUs, 30 % of the polyols were replaced by lignosulfonate. Under the same conditions, composites were formed simultaneously with the syntheses after adding sisal fibers (30 % by weight, 3 cm in length) to the reagents. A notable characteristic is the impact strength of the neat PU and PU sisal composites in which PEG (approximately 750 Jm−1and 850 Jm−1, respectively) and CO (unfractured and approximately 850 Jm−1, respectively) were used. Flexural tests showed that the use of CO as a polyol in the synthesis of the neat PUs and LigPUs and composites imparted elastomeric characteristics to the materials. Similar properties were noted when PEG was used as a polyol, except when it was used together with lignosulfonate in the sisal reinforced composite. A high content of renewable raw material was used in the LigPU sisal fiber composites, meeting expectations regarding the sustainability of the processes, as well as the potential to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy. The materials were prepared using renewable reagents largely available, with no solvent or catalyst use, through a simple process, and no byproducts generated. These features favor the scaling-up of the process. Also, the bio-based materials exhibited good and diverse properties, which qualify them for various applications in which polyurethanes obtained only from fossil-sourced raw materials are used.

Fabrication of Automobile Component Using Hybrid Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite

ABSTRACT In recent years, natural fibers have been used more frequently for their lower weight to strength ratio, low cost, and environmental-friendly attributes. In this work, sisal/kenaf fiber reinforced with epoxy matrix hybrid composite (HC) was manufactured and their mechanical properties were compared with the sisal fiber composite (SFC) and kenaf fiber composite (KFC). Water absorption was carried out to find the moisture absorption capacity of the manufactured HC. HC provides better properties when compared with SFC and KFC. Hybrid composite is suitable for light weight automobile applications.

Strength Analysis on Natural Fibre Composite Banana and Sisal Fibres with Epoxy Resin

The tensile strength and bending strength variation on the basis of change in mass of HEMP and SISAL fiber content in the composite. The scope of work is constraint to hemp and sisal fibre composite with epoxy as resin. Study of the characteristics of hemp and sisal fiber, to fabricate the composite of hemp and sisal fiber with epoxy resin and increase the strength of hemp fibers composited with sisal fibers using epoxy to finding the variation of tensile strength of the natural fiber composite- Hemp &amp; Sisal with epoxy resin with different composition and finding the variation of bending strength of the natural fiber composite- Hemp and Sisal with epoxy resin with different composition and compare the mechanical properties of Hemp – Sisal composite with glass fiber.

High-strength hybrid particulate-fibre polymer composites: The role of process temperature on the mechanical strength

In this study, hybrid particulate-fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites were demonstrated as a high-strength and lightweight engineering material. The natural fibre, sisal, reinforced polymer composite is well known for its good performance in industrial applications. The mechanical strength of such sisal fibre composites were further improved by incorporating Teakwood particulates. Such particulates are composed of cellulosic and hemi-cellulosic molecules and crystallinity index of 33%, as evidenced by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. The hybrid composite samples were fabricated at varying particulate weight content (%) and different processing temperatures via compression molding technique. It is found that the processing temperature greatly influences the mechanical properties of the composite. A hybrid composite material processed at 80 °C shows the highest tensile and flexural strength of 33.2 MPa and 48.4 MPa, respectively, for the particulate content of 15 wt%. In fact, the presence of teakwood particulates facilitates arresting the propagation of cracks due to the applied load and thus improves the mechanical strength.

Fatigue Characterization Of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Composites Using Experimental And Finite Element Method

The objective of this study is to investigate the fatigue behavior of sisal fiber reinforced with carbon nanotubes. The hand lay-up technique is used to prepare the composite material samples. The fatigue response of pure polymer matrix, composite material which is prepared by reinforcing a sisal fiber reinforced with a polymer matrix was studied. The effectiveness of nano reinforcement of fatigue response is identified from experiments. Later, the fatigue response of sisal and nano particle reinforced sisal fiber composites (hybrid composite) is identified with irregularities by using finite element based software ANSYS. The elastic properties of sisal fiber reinforced composite and carbon nanotube reinforced composite is estimated by using the principles of Micromechanics and Macro-mechanics. The failure mechanism of polymer, conventional sisal fiber composites and nano filled sisal fiber reinforced composites are identified. The effect of the shape of the irregularities on the fatigue response is also identified from ANSYS software. From the present work, it is observed that, the reinforcement of nano reinforcement has considerable influence on the fatigue response of the resulting composite.

Fracture Behavior of Nano Particle Reinforced Sisal Fiber Composites using Analytical and Experimental Methods

Sisal fiber reinforced composites are being replaced with manmade composites as these materials are difficult to manufacture and non biodegradable. On the other hand, the natural fiber reinforced composites such as sisal fiber reinforced composites shows less strength compared to manmade composites. The objective of the present work is to explore the mechanical properties of sisal fiber composites and hybrid sisal composites using analytical and experimental methods. The sisal composites and hybrid sisal composites are prepared by using hand layup techniques. The hybrid composites are prepared by reinforcing nano carbon powder and sisal fibers in a polymer matrix with the weight fraction of 9% of carbon powder and 50% of sisal fiber. The elastic modulus of polymer matrix with carbon powder reinforcement and polymer matrix, carbon powder and sisal fiber reinforced composites are identified by conducting suitable experiments. Later by using the finite element method, the fracture behavior of sisal fiber composites and hybrid composites are estimated. The energy released (ER) and energy required to create the surface (ES) are estimated to identify the critical crack length of the respective material. The present work is used for the design of sisal fiber composites with respect to young’s modulus and fracture response.

Recycling of sisal fiber reinforced polypropylene and polylactic acid composites: Thermo-mechanical properties, morphology, and water absorption behavior

The effect of recycling on the thermo-mechanical and water absorption behavior of polypropylene (PP)/sisal fiber and polylactic acid (PLA)/sisal fiber composites were studied. The PP-based non-biodegradable composites and PLA-based biodegradable composites were recycled for four times. The effect of recycling was determined by examining the morphology, thermo-mechanical properties, and water absorption behavior and the obtained results were compared. The results showed that the incorporation of sisal fibers in the PP and PLA matrix enhances the tensile modulus and percentage crystallinity of the composites. The tensile strength and modulus of the sisal fiber reinforced PP composites were not affected with recycling. Even though the tensile properties of PLA and PLA/sisal fiber reinforced composites are superior to PP and PP/sisal fiber composites, the PLA-based composites show a dramatic decrease in tensile strength and modulus after the first recycling due to the degradation of the polymer. The thermal stability of the PP/sisal fiber composites was not affected by the repeated recycling process. On the other hand, the PLA-based composites with higher sisal fiber content show a bit lower thermal stability after recycling. The PP-based composites show fluctuations in percentage crystallinity with recycling. On the other hand, a remarkable increase in percentage crystallinity for PLA and PLA-based composites was observed with increasing recycling times. Water diffusion study divulges that the diffusion of water into the polymer composites was reduced with recycling, irrespective of the polymer matrix.

Bioalumina Nano Powder Extraction and its Applications for Sisal, Coir and Banana Hybrid Fiber Composites: Mechanical and Thermal Properties

In the present environmental conditions bio usages has a vital importance in the society due to global warming and other environmental threats. In this work, alumina nano powder synthesized from ‘Neem’ leaf’ is used in sisal, coir and banana fiber composites for the betterment of mechanical and thermal applications. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) contemplated biosynthesized alumina nano powder (BSANP-C) has better thermal stability than other nano powders. The mechanical results verified the enhancement of tensile, flexural and impact strength for hybrid banana coir (HBC), hybrid sisal coir (HSC) and hybrid sisal banana (HSB) composites up to 3% BSANP-C addition. Hybrid combination at 5% nano substitution tends to decrease the mechanical properties of hybrid composites due to agglomeration of BSANP-C making uneven mixing of filler in the matrix. The addition of BSANP-C wt% up to 3 in HBC, HSC and HSB ascertain residual % improvement from 18.72 to 23.41%, 21.90 to 25.75% and 22.69 to 26.33%. BSANP-C addition at 5% decreased the degradation temperature, char residual % and endothermic peak due to agglomeration. SEM test was taken for morphological study of fractured surface of the hybrid composites.

Can the maximum volume fraction ensure optimum reinforcement in short‐fiber composites?

ABSTRACTShort sisal fiber composites (SSFCs) based on a pectin matrix were prepared and characterized mechanical and optically. Different concentrations (1–30 wt %) of fibers were used to evaluate the packing effect on the reinforcement of a polymer matrix. Theoretical models were used to obtain the maximum packing or volume fraction (ϕmax) of randomly oriented short fibers and its relationship with the mechanical parameters. A higher elastic modulus and tensile strength were observed when the fiber content was increased in the composite at a fixed aspect ratio (length/diameter = 2.8). Material selection charts showed that SSFCs with a fiber concentration of 20 wt % had a higher reinforcement effect at ϕmax, as was predicted through theoretical models. Nevertheless, SSFCs with a fiber concentration of 7 wt % presented optimum reinforcement because it resulted in the strongest and lightest composite material. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47821.

Ballistic Efficiency of Multilayered Armor Systems with Sisal Fiber Polyester Composites

The urban violence and the different types of global armed conflicts demand efficient protective systems against high energy ammunition. Multilayered Armor Systems (MAS) provide efficient protection by making use of lighter and more efficient materials. A typical MAS may be composed of three layers: a front ceramic followed by a composite, backed by a ductile metal. Polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers have proven to be effective second layers, being also lighter, low-cost and environmentally friendly as compared to conventional composites like KevlarTM. The present work evaluates MAS using as second layer polyester composites reinforced with 10, 20, and 30 vol. % of sisal fibers. Ballistic tests were performed using class III 7.62x51 mm ammunition, based on the NIJ 0101.06 backface signature methodology. Both the 30 vol.% sisal fiber composite and the conventional aramid laminates were equally efficient in terms of MAS second layer. The explanation might be the similar capacity of the different composites to retain the fragments generated by the interaction of the projectile with the front ceramic, independently of the percentage of sisal fibers.

Impact of surface adaptation and Acacia nilotica biofiller on static and dynamic properties of sisal fiber composite

ABSTRACTNowadays, the awareness of the public along with strict legitimate forces over the use of polymers, the manufacturing and automotive industries started using the renewable materials. Since, natural fiber reinforced composites play vital role in developing lightweight structural materials, this study focuses on utilizing sisal fiber as reinforcement in polyester matrix along with natural filler. The influence of fiber length and fiber volume fraction on the mechanical properties of sisal fiber was studied initially. Test results revealed that the composite with 20 mm fiber length and 20-volume fraction composite has better mechanical properties. Furthermore, the effect of fiber surface modification has been analyzed using various chemical solutions such as NaOH, KMnO4, stearic acid, and maleic acid. Of these, NaOH treatment enhances the mechanical properties of composite compared to all other cases. Finally, the influence of Acacia nilotica, a natural filler addition into the alkali-treated sisal fiber composite has been evaluated by mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. It is found that the addition of natural filler and surface treatment has enhanced the properties of composites due to their synergetic effect. This effect improves the adhesion and uniform stress transfer among the reinforcements. The fiber surface morphology was evaluated using micrographs obtained from scanning electron microscope.

Profiling application potential for alkali treated sisal fiber-polypropylene composite in Ashby material-property plots

The effect of alkali treatment on sisal fiber from the plant agave sisalana in appropriation for composite material application is presented. Effectiveness of the fiber’s reinforcement potential within polypropylene (PP) matrix is evaluated through morphological analysis, crystallinity levels, and tensile, where ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 580 MPa are obtained. The performance property of the resultant composite is comparatively profiled against equivalent material systems in Ashby material property charts, where suitability for light, low-flexure and stiffness limited design applications is evident. Based on the fiber’s non-uniform and irregular geometrical variation, the structural characteristics of the fiber is described by the two-parameter Weibull statistical technique, applied as control to ascertain experimentally determined parameters. The fiber diameters ranged from 148 μm to 304 μm and exhibited corbel-arch and horse-shoe morphology. The composite is of a randomly oriented short-fiber architecture, 0.23 fiber volume fraction. This study concludes that drawbacks to realizing functional cellulosic fiber-polymeric composites can be achieved by the judicious integrated choice of (i) methodology of fiber modification, (ii) proper fiber characterization, and (iii) optimization of processing parameters.Keywords: Ashby plot, Weibull analysis, sisal-fiber composite, alkali treatment

Engineering Properties of Bentonite-Lime-Phosphogypsum Composite Reinforced with Treated Sisal Fibers

The present work primarily investigates the unconfined compressive strength, the tensile load-diametral strain, the toughness characteristics and the shear strengths of bentonite-lime-phosphogypsum-treated sisal fibre composite. The unconfined compressive strengths and tensile strengths were obtained using the unconfined compressive test and indirect tensile test respectively. The results revealed that the unconfined compressive stress, the deviator stress and the tensile load at failure of bentonite-lime-phosphogypsum composite with untreated sisal fibres could be improved by the successive chemical treatment with sodium periodate, p-aminophenol and sodium hydroxide. The brittleness index and deformability index indicated a change from the brittle to ductile behavior of the bentonite-lime-phosphogypsum-untreated sisal fiber composite, with the chemical treatment.

Flexural Test on Hybrid Biocomposite Materials

Aim: The main objective of this work is to fabricate the biocomposites exploitation natural fibres like Sisal, Banana, hibiscus, Sisal and banana (hybrid), banana and hibiscus (hybrid) and sisal and hibiscus and sisal (hybrid) with epoxy (bio) glue as a reinforcement exploitation molding methodology. Methods/Analysis: In the present study, the optimum combination of fibre and organic compound is achieved by exploitation Taguchi methodology. During this work, flexural rigidity of Sisal and banana (hybrid) at a quantitative relation of 1:1, banana and hibiscus (hybrid) at a quantitative relation of 1:1 and sisal and hibiscus (hybrid) at a quantitative relation of 1:1 composite were studied at dry and wet conditions. The main focus of the work is to predict the properties of fibre fabric of the NFRP composite and also the mathematical model of deflection of beams was developed and the values are compared and located to be in sensible agreement. The wet absorption characteristics of the fibres are vital to supply the natural fibre hybrid composite materials with the positive hybrid impact. Specimens were scanned using Scanning electron microscope. Findings: The wet composites reduce the flexural properties as the presence of wet degrades the fibre matix interface strength and it makes poor stress transfer leading to a discount on the flexural strength. Each within the hibiscus and sisal fibre composites, it was found that the elongation of fibre increasing when it is immerse in the water. The explanation can be the presence of water attack on the polyose structure expectations and allow the polyose molecules to maneuver swimmingly. Application/Improvement: The application includes the replacement material for bone joints, artificial tissues, limbs, arteries, artificial tooth and skin. So, this work can be extended to other spheres of the biomaterials by extending the work and conducting other functional properties like stress distribution and biocompatibility etc.