Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites Research Articles

Impact of distinct alkaline treatment on natural plant fibre reinforced polymer composites

The primary goal of this research work is to enhance the mechanical behaviour of luffa, coir and sisal fibre reinforced polymer composites, which had undergone diverse chemical processing. The selected green fibres were subjected to a variety of alkaline treatments at varied concentration of 5% NaOH, 3% KOH and 7% Ca(OH)2 for 4, 2 and 6 h, respectively. The hand lay-up method was used to prepare the nine distinct samples. It was found that the composites with highest wt.% of coir and luffa fibres which underwent NaOH treatment resulted in highest tensile strengths of 10.946 and 14.425 MPa. However, Ca(OH)2 treatment proved to be better for composites containing 20% sisal fibres. Similarly, 20% NaOH treated coir fibre reinforced composite exhibited better flexural stress and modulus, whereas Ca(OH)2 treatment led to increase in flexural stress and modulus for composites containing 20% sisal fibres. The impact strength of the composites containing highest percentage of coir fibres that is, 20% was higher for all alkali treatments. Composite containing 20% NaOH treated coir fibres exhibited maximum interlaminar shear strength. Overall, NaOH treatment of coir, Ca(OH)2 treatment of sisal and KOH treatment of luffa fibre significantly improved the mechanical behaviour of the composites.

Investigations on Tribological Performance of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

There has been an increase in global interest in the development of natural fiber-reinforced composites. Natural fibers extracted from plants are receiving more attention from researchers, scientists, and academics due to their use in polymer composites and their environmentally friendly nature and sustainability. Recently, sisal fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been used in a variety of engineering applications like aerospace, automotive, marine, and other mechanical components, where tribological properties are of prime consideration. In this endeavor, experiments have been conducted to determine the tribological behavior of sisal fiber-reinforced polypropylene composite. Pin-on-disc wear tests have been conducted on specimens at various combinations of sliding velocities (1-3 m/s), sliding distances (1000-3000 m), and applying normal loads (10-30N). Using Response Surface Method (RSM), a mathematical model has been developed to predict the friction and wear loss behavior of the sisal fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. To ensure the validity of the developed model, the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique has been applied. Important process parameters and material variables that exert significant influence on sliding wear loss have been determined with the help of systematic experimentation. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) has been used to probe morphological observation of the worn surface. Results revealed that the highest volumetric wear loss has been recorded at the highest values of applied load and this has been supported by the morphological study demonstrated by the scratches, as well as wider and deeper plowing marks on the worn surfaces.

Recent advancement in sisal fiber reinforced polymer composites

Natural fibers are gaining importance day by day because of their distinct features such as, light weight, availability, environment friendliness, cost effectiveness along with sustainability. Different plant-based fibers have been explored by the scientific community in last decade for reinforcement in polymer matrix to develop composites. Sisal fiber is extensively used in polymer composites because of the improved mechanical properties of its composites. Sisal fibres are widely cultivated in India, East Africa, Brazil. Lot of polymer matrix have been used for developing the sisal fiberbasedpolymer composites. This article reviews the recent developments with special emphasis related to processing, fabrication and mechanical properties of sisal fiber based polymer composites.

Strengthening effect of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRP) on concrete

To date a large number of studies have been carried out on the use of different materials such as concrete, steel, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, to enhance the strength and ductility of the reinforced concrete (RC) members. Among these materials, concrete and steel are heavy weight, whereas FRP are expensive along with skin problems during handling and installations. In this paper, the efficiency of natural sisal fiber reinforced polymer composites is evaluated on strength and ductility of RC members. The salient features of natural sisal FRPs are low density, higher toughness, acceptable strength properties, reduced irritation to the skin and respiratory system, biodegradable and sustainable since they are natural products. The objectives of this research were twofold. The first was to evaluate the compressive and flexural behavior of small-sized concrete specimens (cylinders and beams) strengthened with natural sisal FRPs, considering different resin matrices, FRP thickness and concrete strengths. Whereas, the second objective was to investigate the strengthening effect of natural sisal FRP strengthening on the flexural response of RC beams. Test results showed that externally bonded natural sisal FRPs are significantly effective to increase the strength and ductility of the concrete members. In general, the experimental results demonstrated a higher increase in the load carrying capacity when the thickness of the sisal FRPs was increased. However, RC beams strengthened by natural sisal FRP, may fail by de-bonding of FRP from the concrete surface. To avoid this failure, a new anchoring system has been proposed and tested to evaluate their performance in preventing the de-bonding of FRP from concrete surface. Based on experimental results, proposed anchoring system was found to be effective to prevent the delamination of natural sisal FRPs from concrete surface.

Experimentation on Mechanical Properties of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Material

The naturally available material such as Sisal has been using in several applications in fabricating composite materials due to its exceptional durability with a minimum wear and tear and due to its ability to stretch. Using sisal fiber as reinforcement to form sisal fiber reinforced polymer composites, strengthen the study of mechanical properties of the composites. In this project, we have enhanced the mechanical properties of the sisal/glass fiber incorporated with polyurethane. Polyurethane is an extremely versatile elastomer used in countless applications worldwide. It has some excellent properties like high abrasive resistance, wide range of hardness, high load bearing capacity, wide resilience range, flexibility, strong bonding properties which makes it an ideal choice in the field of composite preparation. In this study, the composite material is fabricated by mixing Polyurethane proportionally with the sisal/glass fiber. After the fabrication is done, it is planned to study the mechanical properties of the composite material using different testing tools like Universal Testing Machine, Izod test, and hardness tester.

Mechanical Characterization of Roselle and Sisal Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites

This paper details the mechanical characterization of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. This includes the laboratory works such as tensile, flexural and impact tests. The samples of randomly oriented Roselle and Sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites were prepared for the laboratory tests. Theoretical modelling of the composites and calculation of the properties are also presented. The effect of alkali treatment of the fibre on the characteristics of the composite is also included. The results obtained are compared on various aspects to obtain a better performing composite.

Machinability and flammability properties of sisal fiber reinforced polymer composites

Nowadays Natural fiber reinforcement polymer composites (NFCs) are conventionally used materials and they are the replacement for the synthetic and other non-degradable fibers. NFCs are considered as environmental friendly materials and it will not cause any hazard to the environment as they are biodegradable. Flaming property of material is based on fire triangle (oxygen, ignition source and fuel). When fire triangle is controlled, then the flammability of materials are controlled. This work is on delay the ignition time and the reducing flammability on NFCs material. According to this, flame retardants are added to the reinforcement because flammability of NFCs is quite high when comparing to the other composite materials. So, flame retardant will delay the time of flame penetration in the material and it acts as a flame restrictor. Sisal fiber with Polypropylene (PP) matrix is used and to reduce the flammability ammonium polyphosphate (APP), magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH)2), zinc borate (Zb) and graphite added. APP when react with flame the char layer is produced and it will insulate the material to stop further flaming, Mg (OH)2 realises water molecules when react with flame at 135°c and tis also helps to delay the further flame. 3 composites are fabricated by varying the composition material. According ASTM D638 and UL-94 test standards by horizontal and vertical burning testing flammability timing is recorded, drilling operation were carried out to find the force of composite material by varying the cutting tool material with 5mm dia.

Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

The aim of this work is to study the influence of sisal fiber content on mechanical (i.e. tensile, flexural, impact, hardness and abrasion resistance) and thermal (i.e. TGA) properties of composites by varying the fiber and epoxy percentage. The composite was prepared by melt-mixing method, followed by compression molding process. The percentage of sisal fiber is varied from 4% to 10% in steps of 2%. Similarly epoxy content is varied from 96% to 90% in steps of 2%. Detailed mechanical Properties of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites have been studied. The major mechanical properties viz Tensile, Hardness, Impact, Flexural, Moisture absorption, and Moisture content are studied.

A Comparative Study on the Mechanical Properties of Jute and Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

The aim of the present study is to investigate and compare the mechanical properties of raw jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites with sodium hydroxide treated jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites. This is followed by comparisons of the sodium hydroxide treated jute and sisal fiber reinforced composites. The jute and sisal fibers were treated with 20% sodium hydroxide for 2 h and then incorporated into the epoxy matrix by a molding technique to form the composites. Similar techniques have been adopted for the fabrication of raw jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The raw jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites and the sodium hydroxide treated jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites were characterized by FTIR. The mechanical properties (tensile and flexural strength), water absorption and morphological changes were investigated for the composite samples. It was found that the sodium hydroxide treated jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites exhibited better mechanical properties than the raw jute and raw sisal fiber reinforced composites. When comparing the sodium hydroxide treated jute and sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites, the sodium hydroxide treated jute fiber reinforced composites exhibited better mechanical properties than the latter.

Water barrier properties of nanoclay filled sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composites

This paper deals with the water mass uptake of nanoclay and sisal fibre reinforced polymer composites. Nanoclays at 1wt.%, 3wt.% and 5wt.% were filled in sisal fibre reinforced epoxy polymer and placed in a water medium. The result shows a dramatic decrease in water mass uptake of nanoclay filled composites. The water transmission rate (WTR) for 5wt.% nanoclay filled composites reduced by three times when compared to unfilled composites. Hence the role of nanoclay on reducing water uptake is studied and results are compared with microclay filled composites. Tensile, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and wear studies were conducted for these composites before and after placing in the water medium. The properties decreased much for microclay filled and unfilled composites, however they improved significantly for nanoclay filled composites.

Tensile, Flexural and Chemical Resistance Properties of Sisal Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites: Effect of Fibre Surface Treatment

In this study, effect of fibre surface treatment on tensile, flexural and chemical resistance properties were studied for sisal fibre reinforced composites. Natural ligno cellulosic sisal fibre reinforced composites were prepared by different surface treatments by hand lay-up method. Fibre surface treatments were carried out to produce good interface between the fibre and the matrix to improve the mechanical properties. Fibre surface treatments 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. Unsaturated polyester resin was used as the matrix for preparing the composites. For comparison, these properties for untreated sisal fibre reinforced composites were also studied. From the results it was observed that 18% aqueous NaOH boiled sisal fibre reinforced composites have higher tensile, flexural properties than other composites. Untreated sisal fibre composites show lower properties than treated composites. Chemical resistance properties indicate that all sisal fibre reinforced composites are resistance to all chemicals except carbon tetra chloride. The tests are carried out as per the ASTM standards.

A REVIEW ON SISAL FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES

ABSTRACT The global demand for wood as a building material is steadily growing, while the availability of this natural resource is diminishing. This situation has led to the development of alternative materials. Of the various synthetic materials that have been explored and advocated, polymer composites claim a major participation as building materials. There has been a growing interest in utilizing natural fibres as reinforcement in polymer composite for making low cost construction materials in recent years. Natural fibres are prospective reinforcing materials and their use until now has been more traditional than technical. They have long served many useful purposes but the application of the material technology for the utilization of natural fibres as reinforcement in polymer matrix took place in comparatively recent years. Economic and other related factors in many developing countries where natural fibres are abundant, demand that scientists and engineers apply appropriate technology to utilize these natural fibres as effectively and economically as possible to produce good quality fibre reinforced polymer composites for housing and other needs. Among the various natural fibres, sisal is of particular interest in that its composites have high impact strength besides having moderate tensile and flexural properties compared to other lignocellulosic fibres. The present paper surveys the research work published in the field of sisal fibre reinforced polymer composites with special reference to the structure and properties of sisal fibre, processing techniques, and the physical and mechanical properties of the composites.

Influence of interfacial adhesion on the mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of short sisal fibre reinforced polymer composites

The mechanical properties of sisal fibre composites (randomly oriented) of several thermoset resin matrices, [polyester, epoxy, phenol-formaldehyde] and a thermoplastic matrix [low density polyethylene (LDPE)] were evaluated with respect to fibre length and fibre loading. All the composites showed a general trend of increase in properties with fibre loading. However, the optimum length of the fibre required to obtain an increase in properties varied with the type of matrix. Among polyester, epoxy and phenol-formaldehyde composites of sisal fibre, a phenolic type resin performed as a better matrix than epoxy and polyester resins with respect to tensile and flexural properties due to the high interfacial bonding in phenolic composites. However, as compared to thermoset resin composites, sisal fibre-LDPE composites showed a better reinforcing effect due to the high matrix ductility and high strength/modulus ratio of sisal as compared to that of LDPE matrix.

Environmental Influences on the Bending Properties of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

This investigation deals with the effect of environmental influences on the mechanical properties of sisal fiber reinforced polymer composites. Dependencies between moisture, acid as well as lys attacks were determined and mechanical data of sisal fiber-polypropylene are evaluated. The results obtained led to the conclusion that the bending properties of sisal fiber-polypropylene composites are sensitive to environmental attack.