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SHORT SISAL FIBRE REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITE: FABRICATION,

MECHANICAL AND WEAR PROPERTIES

1. Objective

The objective of this research is fabrication of short sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composite

sheet and testing of specimen which is prepared by sheet. The following testing is performed:

1. Mechanical properties

Tensile test

Flexural test

Impact test

2. Physical properties

Water absorption test

Moisture content test

3. Wear Properties

2. Introduction

A composite is composed of two (or more) individual materials, which come from the

categories such as metals, ceramics, and polymers. Environment is being polluted day by day

due to broadly use of synthetic fibre as reinforcement for polymer composite. The researchers,

engineers and scientists are showing their interest in natural fibre as reinforcement in place of

synthetic fibre. Natural fibres have advantages such as lightweight, low cost, environmental

friendly, good thermal properties, high toughness, reduced tool wear, non-irritation to skin,

renewability, biodegradability, high specific strength and abundance. Natural fibre reinforced

polymer composites have been used in automotive parts, building materials and electrical

industries.

3. Literature Survey

There were a lot research paper on sisal epoxy composite and hybrid but a few research paper

on the short sisal epoxy composite. Natural fibre reinforced polymer composites are very good

replacement of synthetic fibre. Mechanical properties of the natural fibre reinforced polymer

composite are dependent on various parameter such as fibre length, treatment, and method of

manufacturing etc. The natural fibre reinforced polymer exhibit good specific mechanical

properties than synthetic fibre reinforced polymer composite. Chemical treatment of fibres can

be done for improve the interface bonding between fibre and matrix results improved

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mechanical, physical and wear properties. The strength over weight is very good with

comparison to synthetic fibre reinforced polymer composites due to such reason these are

suitable for light weight application such as aeroplane and sports utilities vehicle which need

to efficient in fuel. Although, a great deal of work has been done on the different modes of

wear of sisal fibre polymer composites, however study on sliding wear behaviour of short sisal

fibre reinforced epoxy composite is rare. The wear behaviour of the natural fibre reinforced

composite independent of the mechanical properties.

4. Methodology and experimental work

Epoxy resin is a frequently used thermoset matrix for polymer composite. The potential of sisal

fibre is motivated us to select sisal as a reinforcement. In this work epoxy AY-105 with

hardener HY-951 is used as a matrix. The epoxy resin AY-105 and hardener HY-951 are mixed

in ratio of 10:1 by weight as recommended. An aluminium steel mould is prepared which has

dimension 400 mm × 200 mm × 3.2 mm and wax is used as release agent. In this work, sisal

fibre reinforced epoxy composites are manufactured by hand lay-up method with varying the

length (5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm) of 30 % wt. of fibre loading. The mechanical

properties (tensile, flexural and impact test), wear properties (specific wear rate and coefficient

of friction) and physical properties (water absorption and moisture content behaviour) of

prepared composites are carried out. The specimens are cut as per ASTM standard.

5. Results

The results from performed test show that tensile, flexural and impact strength are found

maximum 40.25 MPa, 128.79 MPa and 27.63 kJ/m2 respectively for the composite with fibre

lengths of 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm respectively. On increasing the load, sliding velocity and

sliding distance, the specific wear rate is found increase whereas value of coefficient of friction

decrease. The water absorption and moisture content is found maximum for sisal fibre

reinforced epoxy composite with 10 mm fibre length of composite.

6. Conclusion

Tensile strength of epoxy is not improved by the reinforcing of sisal fibre while tensile

modulus, flexural properties and impact properties are found to be improved.

Sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composite shows lower acceptable value of water

absorption and moisture content test.

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Specific wear rate and coefficient of friction of sisal reinforced epoxy composite is

found to be decreased with the reinforcement in epoxy.

Wear rate of composite is observed increased with load, sliding velocity and sliding

distance.

Friction force of composite is increased with load, sliding velocity and sliding distance

while the coefficient of friction is observed decreased with load, sliding velocity and

sliding distance.