Evaluation of mechanical properties of coconut flower cover fibre-reinforced polymer composites for industrial applications

Author(s):  
K Palani Kumar ◽  
D Keshavan ◽  
Elango Natarajan ◽  
Arvind Narayan ◽  
K Ashok Kumar ◽  
...  

In recent times, polymer composites have played an epochal role in transforming material science. Some of their properties such as toughness, strength, flexibility and rigidity have helped them supplant conventional materials such as iron, steel, and aluminium on several occasions. Apart from this, they are light in weight and more cost-efficient, which make them a viable alternative. They have found their application in several fields such as automobile industry, aerospace industry, construction and pipeline industry. Owing to its excellent impact strength, tensile and hardness, natural fibres serve as an excellent replacement. Natural fibres are an environmental friendly, biodegradable and are readily available. The present investigation uses a new fibre for manufacturing the eco-friendly composite material. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, shear stress, flexural rigidity, impact strength and hardness of a coconut fibre-reinforced polymer composite material are evaluated as per respective ASTM standards. A surface analysis of the material using a scanning electron microscope is also performed. The results are categorized and tabulated accordingly. The values obtained appear to fall in line with the experimental data and hence can be espoused as an alternative material especially in the automotive sector.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Tan Ke Khieng ◽  
Sujan Debnath ◽  
Ernest Ting Chaw Liang ◽  
Mahmood Anwar ◽  
Alokesh Pramanik ◽  
...  

With the lightning speed of technological evolution, the demand for high performance yet sustainable natural fibres reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) are rising. Especially a mechanically competent NFPCs under various loading conditions are growing day by day. However, the polymers mechanical properties are strain-rate dependent due to their viscoelastic nature. Especially for natural fibre reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) which the involvement of filler has caused rather complex failure mechanisms under different strain rates. Moreover, some uneven micro-sized natural fibres such as bagasse, coir and wood were found often resulting in micro-cracks and voids formation in composites. This paper provides an overview of recent research on the mechanical properties of NFPCs under various loading conditions-different form (tensile, compression, bending) and different strain rates. The literature on characterisation techniques toward different strain rates, composite failure behaviours and current challenges are summarised which have led to the notion of future study trend. The strength of NFPCs is generally found grow proportionally with the strain rate up to a certain degree depending on the fibre-matrix stress-transfer efficiency. The failure modes such as embrittlement and fibre-matrix debonding were often encountered at higher strain rates. The natural filler properties, amount, sizes and polymer matrix types are found to be few key factors affecting the performances of composites under various strain rates whereby optimally adjust these factors could maximise the fibre-matrix stress-transfer efficiency and led to performance increases under various loading strain rates.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2136
Author(s):  
Sharizal Ahmad Sobri ◽  
Robert Heinemann ◽  
David Whitehead

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) can be costly to manufacture, but they are typically used anywhere a high strength-to-weight ratio and a high steadiness (rigidity) are needed in many industrial applications, particularly in aerospace. Drilling composites with a laser tends to be a feasible method since one of the composite phases is often in the form of a polymer, and polymers in general have a very high absorption coefficient for infrared radiation. The feasibility of sequential laser–mechanical drilling for a thick CFRP is discussed in this article. A 1 kW fibre laser was chosen as a pre-drilling instrument (or initial stage), and mechanical drilling was the final step. The sequential drilling method dropped the overall thrust and torque by an average of 61%, which greatly increased the productivity and reduced the mechanical stress on the cutting tool while also increasing the lifespan of the bit. The sequential drilling (i.e., laser 8 mm and mechanical 8 mm) for both drill bits (i.e., 2- and 3-flute uncoated tungsten carbide) and the laser pre-drilling techniques has demonstrated the highest delamination factor (SFDSR) ratios. A new laser–mechanical sequence drilling technique is thus established, assessed, and tested when thick CFRP composites are drilled.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-112
Author(s):  
Sasikumar Gnanasekaran ◽  
Sivasangari Ayyappan

Natural fibres namely sisal, jute, kenaf, hemp, abaca and banana are mainly used in industries for developing Natural fibres composites. They find many applications such as automobiles, furniture, packing and construction due to many merits such as their low cost, good mechanical properties, non-toxic, low weight, less damage to processing equipment, improved surface finish, abundant and renewable resources. The objective of this paper is to review the applications of various kenaf fibre reinforced polymer composites which will provide a base for further research in this area.


Author(s):  
Kaushal Arrawatia ◽  
Kedar Narayan Bairwa ◽  
Raj Kumar

Polymer composites have outstanding qualities such as high strength, flexibility, stiffness, and lightweight. Currently, research is being performed to develop innovative polymer composites that may be used in many operational situations and contain a variety of fibre and filler combinations. Banana fibre has low density compared to glass fibre and it is a lingo-cellulosic fibre having relatively good mechanical properties compared to glass fibre. Because of their outstanding qualities, banana fibre reinforced polymer composites are now widely used in various industries. The primary goal of this study is to determine the effect of the wt.% of banana fibre, the wt.% of SiC, and the wt.% of Al2O3 in banana fibre reinforcement composites on the mechanical and physical properties of banana fibre reinforcement composites. Tensile strength and flexural strength of unfilled banana fibre epoxy composite increased with the increase in wt. of banana fibre from 0 wt.% to 12 wt.%. Further, an increase in wt.% banana fibre drop in mechanical property was observed. It has been concluded from the study that the variation in percentage weight of filler material with fixed amount (12 wt.%) of banana fibre affects the mechanical properties of filled banana reinforcement composites. Optimum mechanical properties were obtained for BHEC5 (72 wt.% Epoxy + Hardener, 12 wt.% banana fibre and 16 wt.% Al2O3).


Author(s):  
Kuruvilla Joseph ◽  
Romildo Dias Tolêdo Filho ◽  
Beena James ◽  
Sabu Thomas ◽  
Laura Hecker de Carvalho

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.


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