Investigation of Hybrid Composite Properties Fabricated from Bagasse Fibers Reinforced with Al2O3 and SiC for Light Weight Applications

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate mechanical properties of hybrid composite fabricated from bagasse fibers reinforced with Al2O3 and SiC for automotive purposes. The technique applied was referred to as the hand layup technique for the fabrication of composite. The experiment was conducted based on Taguchi L9 orthogonal array design. Data shows that the maximum tensile and flexural strength were 39.9 and 56.1 MPa respectively. Hardness and impact strength were 75.05 HV and 14 J respectively. The results indicated that the increasing Al2O3 and SiC wt.% increase the tensile strength and after bagasse fiber wt.% reaches optimum values the tensile strength decreased. Increasing Al2O3 wt.%, increases flexural strength and after bagasse fiber and SiC wt.% reaches optimum values, flexural strength was decreased. Increasing bagasse fiber wt.% increases the hardness of composite, and increasing Al2O3 and SiC wt.% increases the hardness, then after reaching optimum values the hardness was decreased. Increasing Al2O3 wt.% after the optimum values decrease the impact strength, and increasing bagasse fiber and SiC wt.% increase impact strength. The developed hybrid composite material was found to be improved the properties of composites after addition of Al2O3 and SiC powder as filler materials. This thesis recommends higher institutes, automotive companies, manufacturing companies, the construction sector and the government to conduct on how to utilize this abundant waste of bagasse fiber resource.

Development of Natural Fiber Hybrid Composites Using Sugarcane Bagasse and Bamboo Charcoal for Automotive Thermal Insulation Materials

The effective utilization of fibers from natural sources is the main objective of this research work, but natural fibers alone are not meeting the required strength properties. The objective of this study focuses on the experimental study of composites developed from bagasse fiber/bamboo charcoal for technical applications by investigating its diverse mechanical and thermal insulating properties. For this investigation, five hybrid composites with bagasse fiber/bamboo charcoal proportions of 100%/0%, 70%/30%, 50%/50%, 30%/70%, and 0%/100% with 65% polyurethane foam in all by using compression molding technique and their mechanical properties are evaluated experimentally under the ASTM standards. The fiber alignments, internal crack, and binding properties are checked by morphological test. It is observed that the tensile strength of sugarcane bagasse/charcoal composites produces 255.80 MPa which is approximately the same strength (260.10 MPa) as artificial fiber composites. The bagasse fiber/bamboo charcoal 30/70-based composites show a higher thermal insulation coefficient than the other four samples-reinforced composites. The impact and flexural strength of the 30/70 sample are higher than those of other samples. The results obtained report the possibility of exploitation of natural fiber sugarcane bagasse and bamboo charcoal for the production of reinforcements based on composites with good mechanical and thermal characteristics to utilize as automotive interior materials in component systems.

Tensile Properties of Bagasse Fiber Composites

Bagasse is a waste generated in abundance from the sugarcane industry. This investigation was planned to convert bagasse waste into a useful composite. For this purpose the bagasse waste was obtained from sugar cane juice producer. In this study, the extraction of bagasse fibers was done manually and they were treated with sodium hydroxide. The treated bagasse fibers had higher tensile properties as compared to untreated ones, so the alkali treated fibers were used as reinforcement for making composites. Hand lay-up technique was used to manufacture bagasse composite samples. The fiber length (1 inch and 2 inch) and fiber weight percentage (10 wt% and 20 wt%) were considered as variables. It was found that better tensile properties were obtained with higher fiber length (2 inch) and weight percentage (20 wt%). Bagasse-cotton fabric composites were also produced using cotton fabric as a base material and the bagasse fibers were sandwiched between a printed and plain cotton fabric. The idea was to consider these composites useful for sun-shades or for decorative purposes. It was also found that bagasse-cotton fabric reinforced composites had higher tensile strength and strain; however the modulus had reduced due to higher elongation of cotton fabrics. With the increase in the weight percentage the tensile properties had reduced this might be because during the composite manufacturing the epoxy resin had to pass through the fabric to wet the bagasse fiber out and they were not wetted out properly. This phenomenon needs further investigation.

Development and characterization of epoxy resin composite reinforced with bamboo fiber and bagasse as filler

Purpose Recently, composites have concerned considerable importance as a potential operational material. Lots of work have been carried out to enhance the mechanical properties of composites. The main aim of this paper is to develop bamboo mat as reinforcing material with bagasse fiber as filler using epoxy resin matrix composite. Design/methodology/approach In this research, the effect of fiber surface treatments on mechanical properties of epoxy resin composite with bagasse as filler has been developed and investigated. The extracted bamboo fibers were treated with NaOH to improve the surface roughness fiber. Using treated and untreated bamboo fiber handwoven mat has been produced to be used as reinforcement and bagasse fiber has been converted into powder to be filled as filler. Composite material is fabricated using bamboo fiber and bagasse fiber as filler with epoxy resin as a matrix using hand layup technique. Findings Then, tensile, flexural and compressive strength and water absorption tests were conducted on sodium hydroxide treated and untreated fiber composites. The test results comparing with and without alkali treated composites show that there was significant change in their strength and water absorption properties on alkali treated fiber. Originality/value This study is an original research paper.

Fabrication and Experimental Testing of Hybrid Composite Material Having Biodegradable Bagasse Fiber in a Modified Epoxy Resin: Evaluation of Mechanical and Morphological Behavior

Natural fibers such as bagasse, jute, sisal and coir are biodegradable as well as non-toxic in nature, so the use of natural fiber is safe. Bagasse contains about 50% cellulose, 25% hemicellulose, and 25% lignin. The present work has been undertaken to develop a composite using bagasse fiber as reinforcement and to study its mechanical properties, morphology, water absorption capacity and performance. The composites were prepared with different weight percentage of bagasse fiber by hand lay-up method. In the present research work, it can be concluded that with increase in wt.% of bagasse fiber in matrix material the rate of water absorption increases. Ultimate tensile strength, ultimate compressive and flexural strength of the composite are less than the pure epoxy while Young’s modulus is higher for composite. Ultimate tensile, ultimate compressive strength and flexural strength of composite is decreasing at all cross head speed with increase in wt.% of bagasse fiber while flexural strain is increasing. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that for 5 wt.% of bagasse fiber the binding between epoxy and bagasse fiber is better than the 10 and 15 wt.% of bagasse fiber configuration. This was because of the increase in wt.% of bagasse fiber, which results in cavities and improper binding in the composite domain. Thus, as we increase the wt.% of bagasse fiber it causes the decrease in mechanical properties of composite.