Content area
Full text
ABSTRACT
The mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with carbon fiber (CF) and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) composites depend upon fiber-matrix interfacial properties.
A comparison between the CF composite and hybrid fiber composite was made. Composites were characterized by tensile, flexural and impact, TGA, DMA, and SEM analysis. The results showed that the tensile and flexural strengths are increased with increasing CF content upto 30 wt % in the hybrid composite. CF/PALF fibre can be used for improving the properties of hybrid epoxy composites.
Keywords: Epoxy, Pineapple leaf fiber, Carbon fiber, Mechanical properties, Thermal properties.
1. INTRODUCTION
The mechanical and thermal properties of the reinforced composites are mainly depends on the properties of the fiber and the adhesion between the matrix and fiber. Carbon fiber (CF) possess very high specific properties, in particular, stiffness and strength, which make them attractive as the reinforcing elements in the composite materials [1-2]. Nowadays CF have been used in various fields such as automobiles, communication satellites and aerospace industries, because of their low weight, high fracture toughness, high strength and good insulating properties [3-4]. But, the main disadvantages of CF are low compressive to tensile strength ratio and low strain to failure, and these properties limits the application of CF reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. On the other hand, pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) possess lower fiber content and the fiber extraction processes (scraping, retting or decorticating) which is either labour intensive or problematic to the environment. The main advantages of natural fiber reinforcement in polymer composites are cost effective material, biodegradable, biorenewable and reduce the fossil fuel consumption by occupying the major portion, which also enhances the mechanical and thermo mechanical properties of polymers [5111 29]. Reinforcing two or more types of fibers in a common matrix to form hybrid fiber/polymer composites may produce the combined properties of the fibers [8-12]. There are two possible varieties of natural fiber based hybrid composites were obtained by the combination of natural-natural and synthetic-natural fibers. These hybrid composites present an option of achieving combined properties such as stiffness, ductility and strength, which cannot be achieved by single fiber reinforced composites. Hybrid composites also possess increased fatigue life, better fracture toughness and lower notch sensitivity compared to single fiber reinforced...