Tensile properties of basalt/jute fiber reinforced epoxy composite

Abstract

Experimental analysis is carried out on the mechanical characteristics of fiber-reinforced that can be produced by adding basalt fibers to strengthened jute fiber-reinforced epoxy composites in both the warp and weft orientations. A three-parameter/three-level Design of Experiment technique called the Box–Behnken design (BBD) is used to ascertain the relationship between the input parameters and the response. Mechanical testing was done on the composite plates after fabrication to estimate the tensile strength of the composites in both the warp and weft directions. The basalt fiber content of the composite was around 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.% and 1.5 wt.%; the sonication period was 20, 30 and 40 min; and the temperature was approximately 60 °C, 70 °C and 80 °C. In the warp and weft directions, the maximum ultimate tensile stresses are measured to be 34.03 MPa and 36.32 MPa, respectively. Analysis of Variance is used to determine the regression equation and the influence of the input parameters. The optimum ‘ultimate tensile stress’ is 40.162 MPa for warp direction and 35.445 MPa for weft direction with 1.5 wt.% filler weight, 40 min of sonication and 60 °C temperature.