O. D. Samuel, S. Agbo, T. A. Adekanye
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Landmark University, Omuaran, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun Campus, Ifo Post Office, Ogun State, Nigeria.
DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2012.118066   PDF    HTML     10,611 Downloads   16,982 Views   Citations

Abstract

Mechanical properties of ukam, banana, sisal, coconut, hemp and e-glass fibre reinforced laminates were evaluated to assess the possibility of using it as new material in engineering applications. Samples were fabricated by the hand lay-up process (30:70 fibre and matrix ratio by weight) and the properties evaluated using the INSTRON material testing system. The mechanical properties were tested and showed that glass laminate has the maximum tensile strength of 63 MPa, bending strength of 0.5 MPa, compressive strength of 37.75 MPa and the impact strength of 17.82 J/m². The ukam plant fibre laminate has the maximum tensile strength of 16.25 MPa and the impact strength of 9.8J/m among the natural fibres; the sisal laminate has the maximum compressive strength of 42 MPa and maximum bending strength of 0.0036 MPa among the natural fibres. Results indicated that natural fibres are of interest for low-cost engineering applications and can compete with artificial glass fibres (E-glass fibre) when a high stiffness per unit weight is desirable. Results also indicated that future research towards significant improvements in tensile and impact strength of these types of composites should focus on the optimisation of fibre strength rather than interfacial bond strength.

Keywords

Reinforced Laminates; Hand Lay-up Method; E-Glass Fibre Reinforced; Natural Fibre

Share and Cite:

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	R. Karnani, M. Krishnan and R. Narayan, “Biofiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites,” Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol. 37, No. 2, 1997, pp. 476-483.
[2]	A. M. Mohd Edeerozey, M. A. Harizan, A. B. Azhar and M. I. Zainal Ariffin, “Chemical Modification of Kenaf Fibers,” Materials Letters, Vol. 61, No. 10, 2007, pp. 2023-2025. doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2006.08.006
[3]	E. Robson, “Surface Treatment of Natural Fibre,” EC/ 4316/92, 1993.
[4]	H. A. Sharifah and P. A. Martin, “The Effect of Alkalization and Fibre Alignment on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Kenaf and Hemp Bast Fibre Composites: Part 1—Polyester Resin Matrix,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 64, No. 9, 2004, pp. 1219-1230.
[5]	B. F. Yousif, K. J. Wong and N. S. M. El-Tayeb, “An Investigated on Tensile, Compression and Flexural Properties of Natural Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites,” ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Seattle, 11-15 November 2007, pp. 619- 624.
[6]	Y. Mohd Yuhazri, P. T. Phongsakorn and H. Sihambing, “A Comparison Process between Vacuum Infusion and Hand Lay-Up Method toward Kenaf/Polyester Composite,” International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences, Vol. 10, No. 3, 2010, pp. 63-66.
[7]	T. Nishino, K. Hirao, M. Kotero, K. Nakamae and H. Inagaki, “Kenaf Reinforced Biodegradable Composite,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 63, No. 9, 2003, pp. 1281-1286. doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00099-X
[8]	H. A. Sharifah, P. A. Martin, J. C. Simon and R. P. Simon, “Modified Polyester Resins for Natural Fibre Composites,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 65, No. 3-4, 2005, pp. 525-535. doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.08.005
[9]	P. Wamubua, J. Ivens and I. Verpoest, “Natural Fibres: Can They Replace Glass in Fibre Reinforced Plastics?” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 63, No. 9, 2003, pp. 1259-1264. doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00096-4
[10]	C. Benjamin and Tobias, “Fabrication and Performance of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composite Material,” 35th International SAMPLE Symposium and Exhibition, Anaheim, 2-5 April 1990, pp. 970-978.
[11]	S. Agbo, “Modelling of Mechanical Properties of a Natural and Synthetic Fiber-Reinforced Cashew Nut Shell Resin Composites,” M.Sc. Thesis, University of Nigeria, 2009.
[12]	A. Stamboulis and C. Baley, “Effects of Environmental Conditions on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Flax Fibres,” Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 32, No. 8, 2001, pp. 1105-1115.
[13]	M. Brahmakumar, C. Pavithran and R. M. Pillai, “Coconut Fibre Reinforced Polyethylene Composites: Effect of Natural Waxy Surface Layer of the Fibre on Fibre/Matrix Interfacial Bonding and Strength of Composites,” Com-posites Science and Technology, Vol. 65, No. 3-4, 2005, pp. 563-569.
[14]	M. Hautala, A. Pasila and J. Pirila, “Use of Hemp and Flax in Composite Manufacture: A Search for New Production Methods,” Composite Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 35, No. 1, 2004, pp. 11-16.
[15]	I. O. Oladele, J. A. Omotoyinbo and J. O. T. Adewara, “Investigating the Effect of Chemical Treatment on the Constituents and Tensile Properties of Sisal Fibre,” Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, Vol. 9, No. 6, 2010, pp. 569-582.
[16]	M. Jacob, S. Thomas and K. T. Varughea, “Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Oil Palm Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Natural Rubber,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 64, No. 7-8, 2004, pp. 955-965. doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00261-6
[17]	A. Pelet, S. Sueki and B. Mobasher, “Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Fabrics in Pultruded Cement Composites,” 16th European Conference of Fracture, Special Symposium Measuring Monitoring and Modelling Concrete properties Alexandrroupolis, Greece, 2006.
[18]	H. P. S. A. Khalil and H. D. Rozman, “Rice-Husk Polyester Composites: The Effect of Chemical Modification of Rice Husk on the Mechanical and Dimensional Stability Properties,” Polymer Plastic and Technology Engineering, No. 39, 2007, pp. 757-781.
[19]	S. Shibata, Y. Cao and I. Fukumoto, “Press Forming of Short Natural Fiber-Reinforced Biodegradable Resin: Effects of Fiber Volume and Length on Flexural Properties,” Polymer Testing, Vol. 24, No. 8, 2005, pp. 1005- 1011. doi:10.1016/j.polymertesting.2005.07.012
[20]	M. Idricula, S. K. Malhota, K. Joseph and S. Thomas, “Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Randomly Oriented Intimately Mixed Short Banana/Sisal Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polyesters Composites,” Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 65, No. 7-8, 2005, pp. 1077-1087. doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.10.023