No abstract

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are generally lower in mechanical performance compared to synthetic fiber reinforced polymer composites. However, this disadvantage can be improved via chemical modification of the natural fiber and hybridization with synthetic fiber. In this study, kenaf bast fiber was used as reinforcement in unsaturated polyester composites. It was subjected to chemical modification with maleic anhydride at various treatment time i.e. 60, 90 and 120 minutes prior to composites production. The untreated and MA treated kenaf bast fiber were hybridized with 10 weight percent of glass fiber to produce kenaf bast/glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. The effect of treatment time on weight percent gain and functional group changes via infra-red spectra of kenaf bast fiber were investigated. The effect of treatment time on tensile properties of kenaf bast fiber and kenaf bast/glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were also studied. It was revealed that the weight percent gain of kenaf bast fiber increased with the increasing of treatment time. The increasing of treatment time resulted in the enhancement of tensile strength and modulus of kenaf bast fiber and kenaf bast/glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites which were attributed to the presence of C=C bonds of maleic anhydride and has been proven through fourier transform infrared spectrum.

In this study two commercial types of reinforced glass fibers were studied: chopped and 0/90 fiber glass composted with unsaturated polyester resin. The composites were prepared by hand lay-up method in three layers. The flexure properties were studied by using three-point bending test. The results showed that pure unsaturated polyester UPE is fractured when it reach the maximum point. Different behavior was shown for the fiber/polyester composite depending on the type of the fiber. The damage causes by the applied stress was appeared by photographs. In all samples the matrix cracking occur in the lower face of the specimen followed by fiber fracture due to the bending stress.

No abstract

No abstract