Degradation Studies of Coir Fiber/Polyester and Glass Fiber/Polyester Composites under Different Conditions

Abstract

The influence of different conditions on the mechanical properties of short coir fiber reinforced polymer composites as well as glass fiber reinforced polymer composites have been analyzed and compared. Fiber length of 20 mm was found to be optimum for the best result. It is observed that the filler loading of 30 phr was most suitable for best results. Degradation studies were carried out in different solvents like 10% NaOH, 1 N HCl, and 10% NaCl and water. The effect of these solvents and water on the mechanical properties of the composites was studied in detail. The deterioration of mechanical properties of the coir/PE and glass/PE composites by environmental weathering was also studied.

Effects of alkaline and acid solutions on glass/epoxy composites

“…al [5] and its influence on mechanical properties was analyzed. It was observed that the tensile strength and the modulus (E) increases in acid environments and decreases for the other solvents.…”

Impact Performance of a Plate Structure with Coconut-Inspired Microchannels

“…In some studies, scanning electron microscopy or X-ray dispersion analysis was used. Other researchers [9][10][11][12][13] investigated the mechanical performance of coir fiber/thermoplastic polymer composites. The chopped dust [14,15] of coir fibers or coconut shells was also used with polymers to form composites.…”

Mechanical properties and water absorption of short snake grass fiber reinforced isophthallic polyester composites

“…Water absorption tests are carried out at different time periods under different climatic conditions such as cold at 10 o C, normal at atmosphere (25 o C) and hot at 60 o C [10]. The specimens are prepared based on ASTM D570 standards.…”

“…The fiber wetting was higher in higher fiber loading which increased the mechanical properties. Sindhu et al [10] investigated the coir fiber isophthalic polyester composites that were prepared with various fiber lengths at 30 % fiber loading. The stress versus strain curve of the composites gradually decreased with increasing the water aging period.…”