Effect of jute fibre loading on the mechanical and thermal properties of oil palm–epoxy composites

Abstract

Bilayer hybrid composites fabricated by hand lay-up technique by impregnating oil palm empty fruit bunch and jute fibre mats with epoxy resin and cured at 100℃ for 1 h followed by post curing at 105℃. Bilayer hybrid composites were prepared by varying the relative weight fraction of the two fibres. The mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of oil palm/jute bilayer hybrid composites were carried out. When the jute fibre loading is increased in the bilayer hybrid composites, flexural strength and modulus of the hybrid composites will be higher. The hybridization of the jute fibres with oil palm composite decreased the impact strength of the bilayer hybrid composites. Analysis of variance statistical of flexural and impact properties were also carried out; there is a statistically significant difference between the mean flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength from one level of composite to another at the 95.0% confidence level. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that thermal stability of oil palm composites increased with development of bilayer hybrid composites. Scanning electron micrographs of impact fracture samples are taken to study the failure mechanism, and fibre/matrix interface adhesion.

Influence of Stacking Sequence on the Mechanical and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Cotton/Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyester Composites

“…The increase in tensile strength was primarily related to the number of glass layers in the laminate. According to Jawaid et al 1 , tensile strength of E-glass fiber is within 2000-3000 MPa, and that of the cotton fiber is only ≈ 400 MPa. This explains the significant difference between strength of the pure cotton (≈ 30 MPa) and pure glass laminates (≈ 170 MPa).…”

“…Composite materials, especially those with a polymeric matrix, are of considerable interest to researchers and engineers due to a wide range of combinations in material properties 1 . In particular, the use of natural fibers, such as sisal, jute, curaua, ramie and cotton, in polymer composites has grown in recent years, due to material abundance, low cost and low density, and due to their renewable characteristics.…”

“…In particular, the use of natural fibers, such as sisal, jute, curaua, ramie and cotton, in polymer composites has grown in recent years, due to material abundance, low cost and low density, and due to their renewable characteristics. These materials are also less abrasive to processing equipment compared to synthetic fibers, which becomes very important when equipment costs are high [1][2][3] . Major advantages of synthetic fibers over natural fibers include lower moisture absorption of the former and their better adhesion with the polymer matrix 4 .…”

Nanobioceramic Composites: A Study of Mechanical, Morphological, and Thermal Properties

“…The CNFs exhibited two stages of degradation, whereas the ceramic composite showed only a single stage. Jawaid et al (2013) studied the thermal properties of oil palm epoxy composite, which also showed a two stage thermal degradation. Initially, all CNFs undergo a dehydration process in which about 5±2% of water is removed by vapourisation at 100 °C.…”

Fabrication of Epoxy Nanocomposites from Oil Palm Nano Filler: Mechanical and Morphological Properties

“…They observed that both the tensile strength and impact properties were better than polypropylene composites (Bhat and Khalil 2011). Bio-waste OPA has also been used as a reinforcement in epoxy matrix to fabricate epoxy nanocomposites (Khalil et al 2013), with maximum tensile and flexural strength when the OPA filler loading was only 3% (Khalil et al 2013a).…”