Experimental Investigation on Volume Fraction of Mechanical and Physical Properties of Flax and Bamboo Fibers Reinforced Hybrid Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of volume fraction on mechanical and physical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, interlaminar shear strength, void content and water absorption of flax and bamboo fibers reinforced hybrid epoxy composites. Flax and bamboo fibers reinforced epoxy resin matrix hybrid composites have been fabricated by compression molding techniques. The hybrid composites were fabricated with different volume fraction of fibers. SEM analysis on the hybrid composite materials was performed to analyze the bonding behavior of materials and internal structure of the fractured surfaces. The effect of chemical treatment of flax and bamboo fibers was verified by FTIR analysis. The results showed that the tensile, impact, flexural and ILSS are maximum for 40:0 (flax: bamboo) hybrid composites. The void content decreased for 20:20 (flax:bamboo) composites due to tightly packed flax fiber and more compatibility towards epoxy resin.

A review on the polymeric laminates reinforced with natural fibers

“…In addition, it has been reported that the presence of voids in the morphology is minimum when flax and bamboo are maintained at 20% each in the composite. 15 Hence, as a whole, 40% of fiber in a composite gives the maximum strength to the composite. Mechanical characterization of Mengkuang fiberreinforced polyethylene composites reported that a fiber loading of 20% is optimal and produces a maximum tensile strength of 12.4 MPa.…”

“…In addition, it has been reported that the presence of voids in the morphology is minimum when flax and bamboo are maintained at 20% each in the composite. 15 Hence, as a whole, 40% of fiber in a composite gives the maximum strength to the composite.…”

Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of bamboo/glass-reinforced polybenzoxazine hybrid composite

“…5 Various natural fibers such as sisal fiber, kenaf fiber, and hemp fiber were successfully added in polymers for the preparation of biocomposites. 6 According to the literature, 7,8 in comparison with various natural fibers, bamboo fibers exhibited an excellent combination of tensile strength (440–600 MPa) and modulus (35–46 GPa). Because the utilization rate of bamboo fiber was still very low, these waste bamboo fibers showed great potential in the preparation of biocomposites.…”

Effect of Water Absorption on the Tensile Characteristics of Natural/ Synthetic Fabrics Reinforced Hybrid Composites

“…The samples immersed in distilled water gives maximum moisture content and higher value of the diffusion coefficient compared to other water conditions. Sathish et al [18] hybrid composite reinforced 30% flax and 10 % bamboo exhibited maximum tensile strength (31.55 MPa) and minimum water absorption ratio (9.3%), compared with the natural bamboo composite. Gopal et al [19] the composite sample (15% sisal: 15% jute: 5% flax) with comparison with various concentrations (20:10:5 and 25:5:5) gives a minimum ratio of water absorption (14.73%).…”