Mechanical Properties of Randomly Oriented Calotropis Gigantea Fiber-Reinforced Phenol Formaldehyde Biocomposites

Abstract

Mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and impact, of randomly oriented Calotropis Gigantea Fiber (CGF) -reinforced Phenol Formaldehyde (PF) biocomposites were studied based on the five different fiber loadings (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 vol%) and three different fiber lengths (3, 9, and 15 mm). The critical fiber length and optimum fiber loading were identified with the maximum level of mechanical properties in this composite. The fractured surfaces of composites after testing were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that the addition of CGFs is improving the mechanical properties of the PF composite. The properties of composites reach the properties of the neat resin sample at 20 vol% of all the cases. The critical fiber length and the optimum fiber loading to obtain the maximum mechanical properties were identified as 9 mm and 40 vol% respectively. Experimental tensile property values were compared with theoretical values and found to be in good agreement.

Effects of Chemical Modification on the Mechanical Properties of Calotropis Gigantea Fiber-reinforced Phenol Formaldehyde Biocomposites

“…Sreekala et al [4] studied the influence of fiber surface modifications on the mechanical performance of oil palm fiber-reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites and found that composites having the modified fibers show the excellent impact resistance. Many numbers of researchers have been carried out the performance study on the natural cellulose fiber-reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites: grass/phenol formaldehyde [5], Wereca /roselle/phenol formaldehyde [6], sisal/phenol formaldehyde [7], Wereca/phenol formaldehyde [8], banana/phenol formaldehyde [9], Grewia optiva/phenol formaldehyde [10], and Calotropis Gigantea/phenol formaldehyde [11]. All the above research works report that the phenol formaldehyde composites can be prepared using the natural cellulose fibers as reinforcing agents with the improved properties.…”