Tensile and Flexural Strength of Untreated Napier Grass Fibre/Polyester Composites

Abstract

This paper describes the experimental investigation of the tensile and flexural strength of untreated Napier grass fibre reinforced polyester composites. Napier grass fibres were extracted trough conventional water retting process and used as reinforcing materials in the polyester composite laminates. Tensile tests were then conducted for the composite specimens from the laminates at 25% fibre loading using the electronic extensometer setup to obtain the tensile properties. The results show significant differences in tensile strength between random short fibres laminates and random long fibrelaminates with the long fibres yield over 30 % higher in strength.Both the short and long fibre composites exhibits similar strength with short fibres having slightly higher flexural strength to long fibres The laminate also shows higher maximum strength compared to other commonly available natural fibre composites with almost 75 % improved in the maximum strength compared to the short kenaf fibre reinforced composites.

Compressive Strength of Construction Materials Containing Agricultural Crop Wastes: A Review

“…Among examples of treatments that have been used were chemical treatment using acid solution (hydrocholric acid (HCL)) in which to reduce pottasium content in pozzolans [23,25,29], as well as using alkali solution (sodium hydroxide (NaOH)) to treat fibres [26]. The pozzolanic activity of the treated materials has been increased, which increased the compressive strength of construction materials.…”

“…The extraction of ortho-silicic acid from ground water by the Pennisetum Purpureum grass has made the plant contained considerable content of amorphous silica, which made it has pozzolanic properties similar to rice husk and sugarcane bagasse [23,25]. Researchers also conducted the possibility of fiber productions from Pennisetum Purpureum grass [26][27][28].…”

Interfacial Properties of Bamboo Fiber-Reinforced High-Density Polyethylene Composites by Different Methods for Adding Nano Calcium Carbonate

“…As shown by the loss factor-temperature curve, the loss factor was different among the BF/HDPE, BMBF/HDPE and IMBF/HDPE composites, which indicates that nano CaCO 3 had an effect on the loss factor of the composites. Moreover, the movement of the polymer segments was subjected to the CaCO 3 and the heterogeneity in the crosslinking structure, affecting the damping characteristics of the composites and leading to improved elastic stiffness in the composites treated by nano CaCO 3 .…”

“…Similarly to other cellulosic fiber-reinforced polymer composites, the critical concerns regarding BF in reinforced composites is the poor interfacial adhesion between the BF and matrix, which results from the hydrophilic nature of BF that acts in opposition to the hydrophobic nature of the polymer matrix. The conflict between hydrophilic and hydrophobic components restricts the properties of the composites, leading to poor fiber partition and dispersion throughout the composites [3,4]. The interfacial properties are a key area of focus when studying plant fiber-reinforced polymer composites.…”

“…The inorganic nanoparticles deposited into the cell wall and on the surface, serving as nucleation sites, have a potential to improve the crystalline formation in the polymer matrix, which may provide strong static electric attractive forces to the non-polar polymer surface; hence the interface compatibility between the fibers and the matrix may be improved. Among the inorganic nanoparticle modification methods, nano calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) modification has been developing considerable prospects because of the low cost, nano-scale, and ultra-fine solid structure of CaCO 3 , as well as the high economic value of the process. Thus, in previous research, BF-reinforced composites were treated with nano CaCO 3 in situ modification, for which CaCO 3 particles were successfully deposited into the BF [12,13].…”