Comprehensive Characterization of Hybrid Bamboo Glass Fiber As An Alternative Reinforcement For Polymer Composite

Abstract

ABSTRACT newline newline newline newline newlineIn this research work, the material characteristics of bamboo fiber reinforced polymer composites are investigated with coconut shell powder as filler material and E-glass fiber for hybridization. Bamboo fibers are very cheap natural reinforcing materials suitable for achieving high mechanical, thermal and metallurgical characteristics, because of their advantages such as light weight, high strength-to-weight ratio and high specific stiffness. newlineInitially the composite materials are fabricated using Compression Moulding process. The natural bamboo fiber-based polymer composite material is fabricated with added Nano and micro coconut shell powder as filler material and by hybridization of bamboo fiber with glass fiber. Then the composite plates are cut in to specimens as per American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D standards for conducting different tests such as tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, fatigue, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and water absorption. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tests are conducted to study the mode of fiber pullout for different specimens with different orientations. newlineThe tensile tests are carried out in the different specimens with respect fiber orientation as well as with respect to water absorption. The tensile true stress-true strain curve, yield strength, young s modulus and percentage elongation show better results for ±60° orientation compared to other orientation i.e. ±30°. The fracture surfaces are observed using SEM. SEM analysis is useful in determining the bonding between fiber and matrix. newlineThe flexural strength and modulus of the specimens are found using flexural test. The results show better strength and modulus for ±60° oriented hybrid specimens. Impact test helps to determine the amount of energy absorbed by a material during fracture. The results showed better impact strength for hybrid specimens ±60° oriented specimens. Hardness test determines the hardness of a material to deformation. The hardness results expre