Energy absorption characteristics of natural fiber filled thin walled composite tubes in quasi static loading

Abstract

In recent days, most of the manufacturing industries are showing lot of interest in developing eco-friendly products. The primary factor in the development of such new products is, they must not have any hazardous materials in it and they should not release any toxic emissions when burnt. Hence, the demand of natural fibers in the manufacturing industries is increasing day by day. Generally, natural fibers are easily available in tropical regions, easy to extract, high strength to weight ratio, easy to fabricate, and easily degradable. newlineThis investigation deals with the extraction of fibers from Perotis Indica plant. The fiber is characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Incident Radiation (FT-IR), chemical analysis and single fiber tensile test of PIFs which is compared with the results of other known natural fibers. The alkali chemical treatment of the fiber is optimized using the thermogram results. Optimal alkali treatment for PIF was obtained at 5% (w/v) NaOH in 60 min soaking from all other soaking times. Thermo gravimetric analysis show that, optimal alkali treated PIF enhance the thermal degradation of the fiber. Chemical analysis of optimal treated PIFs showed that there is a reduction in the hemicellulose and lignin present in the fiber which was also supported by the FT-IR analysis. However, the optimal alkali treatment resulted in PIF with higher crystallinity index and moderate crystalline size due to the removal of non-cellulosic constituents. Moreover, this optimal alkali treatment increased the surface roughness which was evident by Atomic Fore Microscopic (AFM) analysis. Taking these results altogether, optimal alkali treated PIF seem to have encouraged interfacial bonding for thermosetting polymer composite. newline