Vibration damping viscoelastic and acoustic behaviour of jute fiber reinforced polyester composite and their hybrids

Abstract

In polymer-based composites, the fibers are extensively used as newlinereinforcement to strengthen the properties of the polymer matrix. The newlinesynthetic fibers namely Glass fibers, carbon fibers are widely used as newlinereinforcement but they are not environmentally friendly. To replace the glass newlinefibers the environmentally friendly natural fibers are being used as newlinereinforcement. They are lower in density, acceptable specific properties, low newlinecost, more abundance in nature and excellent acoustic properties. Automotive newlineindustries are looking for more control on vibration and noise in secondary newlinestructural components towards the comfort of driver and passengers. The use newlineof NFRC may offer significant advantages over synthetic fiber composites newlinedue to their inherent damping property. The jute fiber has the density of newline1.3 g/cm3 newlineand the specific modulus of 7.1 to 39 GPa/g cm-3 which is higher newlinethan sisal, cotton, coir fibers etc., which are widely available in India. In this newlineresearch, Jute fiber of random orientation and woven mats are used as newlinereinforcement and polyester resin as the matrix. In the first set of experiments, newlinevarious weight percentages (10 %, 15 %, 20 % and 25 %) of jute fiber and newlinedifferent fiber lengths (5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm) have been used. newlineFor the second set of experiments, tests were carried out by increasing the newlinenumber of layers of jute woven mats (2, 3, 4 and 5). In the third type, less newlineexplored Aloe vera fiber of was hybridized with jute fiber woven mat of newlinevarious stacking sequences (AAAA, AJJJ, JAJJ and JJAJ) were fabricated and newlinein the fourth set, three different woven fabric mats (Plain, Twill and Basket) of newlinejute fiber and aloe vera fiber were used as reinforcement in the warp and weft newlinedirections to form an intraply mat. newline