PERFORMANCE STUDY ON HYBRID GLASS FIBER EPOXY COMPOSITE

International Journal of Research in Advanced Technology - IJORAT Vol. 2, Issue 1, JANUARY 2016

1 All Rights Reserved © 2016 IJORAT

PERFORMANCE STUDY ON HYBRID

GLASS FIBER EPOXY COMPOSITE Lakshmipathy.J

1, Jereme jeba Samuel.J

2, Manohar.J

3.

Assistant Professor/Mechanical Engineering, Francis Xavier Engineering College, Tirunelveli, India1



ABSTRACT: Composite materials are replacing traditional materials because of their superior properties

such as high tensile strength and high strength to weight ratio. Natural fibers such as bagasse and jute are

abundant in nature, which have high tensile strength and low extensibility as compared to other natural

fibers. In synthetic fibers, glass fibers are the most common of all reinforcing fibers for polymeric matrix

composites. The main advantages of glass fibers are low cost, high tensile strength, high chemical

resistance and excellent insulating properties. Epoxy resin has more strength as compared to other resins.

Addition of small amount of chemically treated natural fibers to synthetic fibers may enhance the

mechanical properties of resulting hybrid composites. The main aim of this work is to identify the optimal

chemically treated natural fiber material to be used along with glass fiber in hybrid epoxy composites and

to enhance the strength of the composites. In this work, the jute and bagasse fibers were treated with

different three chemical solutions such as sodium hydroxide, potassium permanganate and stearic acid.

The hardener polyamine 301 mixed with epoxy resin AE103 in the ratio of 1:10 was used. Specimens were

prepared by compression moulding process, with five hybrid layers of natural fibers and glass fibers and

allowed to cure for 3 hours. Specimens with both untreated and treated fibers were fabricated and their

mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength are to be compared and the optimal

chemically treated natural fiber material will be identified.

Keywords: Natural Fiber, Bagasse Fiber, Jute Fiber, Glass Fiber, Epoxy Resin, Chemical treatment,

Sodium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Potassium Permanganate, Mechanical Behaviour.

I.INTRODUCTION

Composite materials can be defined as the

combination of two or more material that results in

better properties. The two constituents are

reinforcement and matrix. The reinforcing phase

provides the strength and stiffness. In most cases,

reinforcement is harder, stronger and stiffer than

the matrix. The reinforcement is usually a fiber or

particulate. The matrix performs several critical

functions include maintaining the fiber in the

proper orientation and spacing and protecting them

from the abrasion and the environment. Polymer

matrix composite that form a strong bond between

the fiber and the matrix. The matrix transmit load

from the matrix to the fiber through shear loading

at the interface. An example of some current

application of composites includes the diesel

piston, brake shoes and pads, tires and the aircraft

in which 100% of structural components are

composites. Natural fiber reinforced composites are

reasonably strong, lightweight and free from health

hazards, biodegradable and hence they have the

potential to be used as building materials. Natural

fibers have many advantages, such as

biodegradability, renewability, wide availability,

low density and low cost, which offer greater

opportunities to develop a new class of light

weight, environment friendly, structural

composites. Many researchers have found that

treating the fibers with chemical solutions will be

superior in their properties [2]. E.F. Rodrigues et al.

[3] deals about tensile strength of polyester resin

reinforced sugarcane bagasse fibers modified by

estherification. Chemical treatment of the

sugarcane bagasse fibers by estherification through

anhydride system was studied to use as

reinforcement in polyester matrix. The fibers are

estherified for 5 hours with acetic anhydride,

toluene, acetic acid and perchloric acid. Composites

were fabricated through compression moulding

process. Tensile strength of modified bagasse fiber

was higher as compared to unmodified bagasse

fiber was found to be 14.7Mpa. B.Vijay Ramnath et

al. [4] deals about the study on evaluation of

mechanical properties of abaca-jute-glass fiber

reinforced epoxy composite. They deal with the



fabrication and investigation of hybrid natural fiber

composite like jute and abaca as reinforcement. The

tensile strength of abaca and jute composite is

relatively more than jute composite and much

higher than abaca composite. The flexural strength

of the composite is in the decreasing order from

abaca, abaca and jute hybrid, jute composite.

Impact strength of abaca composite is high when

compared with jute and hybrid composites.

M.Ramesh et al. [5] deals about the study on

mechanical property evaluation of sisal-jute-glass

fiber reinforced polyester composites. They

fabricated a composite by mixing of natural fiber

with glass fiber reinforced polymers. Tensile

strength, flexural strength and impact strength were

evaluated. The results indicated that the

incorporation of sisal-jute fiber with GFRP can

improve the properties and used as an alternate

material for fiber glass reinforcement. V.Vilay et al.

[6] deals about the study on effect of fiber surface

treatment and fiber loading on the properties of

Bagasse fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester

composites. The Bagasse fiber has been used as

reinforcing component for unsaturated polyester

resin. The chemical treatment using sodium

hydroxide and acrylic acid were carried out to

modify properties. The fiber treated with acrylic

acid shows improvement in strength.

II.MATERIALS

Glass fibers are the most common of all

reinforcing fiber for polymeric matrix composites.

It is used as reinforcement for composites to form a

very strong and light fiber reinforced polymer

composite material. Glass fiber of surfacing mats

composed of continuous glass filaments in random

pattern was used. Jute fiber is extracted from the

retted stem of jute plant. It is the second most

vegetable fiber after cotton in terms of usage,

production and availability. Jute fiber is 100%

biodegradable and recyclable and thus eco friendly.

Bagasse is a fibrous matter that remains after

sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice. It

is used as biofuel in the manufacture of pulp and

building materials. Bagasse is commonly used as

substitute for wood in many tropical and

subtropical countries for the production of pulp,

paper and board. Glass fibers of E grade are

obtained from GVR Enterprises, Madurai, India.

Jute fibers are purchased from SIPPO Training

Centre, Madurai, India. Bagasse fibers are extracted

from Sugarcane juice shop. Epoxy Resin AE103

and hardener Poylamine 301 is supplied by Leo

Enterprises, Nagercoil, India.

TABLE I: PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL

PROPERTIES OF GLASS, JUTE AND

BAGASSE FIBER.

III.METHODOLOGY The raw jute and bagasse fibers were

subjected to different surface treatments with alkali,

potassium permanganate and stearic acid. The raw

jute and bagasse fibers were soaked in a stainless

steel vessel containing 10% sodium hydroxide

solution for 1 hour. Then the jute and bagasse fibers

were dried in air at room temperature. The raw jute

and bagasse fibers were soaked in a stainless steel

containing 0.5% potassium permanganate solution

for 1 hour. Then the jute and bagasse fibers were

dried in air at room temperature. The raw jute and

bagasse fibers were soaked in a stainless steel

vessel containing 1% stearic acid solution for 1

hour. Then the jute and bagasse fibers were dried in

air at room temperature. The composite materials

were fabricated by compression moulding process.

The composite specimen consists of total five

layers in which fiber layers are fixed in top middle

and bottom of the specimen. Second and fourth

layers are filled by natural fibers such as bagasse

and jute. The fiber is cut into as per the dimension

of the mould. The mould is then coated with wax to

avoid the resin sticking to the mould surface. The

hardener polyamine 301 is mixed with the ratio of

1:10. The prepared matrix solution was stirred

before pouring. The stirred matrix solution was

applied on the mould by using brush. Then the

fibers are arranged according to their layers in the

mould. The matrix solution should be applied to the

entire layer by using roller. The size of the mould

was 240mm x 240mm x 4mm. Then the mould has

kept in kept in compression moulding machine and

allowed to cure for 3 hours. potassium

permanganate and stearic acid. The raw jute and


vessel containing 10% sodium hydroxide solution




containing 0.5% potassium permanganate solution




PROPERTIES GLASS JUTE BAGASSE

Density [g/cm3] 2.54 1.4 1.3

Diameter [µm ] 5-25 160-185 10-34

Tensile Strength

[MPa]

2000-

3500 400-800 222

Young’s modulus

[GPa] 70 30 17.9-27.1

Elongation at

break [%] 2.5 1.8 1.1



vessel containing 1% stearic acid solution for 1

hour. Then the jute and bagasse fibers were dried in

air at room temperature. The composite materials

were fabricated by compression moulding process.

The composite specimen consists of total five

layers in which fiber layers are fixed in top middle

and bottom of the specimen. Second and fourth

layers are filled by natural fibers such as bagasse

and jute. The fiber is cut into as per the dimension

of the mould. The mould is then coated with wax to

avoid the resin sticking to the mould surface. The

hardener polyamine 301 is mixed with the ratio of

1:10. The prepared matrix solution was stirred

before pouring. The stirred matrix solution was

applied on the mould by using brush. Then the

fibers are arranged according to their layers in the

mould. The matrix solution should be applied to the

entire layer by using roller. The size of the mould

was 240mm x 240mm x 4mm. Then the mould has

kept in kept in compression moulding machine and

allowed to cure for 3 hours.

.

Fig.1.compression moulding

TABLE II: SPECIFICATION OF

COMPRESSION MOULDING MACHINE

Fig.2. Jute Composites Fig.3 .Glass Composites Fig.4. Bagasse

Composites

IV.MECHANICAL TESTING

A.TENSILE TEST

The hybrid composite material fabricated

will be cut into required dimension using a saw

cutter. The tensile test specimen will be prepared

and tested according to the ASTM D638 standard.

The dimensions, gauge length and cross head

speeds will be chosen according to the ASTM

D638 standard. The initial gauge length should be

measured before testing. Both ends of the specimen

should be firmly gripped during testing. A tensile

test involves mounting the specimen in a machine

and subjecting it to the tension. The testing

procedure involves placing the test specimen in the

testing machine and applying tension to it until it

fractures. Stress, strain, young’s modulus, yield

strength and ultimate tensile strength can be

determined. 21 different kinds of specimens will be

prepared for tensile test.

B.FLEXURAL TEST

The flexural specimens will be prepared

and tested as per the ASTM D790 standards. The

dimensions will be chosen according to ASTM

D790 standards. The 3-point flexure test is the most

common flexural test for composite materials.

Specimen deflection will be measured by the cross

head movement indicator or by an auxiliary

deflection measuring device such as displacement

transducer. The test will be concluded when it

achieves 5% deflection or it breaks. The test results

will include flexural strength and displacement. 21

different kinds of specimens will be prepared for

flexural test.

C.IMPACT TEST The impact test specimens will be

prepared and tested according to the ASTM D256

standards. The impact test fixes one end of a

notched specimen in a cantilever position by means

of a vice. A striker on the arm of a pendulum then

strikes the specimen. During the testing process, the

specimens will be loaded in the testing machine and

Clamping Force 100 Tons

Platen Size [mm] 400 x 400

Stroke [mm] 400

Piston Diameter [mm] 250

Motor [HP] 5

Heating Capacity [K.W] 6



allows the pendulum until it fracture or breaks. The

energy absorbed by the specimen in the breaking

process will be the breaking energy. Using the

impact test, the energy needed to break the material

can be measured and can be used to measure the

toughness of the material and the yield strength.

D.SHEAR TEST

The shear test specimens will be prepared

and tested according to the ASTM D3846

standards. This test is suitable for establishing the

shear strength of laminates or other reinforced

plastics having randomly oriented fiber

reinforcement. The specimen is placed in shear box

which has two stacked rings to hold the sample.

The contact between two rings is approximately the

mid height of the sample. The load is applied

vertically to the specimen and the upper ring is

pulled laterally until the sample fails. Failure of the

specimen occurs shear between two centrally

located notches machined halfway through its

thickness and will be spaced a fixed distance apart

on opposing faces.

E.COMPRESSIVE TEST

The compressive test specimens will be

prepared and tested according to ASTM D3410

standards. This test will be measured on Universal

Testing Machine. Compression test determines the

behaviour of materials under crushing load. The

specimen is placed between two compressive plates

parallel to the surface. It can be measured by

plotting force against deformation in a testing

machine. On compression, the specimen will be

shortened. The material will be tend to spread in the

lateral direction and increase the cross sectional

area. The material will be compressed and

deformed under various load. Compressive strength

and compressive modulus are the two common

values to be determined.

V.CONCLUSION Chemical solutions have been prepared for

treating the fiber to enhance its strength. Then the

fibers have been treated with various chemical

solutions for 1 hour. Specimens have been

fabricated using compression moulding process

with various compositions. Mechanical properties

of the composites are proposed to be determined by

conducting tensile test, flexural test, shear test,

impact test, compressive test and microstructural

studies as per ASTM standards. By comparing the

above properties of the composites with various

fibers treated with different chemical solutions, the

optimal chemically treated natural fiber material to

be used along with the glass fiber in hybrid epoxy

composites will be identified and thus strength of

composite will be enhanced.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT I am using this opportunity to express my

gratitude to everyone who supported me throughout

the project. I am thankful for their aspiring

guidance, invaluably constructive criticism and

friendy advice during the project work. I am

sincerely grateful to them for sharing their truthful

and illuminating views on a number of issues

related to the project. I would also like to thank to

all the people who provided me with the facilities

being required and conductive conditions for my

project.

REFERENCES

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2455

[2] Sreenivasan.V.S, Ravindran.D, Manikandan.V,

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PERFORMANCE STUDY ON HYBRID GLASS FIBER EPOXY COMPOSITE

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