The Effects of Natural Fiber Orientations on the Mechanical Properties of Brake Composites

ABSTRACT

This research aims to study the usage of natural fibers as composite reinforcement and their effects on mechanical properties. Because asbestos fibers have negative impacts on the environment and public health, in the manufacture of brake composites they were replaced with natural fibers. Compared to synthetic fibers, natural fibers are cheaper, higher manufacturability, and a better contributor to mechanical properties. Pineapple leaf fibers were prepared by a water retting process, and coconut and areca fibers were prepared by a separation process after drying. The samples were prepared in the different volume fraction of fibers (2 vol% – 10 vol%) and fiber orientations adjusted as random, perpendicular, and angle of 45°. They were fabricated by hot isostatic pressing method, tested using Rockwell hardness tester, wear testing machine, and universal testing machine, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The specimen in a fiber orientation of 45° performs the strongest tensile strength. The highest hardness (68 HRN) is found in the specimen with a volume fraction of 2 vol%, the lowest wear (1,64 × 10⁻⁴ mm²/kg) is obtained in the sample (10 vol%), and the highest tensile strength (14,5 MPa) is resulted by a specimen in angle orientation 45°.

摘要

本研究旨在探讨天然纤维作为复合增强材料的应用及其对力学性能的影响. 由于石棉纤维对环境和公众健康有负面影响，在制造刹车复合材料时，石棉纤维被天然纤维取代. 与合成纤维相比，天然纤维更便宜，可制造性更高，对机械性能的贡献更大. 以菠萝叶纤维为原料，采用水脱胶法制备了椰子和槟榔纤维. 在不同纤维体积分数（2 vol%-10 vol%）下制备样品，并将纤维取向调整为随机、垂直和45°角. 采用热等静压法制备，用洛氏硬度计、磨损试验机和万能试验机进行试验，并用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和能谱仪（EDX）对其进行了表征. 纤维取向为45°的试样具有最强的抗拉强度. 体积分数为2vol%的试样硬度最高（68hrn），磨损量最小（1,64×10-4mm2/kg），45°角试样的拉伸强度最高（14,5mpa）.

KEYWORDS:

• Betel nut fiber
• brake material
• coconut fiber
• composite
• pineapple leaf fiber

KEYWORD:

• 关键词: 槟榔纤维
• 制动材料
• 椰子纤维
• 混合成的
• 萝叶纤维

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support of technicians at Material Physics Laboratory, Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang (Unnes). This research was supported by the funding from Universitas Negeri Semarang, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, the Republic of Indonesia under the Grant of University Research Flagship, Innovation Scheme (No. SP DIPA-042.01.2.400899/2019].

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Kementerian Riset Teknologi Dan Pendidikan Tinggi Republik Indonesia [SP DIPA-042.01.2.400899/2019].