Physico-Mechanical Properties and Taguchi Optimized Abrasive Wear of Alkali Treated and Fly Ash Reinforced Himalayan Agave Fiber Polyester Composite

ABSTRACT

The present investigation addresses the influence of fly ash filler material on physico-mechanical properties (water absorption, tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness) and abrasive wear on alkali-treated (2% NaOH) chopped Himalayan agave fiber randomly oriented compound with polyester resin. The physico-mechanical properties such as void fraction, water resistance capability, tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and dry abrasive wear characteristics of Himalayan agave fiber/polyester composites was determined. The maximum tensile strength (30.09 MPa), flexural strength (54.51 MPa), impact strength (30.24 J/m²), and hardness (42.5 H_V) were observed at 15 wt.% of Himalayan agave fiber and fly ash. The abrasive specific wear rate of the composite was studied at four different factors, i.e., fiber loading (5–15 wt.%), normal load (10–30 N), fly-ash content (5–15 wt.%), and speed (50–150 rpm) using Taguchi’s method L₉ orthogonal array. The study determined that the control parameters of fiber loading (15 wt.%), normal load (10 N), fly-ash content (15 wt.%), and speed (100 rpm) exhibited the least specific abrasive wear rate. The SEM analysis of worn abrasive surfaces revealed the micro-cuts, fiber breakage, micro-plowing, cracks, and wear debris as the dominant wear mechanism.

摘要

本研究探讨了粉煤灰填充材料对碱处理 (2%NaOH) 切喜马拉雅龙舌兰纤维无规定向聚酯树脂复合物物理机械性能 (吸水性,拉伸,弯曲,冲击和硬度) 和磨料磨损的影响. 测定了喜马拉雅龙舌兰纤维/聚酯复合材料对喜马拉雅龙舌兰纤维/聚酯复合材料的物理力学性能, 如空隙率,耐水性,拉伸,弯曲,冲击,硬度和干磨粒磨损特性的影响. 喜马拉雅龙舌兰纤维和飞灰的最大拉伸强度 (30.09 MPa), 弯曲强度 (54.51 MPa), 冲击强度(30.24 J/m2) 和硬度 (42.5 HV) 为15 wt.%. 采用田口L9正交试验法, 研究了纤维负载 (5–15 wt.%), 正常负载 (10–30 N), 飞灰含量 (5–15 wt.%) 和速度 (50–150rpm) 四种不同因素下复合材料的磨料比磨损率. 研究确定, 纤维负载 (15 wt.%), 正常负载 (10 N), 飞灰含量 (15 wt.%) 和速度 (100rpm) 的控制参数显示出最小的比磨损率. 磨损磨料表面的SEM分析表明, 微切削,纤维断裂,微犁削,裂纹和磨屑是主要的磨损机制.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fiber
• composite
• fly-ash
• agave fiber
• physical and mechanical properties
• abrasive wear
• Taguchi analysis

关键词:

• 天然纤维
• 混合成的
• 粉煤灰
• 龙舌兰纤维
• 物理和机械性能
• 磨料磨损
• 田口分析

Acknowledgments

The CSIR-CSMCRI PRIS number for this manuscript is 156/2021. The comments from anonymous reviewers and the editor have greatly improved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).