Investigations on Mechanical and Morphological Characteristics of Mudar Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

ABSTRACT

Performance of composites can be improved by adding a suitable fiber to the polymer matrix. Many natural fibers available are cost-effective and can be used as reinforcement. Mudar fiber is one among the natural fiber obtained from bark of Crown flower (Calotropis Gigantea) plant. The natural fiber, Mudar, is available in the southern parts of India. The Mudar fiber is primed in a sodium hydroxide solution and diced into 4 mm length. The fiber-reinforced composite is obtained by mixing the epoxy resin with Mudar fiber, and the roller is repeatedly used to reduce the inherent porosities. The mechanical behaviors like flexural, compression, tensile, and impact behaviors of untreated and NaOH-treated Mudar fiber composites are analyzed. The maximum tensile strength was accounted for 20% treated fiber composite,s which was 90% more than the untreated composites. The compressive strength and flexural strength of 30% treated composites was 31% and 83% more than that of the untreated composites, respectively. Similarly, the maximum flexural strength of 40% treated composites was 2.6 times higher than the untreated composites. The morphological characteristics of specimens after tensile and compressive tests for treated and untreated conditions are also investigated. Consequently, it is found that the structural characteristics of polymer composites reinforced with alkali-treated fiber are more superior than those of the untreated fiber.

摘要

在聚合物基体中加入合适的纤维可以改善复合材料的性能. 许多可用的天然纤维具有成本效益,可用于加固. Mudar 纤维是从冠花 (Calotris Gigantea) 植物树皮中提取的天然纤维之一. 印度南部有天然纤维 Mudar. Mudar 纤维在氢氧化钠溶液中打底,切成 4 毫米长. 纤维增强复合材料是通过将环氧树脂与泥纤维混合而成,并反复使用辊子来减少固有孔隙率. 分析了未经处理和氢氧化钠处理的泥质纤维复合材料的弯曲、压缩、拉伸和冲击等力学行为. 处理后的纤维复合材料的最大拉伸强度为20%,比未处理的复合材料高出90%. 30% 处理的复合材料的抗压强度和弯曲强度分别比未处理的复合材料高 31%和 83%. 同样,40% 处理的复合材料的最大弯曲强度比未处理的复合材料高 2.6 倍. 还研究了处理和未处理条件下拉伸和压缩试验后试样的形态特征. 因此,碱处理纤维增强聚合物复合材料的结构特性优于未处理纤维.

KEYWORDS:

• Composites
• natural fiber
• mudar fiber
• polymer
• mechanical properties
• morphology

关键词:

• 关键词
• 复合材料
• 天然纤维
• 纤维
• 聚合物
• 力学性能
• 形态学

Highlights

• Investigations on mechanical and morphological characterization of mudar fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

• Effect of alkali treatment and fiber contents of the composites on the mechanical properties and morphology of the composites.

• Improved structural properties of the mudar fiber composites.

• Suitability of the composites for different applications based on the percentage of alkali treatment.

Disclosure statement

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