Banana Fiber Extraction and Surface Characterization of Hybrid Banana Reinforced Composite

ABSTRACT

For many engineering applications, especially in case of automobiles, natural fibers are a better replacement for artificially made fibers when it is reinforced as polymer composite materials. Here, banana fiber, a socio-economic natural fiber was used in higher volume fractions for reinforcement with the synthetic carbon fiber. Four different specimens, namely S1, S2, S3, and S4 consisting of 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50% volume fraction of banana fiber, were reinforced with the carbon fiber by hand lay-up method. The banana fibers used were chemically treated using a 5% NaOH solution to enhance their mechanical properties. Various mechanical-oriented properties like flexural, tensile, and impact strength of the prepared specimens were analyzed. The samples S1, S2, S3, and S4 could survive 243, 246, 249, and 253 MPa of flexural strength, a tensile strength of 173.2, 175.5, 177.1, and 179.3 MPa, elongation of 14.11%, 13.92%, 13.72%, and 13.51% and impact strength of 16, 16.5, 16.9, and 17.3 J, respectively. SEM investigation has been obtained for specimen S1 with optimal mechanical properties for further study on voids and fracture over the surface of the reinforced matrix composite material. The study shows that epoxy incorporation over banana fiber composites improved the fiber-matrix adhesion and compatibility.

摘要

对于许多工程应用, 尤其是在汽车上, 当天然纤维被增强为聚合物复合材料时, 它可以更好地替代人造纤维. 在这里, 香蕉纤维, 一种社会经济型天然纤维被用于更高体积分数的合成碳纤维加固. 四个不同的试样, 即S1, S2, S3和S4, 由体积分数为80%, 70%, 60%和50%的香蕉纤维组成, 采用手糊法用碳纤维加固. 使用5%NaOH溶液对香蕉纤维进行化学处理, 以提高其力学性能. 分析了制备试样的弯曲, 拉伸和冲击强度等各种力学性能. 样品S1, S2, S3和S4的弯曲强度分别为243, 246, 249和253 MPa, 拉伸强度分别为173.2, 175.5, 177.1和179.3 MPa, 伸长率分别为14.11, 13.92, 13.72和13.51%, 冲击强度分别为16, 16.5, 16.9和17.3 J. 对具有最佳力学性能的试样S1进行了SEM研究, 以进一步研究增强基复合材料表面的孔隙和断裂. 研究表明, 在香蕉纤维复合材料上掺入环氧树脂可以改善纤维与基体的粘附性和相容性.

KEYWORDS:

• Banana pseudo-stem
• banana fiber
• carbon fiber
• mechanical properties
• SEM analysis
• voids

关键词:

• 香蕉假茎
• 香蕉纤维
• 碳纤维
• 机械性能
• 分析
• 空隙.

Highlights

• Extraction of banana fiber and fabrication of banana/carbon fiber hybrid composites were done.

• Effect of hybridization with higher volume fraction of banana fiber on mechanical properties was studied.

• Adhesion at the interface due to NaOH treatment of banana fiber were analysed by using SEM.

• Hybridization of banana and carbon fiber with epoxy resin exhibits better mechanical strength.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.