Investigation of Mechanical and Thermal Conductivity Properties of Sansevieria Roxburghiana Leaf Fibers Reinforced Composites: Effect of Fiber Loading

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present research was to elicit the influence of fiber loading on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of Sansevieria roxburghiana leaf fibers reinforced epoxy composites. The mean micro-fibrillar angle of the extracted leaf fibers was found as 18.84° by X-ray diffraction technique. Composite samples were fabricated using randomly oriented fibers under different weight ratios (10, 20, 30, and 40 weight%) employing compression molding technique. Studies exemplify that the mechanical properties of the composites increase with increasing weight ratio of fibers. Optimum tensile, flexural, and impact strength of the composites were found to be 21.1 MPa, 65.6 MPa, and 18.37 kJ/m² respectively for 30 weight% fiber loading. The high tensile strength of the composites is related to the low microfibrillar angle of the fibers. The increase in mechanical strength is due to the high cellulose content and crystallinity index of the fibers, while the decline at 40 weight% is due to the poor wettability of the fibers. The thermal conductivity of the composites decreases with increase in fiber loading. Void content present in the composites was found. Experimental values obtained show that Sansevieria roxburghiana leaf fibers are potential reinforcements that can be used to make polymer composites suitable for domestic and lightweight applications.

摘要

本研究旨在探讨纤维负载量对刺梨叶纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料力学性能和导热性能的影响. 经X射线衍射分析, 提取叶纤维的平均微纤丝角为18.84°. 采用模压成型技术, 采用不同重量比 (10、20、30和40%) 的随机取向纤维制备复合材料样品. 研究表明, 复合材料的力学性能随纤维重量比的增加而提高. 当纤维含量为30%时, 复合材料的最佳拉伸、弯曲和冲击强度分别为21.1MPa、65.6MPa和18.37 kJ/m2. 复合材料的高拉伸强度与纤维的低微纤丝角有关. 机械强度的增加是由于纤维的纤维素含量和结晶指数较高, 而在40%重量时, 机械强度的下降是由于纤维的润湿性较差. 随着纤维负载量的增加, 复合材料的导热系数降低。发现复合材料中存在孔隙. 实验结果表明, 刺梨叶纤维是一种潜在的增强材料, 可用于制造适合家用和轻型应用的聚合物复合材料.

KEYWORDS:

• Sansevieria roxburghiana leaf fibers
• micro-fibrillar angle
• mechanical properties
• thermal conductivity
• fractured surfaces
• void content

关键词:

• 刺梨叶纤维
• 微纤丝角
• 机械性能
• 导热系数
• 断裂表面
• 无效内容

Disclosure statement

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

Declaration of conflicting interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Highlights

• The mean micro-fibrillar angle of the Sansevieria roxburghiana leaf fibers is 18.18°

• The mechanical properties of the Sansevieria roxburghiana leaf fibers reinforced composites increase with increase in fiber loading

• The optimum mechanical properties of the composites were obtained when the fiber loading in the composites was 30 weight%

• The thermal conductivity of the composites was inversely related to the fiber loading

• Void content present is the composites is not related to the increase in fiber loading