Critical Parameters Affecting Mechanical Behavior of Natural Fiber Reinforced Plastics

ABSTRACT

Of the numerous special properties of natural fiber composites, light weight and biodegradability are the most attractive. Also, natural fiber reinforced composites have sufficiently good mechanical properties. In the present research investigation, the mechanical properties of the natural fiber (nettle and grewia optiva fiber) reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic composites have been evaluated and compared. The morphological analysis of the fractured test specimens subjected to different types of mechanical loading has also been performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Critical parameters, such as contact angle of polymers, surface roughness of the natural fibers, and twist angle of the natural fiber yarn have been evaluated in order to emphasize their importance in defining the mechanical behavior of the developed composite laminates. The results reveal that poly-lactic acid (PLA)-based natural fiber composites have superior mechanical properties as compared to the polypropylene (PP)- and epoxy-based natural fiber composites.

摘要

天然纤维复合材料有许多特殊性能，其中最有吸引力的是重量轻、可生物降解性。此外，天然纤维增强复合材料具有足够好的机械性能。在本研究中，对增强了热固性和热塑性的天然纤维（荨麻和一种印度树种grewia optiva纤维）复合材料的机械性能进行了评价和比较。此外，还使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）分析了经受不同类型的机械​​负载的断裂试样的形态。本研究评估了关键参数，如聚合物的接触角、天然纤维的表面粗糙度以及天然纤维纱线的扭角，以明确它们对开发复合材料层压板的机械性能的重要性。结果表明，与聚丙烯（PP）基和环氧基天然纤维复合材料相比，聚乳酸（PLA）基天然纤维复合材料具有优良的机械性能 。

KEYWORDS:

• Composites
• contact angle
• laminates
• mechanical properties
• morphology
• surface roughness and twist angle
• thermoplastic
• thermoset

关键词:

• 复合材料
• 接触角
• 层压板
• 机械性能
• 形态学
• 表面粗糙度和扭角