Effects of Moisture Absorption and Thickness Swelling Behaviors on Mechanical Performances of Carica Papaya Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Composites

ABSTRACT

In this study, composite materials were made from Carica papaya fibers (CPFs), as a reinforcing element in polypropylene (PP), polyester (P) and epoxy (E) matrices, using compression molding technique. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the input parameters with their output responses, specifically density and thickness. Various CPF reinforced PP, P, and E composite specimens with varied fiber orientations of 0°, 45°, and 90° as well as percentages of fiber contents of 10, 20, and 30 wt.% were prepared, according to the ASTM D 570 standard. From the results obtained, it was observed that CPF/E composites with fewer fraction of CPF and orientation of 90° exhibited less water absorption throughout the whole duration of immersion. Water saturated CPF/E composite specimen, designated as E8, with orientation of 0° and fiber content of 20 wt.% showed the highest tensile, flexural strengths, and Shore D Hardness of 119, 115 MPa, and 85, respectively. Also, CPF/E composite specimen (E7) with 90° and 10 wt.% recorded the lowest tensile strength of 32 MPa, and CPF/E composite (E3) with 90° and 30 wt.% showed the lowest flexural strength of 41 MPa. Hence, it was evident that optimum CPF reinforced polymeric composite can be used for some outdoor engineering applications.

摘要

在这项研究中, 复合材料是由番木瓜纤维 (CPF) 制成的, 作为聚丙烯 (PP), 聚酯 (P) 和环氧树脂 (E) 基体中的增强元素, 使用压缩成型技术. 通过实验评估输入参数及其输出响应, 特别是密度和厚度. 根据ASTM D570标准, 制备了各种CPF增强PP, P和E复合材料试样, 其纤维取向分别为0°, 45°和90°, 纤维含量百分比分别为10%, 20%和30%. 从所得结果可以看出, CPF含量较少且取向为90°的CPF/E复合材料在整个浸泡过程中吸水率较低. 水饱和CPF/E复合材料试样, 命名为E8, 取向为0°, 纤维含量为20 wt.%, 显示出最高的拉伸, 弯曲强度和肖氏D硬度, 分别为119, 115 MPa和85. 此外, 90°和10 wt.%的CPF/E复合材料试样 (E7) 的拉伸强度最低, 为32MPa, 90°和30 wt.%的CPF/E复合材料 (E3) 的弯曲强度最低, 为41MPa. 因此, 显然, 最佳CPF增强聚合物复合材料可用于某些室外工程应用.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fiber composites
• Carica papaya fibers (CPFs)
• water uptake
• thickness swelling
• mechanical properties
• scanning electron microscopy

关键词:

• 天然纤维复合材料
• 番木瓜纤维
• 吸水率
• 厚度膨胀
• 力学性能
• 扫描电子显微镜.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, Virudhunagar-626115, Tamil Nadu, India. The King Saud University authors acknowledge the funding from Researchers Supporting Project (RSP-2021/355), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the King Saud University [RSP 2021-355].