Effects of Fiber Volume Fraction on Unidirectional Kenaf/Epoxy Composites: The Transition Region

Abstract

This article presents the effects of fiber volume fraction on the existence of a transition region in unidirectional kenaf/epoxy composites. The composites were made from hand Lay-up techniques, with three formulations of fiber volume fraction employed: 0% (neat), 15% and 45%. The results showed that tensile properties such as tensile strength and modulus of elasticity increased as the fiber volume increased. The stress-strain curves showed that the kenaf/epoxy composites exhibited bi-linear responses with reductions in the modulus of elasticity. Surface morphology aided by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that the reduction in the modulus of elasticity was due to matrix cracking.

Keywords:

• Composite
• Epoxy resin
• Kenaf fibre

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would to thank the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), for technical and financial support of this project.