Effect of Layering Pattern on the Mechanical Properties of Bark Cloth (Ficus natalensis) Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The quest for sustainable materials as a consequence of a global drive to mitigate climate change has led to a focus on natural fiber–reinforced composite materials. In this study, skillful ply angle arrangement of bark cloth–reinforced laminar epoxy composites was carried out for the first time using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, and the composites fabricated were characterized for the effect of the layering pattern on their static and dynamic mechanical properties. Tensile strength and flexural strength were shown to be dependent on the ply angle arrangement. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the composites showed a glass transition temperature of 70°C, and the storage modulus and mechanical damping properties showed that the developed composites can withstand considerable loads and have excellent fiber-to-matrix adhesion.

Keywords:

• Fibers
• Mechanical properties
• Resin transfer molding (RTM)
• Wood

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The first author is grateful to God for life, to Busitema University for granting a study leave, and also to Technical University of Liberec (TUL) for providing the medium for research. The authors acknowledge Ing. Jana Mullerova, Ph.D., of the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, TUL, for providing the FT-IR spectra.