Manufacturing and Characterization of New Composite Based on Epoxy Resin and Lygeum Spartum L. Plant

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ABSTRACT

In the present study, a new composite based on epoxy resin reinforced with Lygeum spartum L. fibers was prepared using compression molding technique. Chemical, mechanical as well as morphological analyses were carried out on the Epoxy/Lygeum spartum composite (Epoxy/LS) using ATR-FTIR, tensile and flexural tests, and SEM spectroscopy. An increase in the intensity of several bands associated to the main complements of vegetable fibers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) was showan using ATR-FTIR analysis. An improvement in the mechanical properties of this new material was observed, with respect to the neat epoxy resin. This was of the order of 117 % and 85 % for tensile and flexural modulus respectively, and of the order of 40 % and 9 % for tensile and flexural strength, correspondingly. A good fiber-matrix adhesion was also observed from tensile fracture surface of composite using scanning electron microscope (SEM). All the obtained results demonstrated the effectiveness of the Lygeum spartum fibers as reinforcement of composite materials.

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank DGRSDT (Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développement Technologique) for their support, URMPE of boumerdes university, Pr. Chabira from Laghouat University for their technical assistance. Mme BOUAYED Maliha from National Polytechnic School of Algiers, for her language consulting.