Impact of alkali treatment and fiber length on mechanical properties of new agro waste Lagenaria Siceraria fiber reinforced epoxy composites

ABSTRACT

Composite laminates are prepared based on new agro waste of 4% alkali-treated and untreated Lagenaria siceraria fiber (LSF)-reinforced epoxy resin using four different fiber lengths of 3, 5, 7, and 9 mm with five different fiber contents of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 wt% by compression mold technique. The composite laminates were cut according to ASTM standard dimensions to test its mechanical properties like tensile, flexural, compression, and impact strength. The mechanical properties are enhanced for increase in the fiber length upto 7 mm and 30 wt% of untreated and treated fiber; however, further increase (such as fiber content and fiber length) in parameters causes decrease in mechanical properties for both treated and untreated LSF-reinforced composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fractured composite laminates studies was carried out to analyze the fiber–matrix interaction. The composite reinforced with 7 mm fiber length and 30 wt% of alkali-treated fiber composites exhibits better mechanical properties compared to other combination.

摘要

以4%碱处理和未处理的Lagenaria siceraria纤维（LSF）增强环氧树脂的新型农业废弃物为基础，采用4种不同纤维长度（3、5、7和9mm）和5种不同纤维含量（15、20、25、30和35wt%）的压模技术制备复合层压板. 根据ASTM标准尺寸切割复合材料层压板，测试其拉伸、弯曲、压缩和冲击强度等力学性能. 当纤维长度增加到7mm，未处理和处理纤维的重量百分比增加到30%时，复合材料的力学性能得到提高，然而，参数的进一步增加（如纤维含量和纤维长度）会导致处理和未处理LSF增强复合材料的力学性能下降. 对断裂的复合材料层压板进行了扫描电子显微镜（SEM）研究，以分析纤维与基体的相互作用. 与其它复合材料相比，纤维长度为7mm、碱处理纤维质量分数为30wt%的复合材料具有更好的力学性能.

KEYWORDS:

• Polymer composites
• mechanical properties
• epoxy
• natural fiber
• scanning electron microscopy
• alkaline treatment

关键词:

• 聚合物复合材料
• 机械性能
• 环氧树脂
• 天然纤维
• 扫描电子显微镜
• 碱性处理