The Combined Effect of Banana Fiber and Fly Ash Reinforcements on the Mechanical Behavior of Polyester Composites

ABSTRACT

The mechanical behavior of banana fiber (BA) reinforced polymer composites filled with fly ash (FA) is analyzed in this present investigation. Polyester matrix is used to produce composites with 30% of banana fiber volume and fly ash with three separate volume fractions (1%, 3% & 5%). The failure mechanisms were identified through a scanning electron microscope using the fractured surfaces of the specimen after mechanical testing. The addition of 3% vol of fly ash results in an increase in the tensile, flexural, and impact strength of 46.3%, 24%, and 88.4% when compared with the banana fiber composites without fly ash (BAP). 5% vol of higher fly ash addition indicates a drop in the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of approximately 31.4%, 9.38%, and 30.61% when compared to 3% vol of fly ash added composites, respectively. Owing to weak interfacial bonding caused by the agglomeration of fillers, the higher filler loading results in subdued mechanical properties. With the help of SEM fractography, the parameters, including poor interfacial adhesion, defective surfaces, and fractures, were described.

摘要

分析了香蕉纤维(BA)增强粉煤灰(FA)复合材料的力学性能. 聚酯基体用于生产香蕉纤维体积占30%的复合材料和三种不同体积分数(1%、3%和5%)的粉煤灰. 通过扫描电子显微镜, 利用机械试验后试样的断裂表面, 确定了失效机制. 与不含粉煤灰(BAP)的香蕉纤维复合材料相比,添加3%体积的粉煤灰可使拉伸、弯曲和冲击强度分别提高46.3%、24%和88.4%. 与添加3%体积的飞灰复合材料相比, 添加5%体积的飞灰表明拉伸、弯曲和冲击性能分别下降约31.4%、9.38%和30.61%. 由于填料的团聚导致界面结合较弱, 因此填料负载量越高, 力学性能越差. 借助SEM断口分析, 描述了界面附着力差、表面缺陷和断裂等参数.

KEYWORDS:

• Banana fiber
• fly ash
• mechanical properties
• fractography
• polymer matrix composites
• natural fiber composites

关键词:

• 香蕉纤维
• 飞灰
• 机械性能
• 断裂学
• 聚合物基复合材料
• 天然纤维复合材料

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge (i) Composite Laboratory and Strength of Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SRMIST. (ii) Nanotechnology Research Centre (NRC), SRMIST for providing the research facilities.

Disclosure statement

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