Characterization of mechanical properties of Kenaf fibre reinforced polymer composite

• Main Author: Syafiq Nazmi Bin Zainal
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Natural fibre; Polymer Composite; Fibre Oriention

The purpose of the mechanical analysis and morphological characterization is to determine the behaviour and the competency of the material to be used in the certain applications. In the past decades, the extensive studies had been accomplished on the natural fibre reinforced polymer composites (NFPC) and are still continuous until today. The composites made of natural fibre and polymer have proven the better effectiveness in high impact fatigue strength and toughness. The increases of fibre loading give higher results fundamental in strength due to its high interfacial bonding between the fibre. In the present work, experimental tests were carried out to study the mechanical properties; tensile, hardness and impact and morphological characterization: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) of the NFPC. The composites fabricated are between the Kenaf fibre and epoxy resin. The Kenaf fibre reinforced epoxy resin composites were fabricated using hand layup technique by layering the arranged fibre with polymer in the mould with different angle orientation (22.5° and 67.5°) as the main parameter observed and the fibre composition (2%, 4% and 6%). Before the fabrication started, the fibre had undergone the alkali treatment for the effective surface modification that can enhance the interfacial bonding between the fibre. A tensile was carried out to determine the tensile strength with the speed of the machine, 5mm/min. The maximum tensile strength achieved was indicated the sample of 6% fibre composition for 67.5° angle orientation which the maximum stress obtained is 21.43 MPa. Rockwell hardness test also was performed using the samples with the parameter of set B where the 1/16’’ ball shape indenter and 100kgf major load are applied on the samples. The average of hardness strength, HRB was recorded by taking the mean value of a set of 10 hardness number for each of the sample. The results show the hardness strength for 67.5° samples are larger than that 22.5°, for each of the particular fibre composition. In addition, the samples were tested using Charpy impact test to observe the toughness level that can define the resistance of the materials towards the plastic deformation. V-notched specimens were prepared to undergo a 25 joule default load of pendulum. It was found out, the increases of fibre loading absorbed higher amount of impact energy thus, increases the impact strength. The microscopy scanning was used to characterize the morphological analysis using the fractured surface area of tensile test. In the morphology imaging, the measurement gap spacing between fibre was displayed in the