Mechanical properties evaluation of

Areca and Jowar Fiber Reinforced

Polymer Composites
Worked by
P. Periasamy, (710011819009)

Supervised by
Dr.Surya prakash

Content
Introduction
Objectives
Literature Review
Process Methodology
Selection of Matrix and Reinforcement
Fabrication of composite materials
Applications of Natural Fiber Composites

Introduction
Environmental awareness, new rules and legislation are forcing

industries to seek new materials which are more environmental

friendly.
The polymer matrix composite reinforced with natural

fibers are used as substitute for wood and plastics.

The benefits of natural fiber composites include high strength , high

stiffness, low cost and light weight.

Among all natural fiber reinforcing materials, areca and mulberry

fibers are appears to be a promising material. And also it is

inexpensive, abundantly available.

Objectives
To study the physical and chemical properties of alkali
treated and untreated areca and jowar fibers.
To fabricate

the polymer based composite

materials

reinforced with areca and jowar fibers based on the Wt% of

the fiber using compression molding technique.
To study the mechanical properties such as tensile,
compression, flexural, impact strength of alkali treated and
untreated areca and jowar fiber polymer composites.

Literature Review

Author (Year) and Journal name

Omar Faruka, et al
Science direct
Composites Part B
Title of the paper

Biocomposites reinforced
with natural fibers: 2000
2010

Observation

The development of high performance material made

from natural resources is increasing in the world.
The natural fiber components may be wood, sisal,
hemp, coconut, cotton, kenaf, flax, jute, abaca, banana
leaf fibers, bamboo, wheat straw or other fibrous
material.
The advantages of natural fiber composites include
lightweight, low-energy production, and environmental
friendly. The various types of fiber and their properties
are discussed.

Author (Year) and Journal name

N. Venkateshwaran , et al 5 may
2012
Science direct
Composites Part B
Title of the paper

Mechanical and water absorption

behaviour of banana/sisal
reinforced hybrid composites

Observation

They are investigated mechanical and water

absorption properties banana/sisal reinforced hybrid
composites.
In the study show that addition of sisal fiber in the
composite, results in 16% increase in tensile strength,
4% increase in flexural strength and 35% increase in
impact strength.
Moisture absorption study of hybrid composite shows
the minimum moisture uptake is by 50:50 hybrid
composite.
Tensile strength and modulus of short, randomly
oriented natural fiber reinforced hybrid composites was
predicted using the Rule of Hybrid Mixtures (RoHMs)
equation.
It was observed that the RoHM equation predicted
tensile properties of hybrid composites are little higher
than experimental values

Author (Year) and Journal name

M. Boopalan, 21 April 2011

Science direct
Materials and Design
Title of the paper

Study on the mechanical

properties and thermal properties
of jute and banana fiber reinforced
epoxy hybrid composites

Observation

They are study mechanical and thermal properties of

jute/ banana hybrid composites.
This study shows that addition of banana fiber in
jute/epoxy composites of up to 50% by weight results in
increasing the mechanical and thermal properties and
decreasing the moisture absorption propert.

Author (Year) and Journal name

A.V. Ratna Prasad et al,

23 December 2012
Science direct
Materials and Design
Title of the paper

Mechanical properties of
natural fiber reinforced
polyester: jowar, sisal and
bamboo

Observation

they are evaluated mechanical properties

of jowar, sisal bamboo reinforced polyester
resin.
The results show those jowar fiber
composites almost equal to bamboo
composites and 1.89 times higher than sisal
fiber composites.
The flexural strength of jowar fiber
composites 4%, 35% and the flexural
modulus 1.12 times, 2.16 times greater than
bamboo and sisal fiber composites.

Author (Year) and Journal name

Ke Liu et et al,
2 May 2012
Science direct
Progress in Polymer Science
Title of the paper

Effect of physicochemical
structure of natural fiber on
transverse thermal conductivity of
unidirectional abaca/bamboo fiber
composites, Composites

Observation

This study the effects of the microstructure of natural

fiber on the transverse thermal conductivity of
unidirectional composite, abaca and bamboo fibers
were unidirectional aligned to fabricate epoxy
composites by a resin transfer molding (RTM)
technique.
The results indicated in which two phases are
chemically and/or mechanically combined. Interfacial
adhesion plays a predominant part to characterize the
mechanical properties of the composites. If there is poor
adhesion across the phase boundary, then relatively
weak dispersion of force occurs and results in poor
mechanical properties.
For reinforcement of natural fibre into the matrix,
several problems occur along the interface due to the
presence of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups.

Author (Year) and Journal name

M.M. Kabir et al
20 December 2012
Science direct
Materials and Design
Title of the paper

Observation
For reinforcement of natural fibre into the matrix,

several problems occur along the interface due to the

presence of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups.
This hydrophilic nature hinders the effective reaction
with the matrix. The major problem of natural fibre
composites originate from the hydrophilic nature of the
fibre and hydrophobic nature of the matrix.

Chemical treatments on plantbased natural fibre reinforced

polymer composites: An overview,
The inherent incompatibility between these two phases
Composites
results weakening bonding at the interface.
Chemical treatments on reinforcing fibre can reduce its
hydrophilic tendency and thus improve compatibility
with the matrix

Author (Year) and Journal name

Md. Rezaur Rahman et al

20 December 2012
Science direct
Materials and Design
Title of the paper

Mechanical properties of
polypropylene composites
reinforced with chemically treated
abaca

Observation
Abaca was chemically treated with benzene

diazonium salt in order to improve in the mechanical

properties of the abaca-PP composites.
Both raw and treated abaca samples were utilized for
the fabrication of the composites. The mechanical
properties of the composites prepared from chemically
treated abaca are found to increase substantially
compared to those of untreated ones.
Tensile strengths of the composites of both raw and
chemically treated abaca-PP composites showed a
decreasing trend with increasing filler content.
However, the values for the chemically treated abacaPP composites at all mixing ratios are found to be
higher than that of neat PP

Author (Year) and Journal name

N. Venkateshwaran, A. Elaya
Perumal et al
20 December 2012
Science direct
Materials and Design
Title of the paper

Fiber surface treatment and its

effect on mechanical and viscoelastic behaviour of banana/epoxy
composite

Observation

Natural fibers offer many advantages over synthetic

fibers but the notable disadvantage of natural fibers is
its hydrophilic nature.
Due to this nature an incompatibility between the fiber
and matrix exist which decreases the properties of the
composite.
This defect can be overcome by chemical modification
of fiber surface so as to make it less hydrophilic. In this
work, alkali (NaOH) of various concentrations (0.5%,
1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) was used to treat the
fiber surface and the effect of these concentrations on
the mechanical and visco-elastic behaviour of the
composites were carried out.
From the experimental investigation, it is found that
1% NaOH treated fiber reinforced composites behaves
superiorly than other treated and untreated fiber
composite

Author (Year) and Journal name

Observation

M.Ramesh et al
20 December 2012
Science direct
Materials and Design

The incorporation of natural fibres such as sisal/jute

with glass fiber composites has gained increasing
applications both in many areas of Engineering and
Technology.

Title of the paper

The aim of this study is to evaluate mechanical

properties such as tensile and flexural properties of
hybrid glass fiber-sisal/jute reinforced epoxy
composites.

Comparative Evaluation on
Properties of Hybrid Glass FiberSisal/Jute Reinforced Epoxy
Composites

The sisal/GFRP composite samples possess good

tensile strength and can withstand the strength up to
68.55 MPa.
The jute/GFRP composite specimen is holding the
maximum flexural load of 1.03KN slightly higher than
the sisal/GFRP composite sample.

Methodology - Phase I
Problem Identification
Selection of Natural fibers
Selection of polymers
Purchasing resin
Fiber separation from areca husk and jowar
plant
Alkali treatment & measuring the chemical
properties

Methodology - Phase II

Fabrication of bio composite

Mechanical properties evaluation

Compare the results & conclusion

Selection of Matrix and Reinforcement

Reinforcement selected as
1.Areca Fiber

Areca fiber is extracted from areca

husk

Physical Properties of Areca fiber

Diameter(
m)

28-89

Length of fiber(mm) Density

(g/cm2)
Short

Medium

Long

Averag
e

18-29

30-38

39-46

29-38

1.05-1.25

2.Jowar fiber

Jowar fiber are extracted from maize

stem

Physical Properties of jowar fiber

Diameter(
m)

Length of fiber(mm) Density

(g/cm2)
Short

20

Medium

Long

Averag
e
-

Required
length

29-38

1.01

Matrix selected as
1. Epoxy resin ( LY556 )
2. Hardener (HY951)

Typical Properties of Epoxy Resin

Appearance

Yellow viscous liquid

Specific gravity at 250C

1.15 1.20 g/cm3

Viscosity at 300 C

100

Volatile content(%) at 1500C

34.17

Acid Value (mgKOH/g)

6.21

Gel time in minits at RT 300C

5.50

Fabrication of Composite Materials

The fabrication process : compression molding technique

Compression Molding Machine Die

Compression Molding Machine

Mechanical Properties of hybrid

composites
Mechanical
Properties

Raw
fiber

1%
treated

2.5 %
treated

5%
treated

Tensile
strength
MPa
Flexural

5.598

7.12

12.587

10.781

17.69

22.52

24.56

11.65

207.98

219.84

183.223

86.136

2.0

2.5

4.0

4.5

strength
MPa
Flexural
modulus
MPa
Impact
strength
kJ/m

CONCLUSION
In areca with epoxy composites shows better results compare to the areca and jower
reinforced epoxy matrix in all mechanical properties
Jowar epoxy composites tensile strength is 124 MPa and areca composites alone 64 MPa
and areca, jowar hybrid composites are 10.78MPa when the 2.5% chemical treatment is
performed. So its value hiher than hybrid composites.
Jowar epoxy composites flextural strength is 134 Mpa and areca composites alone 46.64
MPa and areca jowar hybrid composites are 24.56 Mpa when the 2.5% chemical
treatment is performed. Hybrid fiber values are lower than individual fiber.
Jowar epoxy composites flextural modulus is 7.84 Mpa and areca composites alone 6.4
MPa and areca composites alone 46.64 MPa This flexural Modulus only better results
compare the areca or jowar with epoxy reinforced composites. It indicate 20 times more
than areca or jowar with epoxy composites.
Then the impact strength of jowar with epoxy composites is 11.5 J, and areca composites
alone 12.5 J, and areca jowar hybrid composites are 4.5 J when the 5% chemical
treatment is performed

Applications of Polymer based Natural Fiber Composites

Building and construction industry: panels for partition, partition

boards, wall, floor, window and door frames, roof tiles, mobile or
pre-fabricated buildings which can be used in times of natural
calamities such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, etc.
Storage devices: post-boxes, grain storage silos, bio-gas containers,
etc.
Furniture: chair, table, shower, bath units, etc.
Electric devices: electrical appliances, pipes, etc.
Everyday applications: lampshades, suitcases, helmets, etc.
Transportation: automobile and railway coach interior, boat, etc.
Toys

References

Omar Faruka, Andrzej K. Bledzkia, Hans-Peter Fink, Mohini Sain,

Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 20002010, Progress in Polymer
Science 37 (2012) 1552 1596.

N. Venkateshwaran , A. ElayaPerumal , A. Alavudeen , M. Thiruchitrambalam,

Mechanical and water absorption behaviour of banana/sisal reinforced hybrid
composites, Materials and Design 32 (2011) 40174021

M. Boopalan, M. Niranjanaa, M.J. Umapath, Study on the mechanical properties

and thermal properties of jute and banana fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid
composites, Composites Part B: Engineering ,Volume 51, August 2013, Pages
5457

A.V. Ratna Prasad, K.Mohan rao, Mechanical properties of natural fiber

reinforced polyester: jowar, sisal and bamboo, Material and design 32 (2011)
4658 - 4663

Ke Liu, Hitoshi Takagi, Ryosuke Osugi, Zhimao Yang, Effect of physicochemical

structure of natural fiber on transverse thermal conductivity of unidirectional
abaca/bamboo fiber composites, Composites Part A: Applied Science and
Manufacturing Volume 43, Issue 8, August 2012, Pages 12341241

M.M. Kabir , H. Wang, K.T. Lau, F. Cardona, Chemical treatments on plantbased natural fibre reinforced polymer composites: An overview,
Composites: Part B 43 (2012) 28832892

Md. Rezaur Rahman, Md. Monimul Huque, Md. Nazrul Islam, Mahbub Hasan,
Mechanical properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with
chemically treated abaca, Composites: Part B .

N. Venkateshwaran, A. Elaya Perumal, D. Arunsundaranayagamc, Fiber

surface treatment and its effect on mechanical and visco-elastic behaviour
of banana/epoxy composite

M.Ramesh, K.Palanikumar, K.Hemachandra Reddy, Comparative Evaluation

on Properties of Hybrid Glass Fiber- Sisal/Jute Reinforced Epoxy Composites,
Procedia Engineering 51 ( 2013 ) 745 750

P. Noorunnisa Khanam, G. Ramachandra Reddy, K. Raghu, S. Venkata Naidu

Tensile, Flexural, and Compressive Properties of Coir/Silk Fiber-reinforced
Hybrid Composites, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 2010 29:
2124