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In the present work, an attempt was made to improve the mechanical properties of the coir fiber reinforced epoxy composites through addition of high strength sisal and palmyra palm fibers. The hybrid composites were fabricated using compression molding technique by maintaining the volume fraction of fiber to matrix as 40:60. In the hybrid composites, the volume fraction of coir was maintained as 20%, while the volume fraction of other fibers was varied from 5% to 15%. The mechanical properties of the hybrid composites were investigated as a function of fiber volume fraction of sisal and palmyra palm fibers. The outcomes revealed that the hybrid composite have higher mechanical properties than the coir fiber composites due to synergistic effect of reinforcements. Furthermore, the morphological studies were carried out on the mechanical tested samples to predict the failure mechanisms.

In the present work, an attempt was made to improve the mechanical properties of the coir fiber reinforced epoxy composites through addition of high strength sisal and palmyra palm fibers. The hybrid composites were fabricated using compression molding technique by maintaining the volume fraction of fiber to matrix as 40:60. In the hybrid composites, the volume fraction of coir was maintained as 20%, while the volume fraction of other fibers was varied from 5% to 15%. The mechanical properties of the hybrid composites were investigated as a function of fiber volume fraction of sisal and palmyra palm fibers. The outcomes revealed that the hybrid composite have higher mechanical properties than the coir fiber composites due to synergistic effect of reinforcements. Furthermore, the morphological studies were carried out on the mechanical tested samples to predict the failure mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various chemical treatments such as mercerization (alkali treatment), permanganate treatment, and benzoyl chloride treatment were performed on palmyra palm leaf stalk fibers. Composites were fabricated by hand layup method followed by compression molding process using unsaturated polyester as matrix. Two types of composites were fabricated, one by using treated continuous palmyra palm leaf stalk fibers and other by hybridizing nonwoven glass fiber mat and alkali treated continuous palmyra palm leaf stalk fibers with bilayer arrangement. In both the cases palmyra palm leaf stalk fiber is laid unidirectionally for composite fabrication. The composites were tested for its tensile, flexural, impact, and dynamic mechanical properties. There was an increase of 33% in tensile, 55% in flexural, and 50% in impact strength for benzoyl, permanganate, and alkali treated composites, respectively, compared to untreated fiber composites. But all the treated fiber composites did not show much variation in properties. Hybridization resulted in 54, 36, and 58% improvement in tensile, flexural, and impact properties, respectively, in comparison to unhybridized treated unidirectional palmyra palm leaf stalk fiber composites. Reinforcement of alkali treated fibers and hybridization of glass fibers enhanced the loss and storage modulus of the composites, increased glass transition temperature (Tg), and also reduced the tan δ peak. A positive shift in tan δ was also evident for all the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During the current investigation, alkali treated Palmyra palm leaf stalk fiber (PPLSF) and jute fibers were chosen as reinforcement for the unsaturated polyester matrix. Layering patterns such as bi-layer (PPLSF/jute) and tri-layer (PPLSF/jute/PPLSF and jute/PPLSF/jute) were chosen, and composites were fabricated by hand layup followed by compression molding process. The tensile and flexural properties of the hybrid composites with different layering pattern were determined and compared with pure PPLSF and jute unsaturated polyester composites. It was observed that the bi-layer composites had higher tensile properties, while the tri-layer (jute/PPLSF/jute) composites had higher flexural properties in comparison with PPLSF composites. Seventeen percent improvement in tensile strength, 51% improvement in tensile modulus for bi-layer composites and 45% improvement in flexural strength, 60% improvement in flexural modulus for jute/PPLSF/jute composites were observed in comparison with the PPLSF composites. Fractographic studies on the tensile fractured surfaces were performed using scanning electron microscopy that showed the evidence of interface adhesion between the fiber and matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] New type of hybrid composite with Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fibers (PPLSF) and jute. [•] Composites fabricated with continuous, unidirectional fibers. [•] Alkali treatment and hybridizing jute imparted good static and dynamic properties. [•] Properties are comparable with well know natural/glass fiber composites. [•] New hybrid composite can be an alternative in place of synthetic fiber composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]