The Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Banana and Glass Fiber Woven Fabric-Reinforced Polyester Composite.

The static and dynamic mechanical properties of banana and glass woven fabric-reinforced polyester composites have been determined with special reference to the effect of fiber volume fraction, layering pattern, and the weaving architecture. Even though articles related to natural fiber composites are abundant in the literature, work on natural fiber textile composites is found to be rare. Composites with high tensile strength can be obtained using banana and glass in the fabric form, using two layers of the fabric. The impact strength of the composites increases with the number of layers and the fiber volume fraction. By incorporating the fabric, the G′ curve shows an improved rubbery plateau indicating that the incorporation of the fabric induces reinforcing effects in the polyester matrix. The storage modulus has been found to be the highest for composites with four layers of the fabric. In all the composite samples, the relaxation peak of polyester is visible as peak in G″ at about 98°C. In the case of composites with four layers of the fabric, two peaks and one shoulder are seen. Increase in the number of layers made a second relaxation peak visible. The damping peaks have been found to be lowered by the incorporation of more number of layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]