Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

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Materials and Design

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Static and dynamic mechanical properties of alkali treated unidirectional

continuous Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber/jute ber reinforced hybrid
polyester composites
D. Shanmugam a,, M. Thiruchitrambalam b
a
b

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tamilnadu College of Engineering, Coimbatore, India

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 17 November 2012
Accepted 14 March 2013
Available online 26 March 2013
Keywords:
Continuous natural ber
Alkali treatment
Hybrid composites
Static properties
Dynamic mechanical analysis

a b s t r a c t
Alkali treated continuous Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber (PPLSF) and jute bers were used as reinforcement in unsaturated polyester matrix and their static and dynamic mechanical properties were evaluated. Continuous PPLSF and jute bers were aligned unidirectionally in bi-layer arrangement and the
hybrid composites were fabricated by compression molding process. Positive hybrid effect was observed
for the composites due to hybridization. Increasing jute ber loading showed a considerable increase in
tensile and exural properties of the hybrid composites as compared to treated PPLSF composites. Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) of the fractured surfaces showed the nature of ber/matrix interface. The
impact strength of the hybrid composites were observed to be less compared to pure PPLSF composites.
Addition of jute bers to PPLSF and alkali treatment of the bers has enhanced the storage and loss modulus of the hybrid composites. A positive shift of Tan d peaks to higher temperature and reduction in the
peak height of the composites was also observed. The composites with higher jute loading showed maximum damping behavior. Overall the hybridization was found to be efcient showing increased static and
dynamic mechanical properties. A comparative study of properties of this hybrid composite with other
hybrids made out of using natural/glass bers is elaborated. Hybridization of alkali treated jute and PPLSF
has resulted in enhanced properties which are comparable with other natural/glass ber composites thus
increasing the scope of application in manufacturing of light weight automotive parts.
2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Natural bers are used as potential reinforcements in polymer
matrix in place of glass and other synthetic bers due to the advantages such as its adequate specic properties, low cost, acceptable
biodegradability, low density, and high aspect ratio for efcient
stress transfer [13]. The main limitations of the natural bers
are their hydrophilic nature and poor adhesion of the bers with
matrix, which limit the use of the bers as reinforcements in composites [4]. Chemical pretreatment of natural bers helps in reducing the hydrophilic nature and also improves the adhesion
between the ber and matrix [5,6]. Reinforcing surface modied
coir bers in polymer matrix improved ber/matrix adhesion
which has resulted in increased tensile, exural and impact properties of polyester composites [7]. Govardhan and Rao [8] studied
the mechanical performance of alkali treated unidirectional
Roystonea regia berepoxy composites and found that alkali
Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 9865849372; fax: +91 4259 236070.
E-mail addresses: dshanmugam@rediffmail.com, dshanmugam@drmcet.ac.in
(D. Shanmugam).
0261-3069/$ - see front matter 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2013.03.048

treatment enhanced the tensile and exural properties of the

composites. Similar results were reported by Bachtiar et al. [9].
Sisal bers were subjected to alkali, thermal, benzoyl chloride
and potassium permanganate treatment before it is used as reinforcement in polyester matrix [10]. Their results prove that pretreatment increases the mechanical properties and also reduces
the moisture absorption in the composites.
Besides reinforcing single ber composites several bers were
incorporated to a matrix leading to the development of hybrid
composites in which the properties of the composites are the combination of properties of individual bers. Hybridization of natural/
synthetic bers helps in achieving the utilization of some inherent
properties of the individual ber to enhance the properties of the
composites [11]. The properties of the composite depend not only
on the properties of the ber but are also controlled by the properties of the matrix, interfacial adhesion between the ber and matrix and the design of the hybrid system [12]. Addition of glass
bers in small amounts to the sisal and pineapple berpolyester
composites increased the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites also the use of alkali treated bers with glass bers further
enhanced the properties with reduced moisture absorption of the

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

composites [13]. Athijayamani et al. [14] performed experiments

on roselle/sisalpolyester composites and their results showed
that varying sisal ber content in roselle/sisal polyester composites
resulted in improved properties of the composites.
The viscoelastic behavior of polymeric materials for determining the stiffness and damping behavior of composite for various
applications can be found using dynamic mechanical analysis.
The objectives of dynamic mechanical analysis are to study the
modication of the matrix due to the incorporation of the ber
and to study the behavior of the composites [15]. Almeida Junior
et al. [16] investigated the dynamic mechanical performance of
curaua/glass hybrid composites with varied ber contents and reported that incorporation of glass bers increased the storage
modulus of the composites but did not have any inuence on the
glass transition temperature (Tg). Idicula et al. [17] studied the static and dynamic mechanical performance of randomly oriented
intimately mixed short banana/sisal polyester hybrid composites.
They concluded that the static as well as dynamic mechanical performances of the composites are inuenced by the amount of bers
in the composites. Chemical modication by alkalization resulted
in superior mechanical properties and the dynamic mechanical
analysis showed high storage modulus for the long and randomly
oriented hemp ber composites in comparison to untreated ber
composites [18].
Jute is a natural ber extracted from the stem of jute plant. It
has high tensile strength, modulus, high cellulose content and
abundant availability due to which it is used as potential reinforcement in polymer matrix [19]. Jute bers were hybridized with oil
palm bers in epoxy matrix and as a result of hybridization an
improvement in static and dynamic properties of composites were
observed due to the enhanced ber matrix adhesion [20]. Ozturk
[21] evaluated the mechanical properties of jute/rock wool reinforced phenol formaldehyde hybrid composites and found the
amount of ber in the composites inuences the properties of
the composites. The composites exhibited an increase in properties
to certain level of ber loading and then decreased on further addition of bers. So an optimum ratio of ber to matrix is very much
essential to achieve improved properties.
This paper discusses the static and dynamic mechanical behavior of Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fibers (PPLSF)/jutepolyester hybrid
composites. Bi-layer arrangement of bers is used in the design of
the hybrid system. Alkali treated continuous PPLSF and jute bers
are laid unidirectionally in the matrix for the preparation of the
composites. The amount of bers in the composite is varied by
keeping the total wt% of the bers to be 30. The properties of the
present hybrid composites are compared with properties of other
popular single ber and hybrid composites made using natural/
synthetic ber.

procured from The Precision Scientic Company, Coimbatore India.

The physical, chemical and mechanical properties of PPLSF and jute
bers are given in Table 1.
2.2. Chemical treatment
2.2.1. Alkali treatment
The bers were immersed in 5% NaOH for 30 min. The bers
were then cleaned several times with distilled water followed by
immersing the bers in very dilute HCl in order to remove the
NaOH adhering to the surface of the bers. Finally the bers were
again washed several times with distilled water and dried in an
oven maintained at 70 C.
2.3. Preparation of hybrid composites
Continuous unidirectionally aligned bi-layer hybrid ber
composites with varying wt% of PPLSF and jute bers were
manufactured by compression molding process. A steel die of
160 mm  160 mm  3 mm was fabricated for the manufacturing
of the composites. The measured quantity (keeping the total wt%
of the bers in the composite to be 30) of continuous PPLSF and
jute bers were laid unidirectionally inside the die cavity in a bilayer arrangement and the die was closed by applying force of
2 tons by hydraulic compression to produce a single mat of thickness 3 mm. Matrix was prepared by mixing 1.5 wt% of accelerator
and catalyst in unsaturated polyester resin and stirred thoroughly
to ensure homogenous mixing. The die was cleaned by air bellows
after the pre-pressed mat was removed and mold release agent
(silicon) was sprayed on all sides inside the die cavity for easy removal of the composite plate after curing. The pre-pressed ber
mats were then placed inside the die cavity and the resin was
poured into it and the mold was closed by applying a force of
2 tons by hydraulic compression. The mold was kept under pressure for 12 h under pressure and post cured for 12 h at room temperature and the specimens were cut to the required size. The
composites manufactured with varying wt% of bers are designated as shown in Table 2.
2.4. Tensile test
Tensile properties of the continuous unidirectional bi-layer hybrid composites were determined using Instron tensile tester with
a cross head speed of 5 mm/min, operated at 25 C and 65 C 2 C
RH. Tests were conducted as per ASTM: D638. Five specimens were
tested in each bi-layer composite and average values are reported.
2.5. Flexural test

2. Experimental details

Flexural tests were conducted as per ASTM: D790 standards

using Instron universal testing machine of capacity 20 kN, with a

2.1. Materials
Palmyra Palm bers were extracted from the leaf stalks of the
Palmyra palm tree (Borassus abellifer). The thorns at the edges
and the skin of the leaf stalk are shaved manually and the leaf
stalks are retted in water for 20 days. The bers were separated
from the stalks after retting process, by gently hammering the
stalk. The separated bers are then cleaned, washed and dried to
remove the moisture and other impurities on the ber surface. Jute
bers are procured from the jute board India. Glass bers, unsaturated polyester resin, cobalt naphthalate (accelerator) and methyl
ethyl ketone peroxide (catalyst) are procured from Covai Seenu
and Company, Coimbatore, India. The chemicals for pretreatments
such as sodium hydroxide pellets and hydrochloric acid (HCl) are

Table 1
Physical, chemical and mechanical properties of PPLSF and jute bers [19,21,22].
Properties

PPLSF

Jute

Average diameter (lm)

Density (g cm3)
Cellulose (%)
Hemicelluloses (%)
Lignin (%)
Wax (%)
Tensile strength (MPa)
Modulus (MPa)
Strain at break (%)

300320
1.2
58.58
22.8
13.48
0.35
276 5
8990 12
3.08

1040
1.3
5863

1214

393773
26,500
1.51.8

PPLSF Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fibers.

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

Table 2
Designation of PPLSF/jute bi-layer hybrid composites.
Composite

PPLSF content (%)

Jute content

Total ber content (wt%)

Neat resin
P100
P75 J25
P50J50
P25J75
J100

Neat resin
100
75
50
25

25
50
75
100

30
30
30
30
30

PPLSF Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber, P-PPLSF, j-jute.

cross head speed of 2 mm/min. The test specimens of size

127  12.7  3 mm were cut from the bi-layer hybrid composite
plates manufactured. Five specimens were tested in each bi-layer
hybrid composite and average values are reported.
2.6. Impact test
ASTM: D256 was used for determining the impact properties of
the bi-layer hybrid composites. Notched rectangular specimens of
size 64 mm  13 mm  3 mm were cut from fabricated composite
plates. Five specimens were tested in each bi-layer composite for
their impact properties and the average values are reported.
2.7. Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was carried out by T-test and Analysis of
Variance (ANNOVA). Probability value p = 0.05 was considered as
an indicative of signicance compared to the control (P100
composites).
2.8. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed using SII (Inkarp)
DMS 6100 make. The experiment is performed under bending
mode at a frequency of 1 Hz. Rectangular specimens of size
50 mm  50 mm  3 mm, cut from bi-layer composites fabricated
are used for the tests. The test is conducted at temperatures from
room temperature to 200 C at a heating rate of 2 C/min.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Tensile properties
The tensile strength and tensile modulus of the continuous
unidirectional bi-layer alkali treated PPLSF/jute hybrid composites
are shown in Table 3 and Fig. 1. A positive hybrid effect was observed for the composites. It can be noted that increasing the jute
ber content in the composite resulted in increase in tensile
strength of the composites. The tensile strength increased by
6%, 12% and 46% for P75J25, P50J50 and P25J75 composites
respectively compared to the P100 composites. For the P25J75
bi-layer composites, the tensile strength was found to be

Fig. 1. Variation of tensile strength (TS) and tensile modulus (TM) on increase in
jute ber content.

83.26 MPa, which is comparable to J100 composites. The tensile

modulus improved by 66% in P25J75 composites compared to
P100 composites. The P50J50 composites had least value of tensile modulus (2.45 GPa) in comparison to the other bi-layer
PPLSF/jute hybrid composites. According to the statistical analysis
the tensile strength and modulus values was found to be signicant in comparison to the P100 composites (Table 3) and the results of ANNOVA also showed signicant difference between the
population means for probability of p = 0.05. Hybridizing high
strength and higher modulus jute bers with PPLSF and usage
of treated bers as reinforcement attributed to this enhancement
in properties of the bi-layer hybrid composite. An increase in
properties of the treated ber composites in comparison to untreated PPLSF composites was observed due to alkali treatment
[22]. Good ber matrix adhesion resulting from physical modication like formation of rough surfaces, and debrillation that occur on the ber surfaces during alkali treatment improved the
properties of PPLSF composites. Fig. 2 shows the SEM images of
the tensile fractured surfaces of the unidirectional bi-layer composites. Comparing the alkali treated unidirectional PPLSF composites (Fig. 2b) with untreated ber composites (Fig. 2a) the
evidence of poor adhesion between the ber and the matrix
and matrix cracking was observed. In the case of hybrid composites (Fig. 2ce) the failure was due to ber fracture and part ber
pull out form the matrix and not due to ber matrix interface failure. Hybridizing jute bers and alkali treatment has reduced the
possibility de-bonding of the ber matrix interface resulting in
less ber pullouts thus increasing the strength of the composites.
Similar behavior was observed for OPEFB/jute epoxy composites [20]. Jute bers hybridized with coir bers in polypropylene
matrix yielded better mechanical properties in comparison to coir
ber composites. It was observed that when varying the jute ber
content will result in improvement in properties [23]. In any hybrid system the modulus and elongation at failure are more important parameters which decide the properties of composites [21].
Jute ber has higher tensile strength and modulus than PPLSF
due to which jute bers will initially carry the load and is transferred to PPLSF without the failure of matrix, inducing better stress

Table 3
Mechanical properties of composites measured by tensile, exural and impact tests.
Composites

Tensile strength (MPa)

Tensile modulus (GPa)

Flexural strength (MPa)

Flexural modulus (GPa)

Impact strength (kJ/m2)

P100
P75J25
P50J50
P25J75
J100

56.9 1.60
60.3 1.59*
64.3 1.95*
83.3 5.13*
77.1 3.27*

2.28 0.34
2.84 0.34*
2.45 0.4*
3.78 0.6*
5.07 0.2*

105.49 2.41
116.83 15.2*
145.66 9.35*
164 12.14*
176 3.5*

15.32 1.53
16.83 0.64
17.95 0.53
18.23 0.95*
19.26 1.29*

36.38 8.14
34.87 6.12
27.01 4.13*
26.02 3.34*
24.71 3.09*

The data represent the mean standard deviation.

*
Signicant difference observed compared with P100 composites (probability value p = 0.05) from T-test.

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

Fig. 2. SEM images of tensile fractured surfaces of (a) untreated PPLSF composites, (b) P100, (c) P75J25, (d) P50J50, and (e) P25J75 hybrid composites.

transfer. Once the maximum strain is attained by jute bers,

multiple failure occurs in the jute bers after which PPLSF will
effectively transfer the load thus resulting in increased properties.
Another factor that has attributed for increase in tensile property is
due to alkali treatment of PPLSF and jute ber. Treatments modied the surface, which resulted in rough surfaces promoting ber
matrix interlocking leading to better stress transfer between the
matrix and bers.
Table 4 shows comparison of tensile strength of various ber
composites. It can be understood from literature that in all the
cases presented in table, hybridization has enhanced the tensile
properties to a large extent. The tensile strength of P25J75 hybrid
composites is 83.26 MPa which is comparable with some available
hybrid composites. The Palmyra palm/glass ber reinforced polyester composites [24] has tensile strength of 80 MPa, which was
achieved by addition of glass ber along with Palmyra ber at

55 wt%, but in the present investigation an increased tensile

strength was achieved by reinforcing alkali treated continuous
PPLSF and jute ber at 30 wt% in polyester matrix. Similarly it
can be seen that all the other hybrid composites like sisal/glass/
polypropylene [25], banana/sisal/epoxy [27], banana/sisal/polyester [29], roselle/sisal/polyester [14], coir/jute/polypropylene [23],
banana/glass/polystyrene [28], PALF/glass/polyester [13], hemp/
glass/epoxy [36], ax/glass/epoxy [36] and kenaf/glass/epoxy [36]
composites have less tensile strength compared to the unidirectional treated PPLSF/jute/polyester hybrid composites. But in the
case of sisal/glass/polyester [13], jute/glass/polyester [31] and kenaf/glass/epoxy [36] composites the tensile strength is approximately 120 MPa and 150 MPa which is 35% and 70% more than
the tensile strength of PPLSF/jute/polyester composites respectively. The reasons that can be attributed for this improvement
are the presence of high strength sisal and glass bers, quantity

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

Table 4
Comparison of tensile strength of some single ber and hybrid composites from published works.
Fiber/matrix

Composite fabrication
method

Fiber orientation (wt%)

Chemical treatments

Tensile
strength
(MPa)

References

PPLSF/jute/polyester

Hand layup and

compression molding
Compression molding

Unidirectional/30 wt%

Alkali treatment

83.26

Nonwoven mat 50 mm/

55 wt%
Randomly distributed 4 mm/
30 wt%
Random distributed 40 mm/
glass mat/40 wt%
Randomly distributed/
40 vol%
Randomly distributed/
30 wt%
Coir and jute yarns

80

Present
work
[24]

Alkali treatment

31.59

[25]

55

[26]

32

[27]

60

[14]

Washed with starch solution

48

[23]

Randomly distributed 6 mm/

20 wt%
Nonwoven mat/25 wt%

Treated with poly styrenemaleic-anhydride,

alkali, benzoyl chloride

40

[28]

70

[13]

Randomly distributed/
30 mm/40 vol%
Nonwoven mat/30 wt%

58

[29]

Alkali treatment, cyanoethylation, acetylation

120

[13]

90

[30]

80

[32]

Palmyra/glass/rooite
resin
Sisal/glass/
polypropylene
Glass/OPEFB/phenol
formaldehyde
Banana/sisal/epoxy
Roselle/sisal/
polyester
Coir/jute/
polypropylene
Banana/glass/
polystyrene
PALF/glass/polyester
Banana/sisal/
polyester
Sisal/glass/polyester
Jute/biopolymer/
nanoclay
Henquen/
polyethylene
Jute/glass/polyester
Jute roving/polyester
Bamboo/epoxy
Glass/epoxy
Kenaf/glass/epoxy
Hemp/glass/epoxy
Flax/glass/epoxy
Kenaf/glass/epoxy

Injection molding
Hand lay up
Hand layup
Hand lay up
Compression molding
Injection molding and
compression molding
Hand layup and
compression molding
Hand layup
Hand layup and
compression molding
Compression molding
Compression molding

Unidirectional/46 wt%

Detergent washing, dewaxing, alkali treatment,

and soaking with acetic acid
Alkali treatment and silane treatment

Hand layup
Hand layup

Modied sheet molding

compound
Hand layup
Hand layup
Hand layup

Fabric/laminates/42 wt%
Unidirectional/30 vol%
65 vol%
65 vol%
Unidirectional

Alkali treatment

120
70
87165
180220
150

[31]
[33]
[34]
[34]
[35]

Fiber mat
Fiber mat
Fiber mat

45
30
30

[36]
[36]
[36]

PPLSF Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber, OPEFB Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch, PALF Pineapple Leaf Fiber.

of reinforcements, type of reinforcement (woven mat/fabric), in the

case of jute/glass/polyester [31] composites and different manufacturing process of composite fabrication in the case of kenaf/glass/
epoxy [36]. From the above discussions it is evident that PPLSF is
a potential reinforcement for polymer composites which can be
hybridized with jute ber which may lead to comparable properties which are obtained by reinforcing glass bers. This will not
only result in cost effective products but also its increased usage
will address some environmental issues related to the use of synthetic bers.

Fig. 3. Variation of exural strength (FS) and exural modulus (FM) on increase in
jute ber content.

3.2. Flexural properties

The exural properties of the continuous unidirectional bilayer alkali treated PPLSF/jute hybrid composites are shown in Table 3 and Fig. 3. Hybrid composites reinforced with 75% of jute
bers (P25J75) exhibits maximum exural strength, which is
56% more than the P100 composites. It was observed that in all
the hybrid composites the exural strength increased on increasing the jute ber content. The exural strength increased by 11%
and 38% for P75J25 and P50J50 composites respectively. Similarly
the exural modulus of the hybrid composites increased when
jute content was increased, but the increase was only marginal.
The exural modulus increased by 10%, 17% and 19% for P75J25,
P50J50 and P25J75 composites respectively in comparison to
the P100 composites. According to the statistical analysis which
was carried out using T-test, the values of exural strength of
all the composites and the exural modulus of P50J50, P25J75
and J100 composites was found to be signicant in comparison
to the P100 composites (Table 3). The results of ANNOVA showed
signicant difference between the population means for probability value of p = 0.05. The reasons that can be attributed to the increase in exural properties are the presence of high modulus
jute and reinforcement using alkali treated bers. Improved interfacial adhesion due to treatments has reduced defragmentation of
ber from the matrix increasing the properties of the hybrid composites [37].
The exural strength and exural modulus of various single
ber and hybrid composites available in literature are compared

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

Table 5
Comparison of exural properties of some single ber and hybrid composites from published works.
Fiber/matrix

Composite fabrication
method

Fiber orientation (wt%)

Types of chemical treatments

Flexural
strength
(MPa)

Flexural
modulus
(GPa)

References

PPLSF/jute/
polyester
Palmyra/glass/
rooite resin
Sisal/glass/
polypropylene
Glass/OPEFB/
phenol
formaldehyde
Roselle/sisal/
polyester
Coir/jute
polypropylene
Banana/sisal/
polyester
Banana/glass/
polystyrene
PALF/glass/
polyester
Sisal/glass/
polyester
Jut/biopolymer/
nanoclay
Henquen/
polyethylene
Jute/glass/
polyester
Jute roving/
polyester
Bamboo/epoxy
Glass/epoxy
Fique/epoxy
Kenaf/glass/epoxy

Hand layup and

compression molding
Compression molding

Unidirectional/30 wt%

Alkali treatment

164

18

Nonwoven mat 50 mm/

55 wt%
Randomly distributed
4 mm/30 wt%
Random distributed
40 mm/Glass mat/40 wt%

170

9.35

Present
work
[24]

Alkali treatment

70

4.5

[25]

60

5.3

[26]

Randomly distributed/
30 wt%
Coir and jute yarns

80

N/A

[14]

Washed with starch solution

40

0.78

[23]

Randomly distributed/
30 mm/40 vol%
Randomly distributed
6 mm/20 wt%
Nonwoven mat/25 wt%

65

2.99

[29]

Treated with poly styrenemaleicanhydride, alkali, benzoyl chloride

11.3

0.79

[28]

100

N/A

[13]

Nonwoven mat/30 wt%

Alkali treatment, cyanoethylation,

acetylation
Detergent washing, dewaxing, alkali
treatment, and soaking with acetic acid
Alkali treatment and silane treatment

150

N/A

[13]

40

N/A

[30]

130

2.6

[32]

Glass mat
thermoplastic
Hemp/glass/epoxy
Flax/glass/epoxy
Kenaf/glass/epoxy

Injection molding
Hand lay up

Hand lay up
Compression molding
Hand layup
Injection molding and
compression molding
Hand layup and
compression molding
Hand layup and
compression molding
Compression molding

Compression molding

Unidirectional/46 wt%

Hand layup

Fabric/laminates/
42 wt%
Unidirectional/30 vol%

160

12.5

[31]

Alkali treatment

115

4.25

[33]

Pultrusion
Modied sheet molding
compound

65 vol%
65 vol%
Unidirectional/40 wt%
Unidirectional

Alkali, treatment

107140
195250
168
220

1012
712
8
5

[34]
[34]
[38]
[35]

150

12

[35]

Hand layup
Hand layup
Hand layup

Fiber mat
Fiber mat
Fiber mat

37
37
37

2.5
1.6
2

[36]
[36]
[36]

Hand layup

PPLSF Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber, PALF Pineapple Leaf Fiber, OPEFB Oil Palm Leaf Empty Fruit Bunch.

with exural properties of unidirectional treated bi-layer PPLSF/

jute polyester composites (Table 5). The properties are found to
be comparable with those of Palmyra/glass ber/rooite resin
[24] and jute/glass/polyester [31] reinforced composites. The
amount of total ber content required for achieving the same property was only 30 wt% compared to 55 wt% and 42 wt% in the case
of Palmyra/glass and jute/glass composites respectively. Similar
properties were observed for sisal/glass/polyester composites
[13] which had exural strength of 150 MPa. From Table 4 it can
be seen that glass/epoxy [34] and kenaf/glass/epoxy [35] composites have higher value of exural strength i.e. 195250 MPa and
200 MPa respectively. The presence of glass bers in larger amount
(65 wt%) in the matrix in the case of glass/epoxy composites and
manufacturing method (modied sheet molding compound) in
the case of kenaf/glass/epoxy [35] composites led to improved
exural strength in the composites. Comparing the properties with
most popular bers like banana, sisal roselle, PALF, coir, and
OPEFB and their hybrids, it is interesting to note superior properties were obtained by use of PPLSF/jute ber. Hence PPLSF can also
be thought as a potential reinforcement for manufacturing
composites.
3.3. Impact properties
The impact strength of the continuous unidirectional alkali
treated bi-layer PPLSF/jute hybrid composites is shown in Table

3. It can be noted that the impact strength of J100 composites

is 31% lesser than P100 composites. The impact strength of the
composites decreased when jute content was increased. The impact strength of P75J25, P50J50 and P25J75 composites was
found to be 35 kJ/m2, 27 kJ/m2 and 26 kJ/m2 respectively. P100
composites showed the highest impact strength (36 kJ/m2) compared to J100 and other hybrid composites. T-test carried out for
impact strength values with reference to P100 composites was
found to be signicant for all the composites except for P75J25
composites (Table 3). ANNOVA for the impact strength values
showed the signicant difference between the means. The low
impact strength of J100 composites is due to increased load
shared by them in tension due to better stress transfer from
the ber to matrix [19].
Comparing the impact properties of the PPLSF/Jute hybrid composites with properties of some synthetic bers and some popular
natural bers it can be seen that the properties of the PPLSF/jute
hybrid composites are comparable with PALF/glass/polyester
[13], OPEFB/glass/phenolformaldehyde [26], sisal/glass/polypropylene [25] hybrid composites. In the case of Palmyra/glass hybrid
(Table 6), it can be noticed that higher vol% of bers have resulted
in the increased properties. Over all the performance of this hybrid
composite under impact loading are also found to be comparable
with available natural ber/synthetic ber hybrid composites. This
new design of hybrid system can be a potential alternative in place
of hybrid fabricated with popular natural bers.

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

Table 6
Comparison of impact properties of some normal and hybrid composites form published works.
Fiber/matrix

Composite fabrication
method

Fiber orientation (wt%)

Types of chemical treatments

Impact strength
(kJ/m2)

References

PPLSF/jute/polyester

Hand layup and

compression molding
Compression molding

Unidirectional/30 wt%

Alkali treatment

35

Nonwoven mat 50 mm/55 wt%

130

Present
work
[24]

Injection molding

Randomly distributed 4 mm/

30 wt%
Random distributed 40 mm/glass
mat/40 wt%
Randomly distributed/30 wt%
Randomly distributed/30 mm/
40 vol%
Coir and jute yarns
Nonwoven mat/25 wt%

Alkali treatment

16

[25]

27

[26]

1.5
43

[14]
[29]

Washed with starch solution

81.36
12.29

[23]
[13]

Nonwoven mat/30 wt%

Alkali treatment, cyanoethylation,

acetylation
Alkali treatment

16.22

[13]

8.25
2.95

[33]
[35]

4.91
149

[35]
[16]

Palmyra/glass/rooite
resin
Sisal/glass/polypropylene
Glass/OPEFB/phenol
formaldehyde
Roselle/sisal polyester
Banana/sisal/polyester

Hand lay up

Coir/jute polypropylene
PALF/glass/polyester

Compression molding
Hand layup and
compression molding
Hand layup and
compression molding
Hand layup
Modied sheet molding
compound

Compression molding

Sisal/glass/polyester
Jute roving/polyester
Kenaf/glass/epoxy
Glass mat thermoplastic
Curaua/glass/polyester

Hand lay up
Hand layup

Unidirectional/30 vol%
Unidirectional

Randomly distributed 50 mm/

40 vol%

PPLSF Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber, OPEFB Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch, PALF Pineapple Leaf Fiber.

3.4. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

3.4.1. Effect of jute ber content on the storage modulus (E0 ) with
temperature
Fig. 4 shows effect of jute ber content on the changes in storage modulus (E0 ) of the composites at frequency of 1 Hz. The value
of E0 was found to be higher for P100 and J100 composites
(4.70 MPa) followed by other composites which had very close values of E0 at lower temperature i.e. in the plastic region. The storage
modulus decreased with the increase in temperature. It can be
seen from Fig. 5 that all the reinforced composites had a gradual
fall in the value of E0 when temperature is increased compared to

the neat resin which had a very steep fall in E0 . This trend is due
to incorporation of high modulus bers in the matrix [39]. At higher temperatures due to loss in stiffness of the bers the value of
storage modulus drops. The composite with higher amount of jute
content was found to have a maximum value of storage modulus in
the rubbery region. E0 for neat resin was 2.15 MPa at 170 C
whereas with incorporation of jute bers the value increased to
3.39 MPa for the P25J75 composites. Hence it can be concluded
that the addition of jute ber increased E0 which is due to the
Youngs modulus of jute bers which are higher than the PPLSF.
The effectiveness of the reinforcements C can be found from the
below equation:

Fig. 4. The variation of storage modulus (E0 ) with temperature for PPLSF/jute bi-layer hybrid composites.

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D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

Fig. 5. The variation of loss modulus (E00 ) with temperature for PPLSF/jute bi-layer hybrid composites.

 0
C

Eg
E0r
 0 Composite

Eg
E0r Resin

where E0g is the storage modulus in the glassy region and E0r is the
storage modulus in the rubbery region.
Lower the value of C higher the efciency of the reinforcement
[17]. The value of C is less for composites with higher amount of
jute ber (Table 7). It can be concluded that addition of high
strength jute bers induced better stress transfer and also better
ber matrix adhesion.
3.4.2. Effect jute ber content on the loss modulus (E00 ) with respect to
temperature
Loss modulus (E00 ) represents the viscous response of the
material. Molecular motions within the composites are the governing factor for modulus of the material. Fig. 5 shows the variation of loss modulus for neat resin, P100, J100 and for varying
content of PPLSF and jute hybrid composites as function of temperature for a frequency of 1 Hz. It can be observed that the value of loss modulus increased and then decreased with the
increase in temperature. The values of E00 depends on the type
of ber and ber content (proportions of both bers in the matrix). The effect of type of ller and the amount of llers, are
found to inuence more on the value of E00 above the glass transition temperatures (temperature at peak values of E00 ). It is also
seen from Fig. 5 that the modulus curve broadens depending on
the type of ber and content of bers in the matrix. This broadening is due to the difference in physical state of matrix
Table 7
Value of constant C (effectiveness of reinforcements) for
PPLSF/jute bi-layer hybrid composites.
Composite

P100
P75J25
P50J50
P25J75
J100

0.7192
0.7111
0.7178
0.6866
0.7117

PPLSF Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber, P-PPLSF, J-jute ber.

surrounding the bers to the rest of the matrix and immobilized

polymer layer [15]. The P25J75 composites have maximum
broadening compared to all the other composites and neat resin.
J100 composites showed maximum value of E00 (3.26 MPa) at low
temperature. E00 for the P25J75 hybrid composite was found to
be less at low temperature and it increased with the increase
in temperature. E00 was maximum for this composite at temperature of 170 C with 1.88 MPa. It is noted from Fig. 5 that P75J25
composite had least E00 (1.6188 MPa) at temperature above Tg,
which is due to lower content of jute ber in the composite.
The temperature at which the specimen attains the maximum
value of E00 can also be considered as the Tg for the composites
[40]. The value of Tg obtained from the E00 curve is sown in
Table 8. Tg is 81.23 C for P25J75 composites, which is higher
compared to neat resin and all the other composites. Tg for
P50J50 composites is less compared to all the other composites.
3.4.3. Effect jute ber content on Tan d with respect to temperature
Tan d also known as damping is determined by the ratio of
loss modulus E0 and storage modulus E00 . Incorporation of bers
in a composite system affects the damping behavior of the composites, which is due to shear stress concentrations in the bers
along with viscoelastic energy dissipation in the matrix [15].
Tan d depends on the ber matrix adhesion; hence a weak ber
matrix adhesion will result in higher values of Tan d [41]. Good
ber/matrix adhesion reduces the mobility of the polymer chains
thus reducing the damping. Low Tan d also represents that the
particular composite has good load bearing capacity [20]. From
Fig. 6 it is clear that due to reinforcements Tan d has reduced
Table 8
Peak height of Tan d curve and Tg from Tan d curve and E00 curve.
Composites

Peak height of
Tan d curve

Tg from Tan d
curve (C)

Tg from E00
curve (C)

Resin
P100
P75J25
P50J50
P25J75
J100

0.531
0.313
0.277
0.287
0.263
0.285

82.01
86.19
93.01
82.86
93.01
91.3

61.98
74.56
76.28
60.1
81.23
79.62

P-Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber, J-jute ber.

D. Shanmugam, M. Thiruchitrambalam / Materials and Design 50 (2013) 533542

541

Fig. 6. The variation of Tan d with temperature for PPLSF/jute bi-layer hybrid composites.

dramatically, which is due to reinforcement of treated PPLSF and

jute bers indicating the presence of good adhesion, resulting in
low damping. The peak height is found to be lowest for P25J75
composites in comparison to all other composites. Increasing the
jute content in the composites resulted in decreased Tan d. The
increase in the jute content in the composite has resulted in improved stress transfer and good interfacial adhesion. The results
are in accordance with Jawid et al. [19]. The temperature at
which Tan d attains a maximum can also be referred as the glass
transition temperature (Tg). A shift in Tg can also be observed for
J100, P75J25 and P25J75 composites compared to P100 composites (Table 8). Reduced mobility of polymeric molecules has resulted in this shift which is due to good interfacial adhesion
between ber and matrix [40,42].
4. Conclusions
Unidirectionally aligned bi-layer hybrid composites were fabricated by reinforcing alkali treated continuous jute bers with alkali
treated continuous PPLSF in unsaturated polyester matrix by compression molding process. The composites were tested for its static
and dynamic mechanical properties and following are the
conclusions;
(1) Addition of alkali treated jute ber with alkali treated PPLSF
has enhanced tensile and exural properties of the composites. The P25J75 composites had 46% and 65% improvement
in tensile strength and tensile modulus respectively and the
exural strength and exural modulus improved by 56% and
19% respectively in comparison with P100 composites. A
positive hybrid effect on the tensile and exural strength
was observed by addition of jute ber with PPLSF in polyester matrix.SEM showed the nature of ber/matrix interface.
(2) The impact strength was observed to be high for P100 composites (36 kJ/m2) and hybridization has reduced the impact
strength of the composites. The J100 composites had a least
value of impact strength (25 kJ/m2).
(3) The storage modulus (E0 ) of hybrid composites was found to
be less at higher temperature, but it increased on increasing
the jute ber content. Similarly the loss modulus (E00 ) was
observed to increase on increasing the jute content due to

effective stress transfer. Both storage modulus (E0 ) and loss

modulus were observed to be high for P25J75 hybrid
composites.
(4) The value of Tg obtained from the loss modulus curve (E00 ) is
less than Tg from Tan d curve. Tg shifting towards right in the
graph indicates the evidence for good interfacial adhesion
which is due to alkali treatment performed on the bers.
Tan d is found to be lowest for J100 and P25J75 composites
compared to P100, P75J25 and P50J50 composites.
(5) Comparing the properties of the unidirectional bi layer
PPLSF/jute hybrid polyester composites with other well
know hybrids and single ber composites, it can be concluded that the new hybrid composites made out of PPLSF/
jute can be a potential replacement in place of synthetic
bers such as glass bers and some popular natural bers
like sisal, hemp, coir, banana, and bamboo and hence new
possibilities of use of this hybrid system can be explored.
Also use of these composites will improve opportunity for
growth of this particular Palmyra palm tree species.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the management of Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi, Coimbatore, India and M/s Sakthi Auto Components
Limited, Perundurai, Erode District, India, for their constant
support.
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