An Experimentation of Chemical and Mechanical Behaviour of Epoxy-Sisal Reinforced Composites

An Experimentation of Chemical and Mechanical Behaviour of

Epoxy-Sisal Reinforced Composites
G. Yuvaraj¹, Hemanth Kumar² and Saravanan G.³
¹KPR Institute of Engineering & Technology, Coimbatore-07
²UG scholar, Sri Sairam Engineering College, Chennai-44
³UG scholar, Sri Sairam Engineering College, Chennai-44

Summary
In this work the variation of mechanical properties like tensile, impact and chemical resistance properties of randomly
oriented sisal/glass fibre reinforced hybrid composites with different fibre ratios (50:50,45:55,40:60,30:70)
was studied. Hand lay up method is used for making the composites with epoxy resin. The result shows that
increase in chemical, impact properties of composites with increase in fibre loading. Also it was observed that
significant improvement in tensile properties of hybrid composites by alkali treatment.

Keywords : Sisal fibre, Glass fibre, Mechanical properties, Hybrid composites

1. INTRODUCTION to undergo physical and/or chemical resistance to water absorption properties

Nowadays reinforced are in use of the
variety of structures such as spacecraft,
aircraft, buildings etc. The performance
of polymer composites depends not only
the selection of components and also
depends upon the interface between
them. Natural fibres are largely divided
into two categories. They are plant based
and animal based composites. Hence
the fibre is one of the most valuable
parts of the glass-sisal composites.
Natural fibres play an important role
in developing high performing fully
biodegradable ‘green’ composites
which will be a key material to solve
the environmental problems. Natural
fibres offer many attractive technical and
environmental qualities when used as
reinforcements in polymer composites.
The mechanical properties of natural
fibre composites are much lower than
those of the synthetic fibre composites.
To produce the reactive hydroxyl groups
and the rough surface for adhesion with
polymeric materials, plant fibres need
yuvarajg75@gmail.com; slhemanth95@gmail.com; gsaravanan5991@gmail.com
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treatment to modify the surface and
structure. Though the synthetic fibres
have very good mechanical properties,
their disadvantage is difficult recycling.
Another advantage of synthetic fibre
is their moisture repellency, whereas
poor resistance to moisture absorption
made the use of natural fibre reinforced
composites less attractive. To take
advantage of both natural and synthetic
fibres, they can be combined in
the same matrix to produce hybrid
composites that take full advantage of
the best properties of the constituents.
Incorporation of fibres (man made
or natural) into a polymer is known
to cause substantial changes in the
mechanical properties of composites.
Hybrid composites offers a attractive
mode for fabricating products with
reduced cost, high specific modulus,
strength, corrosion resistance and in
many cases excellent thermal stability7.
Results showed that hybridization with
glass fibre enhanced the performances
properties, thermal properties and
of the hemp fibre composites were
improved by hybridization with glass
fibres. Abdul Khalil et al.10 studied the
mechanical and physical properties
of oil palm empty fruit bunch/glass
hybrid reinforced polyester composites.
Varadarajulu et al.14 studied the tensile
properties of ridge gourd/glass fibre
reinforced phenolic composites. They
observed that tensile properties are
increased with increasing glass fibre
in the hybrid composites. Unsaturated
polyester resin was used as matrix
for preparing the composites. Some
mechanical properties such as tensile
and flexural properties and chemical
resistance properties were studied for
these sisal/carbon fibre reinforced
hybrid composites.
2. MATERIALS
Sisal fibres are collected from local
sources. Glass fibres are used as hybrid
composites. It can be reinforced with
sisal fibres. Epoxy resin and hardener
are collected from Covai Seenu
Company Pvt Ltd. The natural fibres
undergo the alkali treatment. For the
alkali tabulets are purchased from
scientific company, Erode.

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 G. Yuvaraj, Hemanth Kumar and Saravanan G.

Figure 1. View of sisal fibre
Figure 2. Sisal extraction machine
Figure 3. Randomly distributed glass
fibre
3. METHODS AND
PROCESSING OF FIBRES
3.1 Extraction of Fibres
Extraction of fibres comprises two
times of bleaching. Here the sisal
fibres are chopped up to 5 mm and
it can be allowed for alkali treatment
for two hours. After the treatment the
fibre will get washed in water and
allowed to dried in a temperature
up to 38 ˚C.
4. PREPARATION OF
HYBRID COMPOSITES
Different combinations were selected
(50:50, 45:55, 40:60, 30:70) were
selected to do hybrid composites of
sisal/glass/epoxy laminates in the
form of chopped fibres. Chopped sisal/
glass are mixed with the epoxy resin
based upon the weight ratio. Hand lay
up technique was used to prepare the
hybrid composites. Tensile, impact,
shear and bending properties are
studied. The mechanical properties
of the composites are improved due
to the addition of glass fiber along
with sisal fiber in matrix. The glass
fiber skin–sisal fiber core construction
exhibits better mechanical properties
than dispersed construction. Moisture
absorption studies are conducted and
the results are presented as a function
of square root of time. Addition of glass
fiber with palmyra fiber in the matrix
decreases the moisture absorption of
the composites.
5. TESTS
5.1 Chemical Tests
Principal components of natural fibres
are fiber cellulose, cellulose, lignin,
pectin. Hemi-cellulose are lower
weight of poly-saccharides, often
copolymers which may vary from
random structures with little strength.
Unsaturated polyester resin was used
as matrix for preparing the composites.
Some mechanical properties such as
tensile and flexural properties and
chemical resistance properties were
studied for these sisal/carbon fibre
reinforced hybrid composites.
5.2 Tensile Test
Tensile test is the ability of the material
to withstand the forces tend to pull it
apart and to determine what to extend
material selection before breaking.
Here the specimen can be prepared
as per the ASTM standard. Therefore
the size of the specimen is 250x25x2.5
(mm). It can be carried out by UTM
and extensometers.

Table 1. Proportions of principal chemical components of sisal fibres

Sample Particulars Sisal Fibre
Wax content % 0.287
Moisture content % 52.25
Density at room temperature, g/cc 1.415
Cellulose content % 84.93
Lignin content % 6.51

Figure 4. Glass-sisal composites

Table 2. Tensile test of specimen
Fibre weight Tensile strength Tensile modulus weight
ratios sisal/ Untreated 18% aqueous Untreated 18% aqueous
glass boiled boiled
50:50 24.16 78.22 1.37 1.96
45:55 31.35 84.74 1.68 1.99
40:60 38.3 93.97 1.97 2.17
30:70 50.85 107.51 2.37 2.78

222 Polymers & Polymer Composites, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2017

 An Experimentation of Chemical and Mechanical Behaviour of Epoxy-Sisal Reinforced Composites

This test method determines the quasi-
static longitudinal tensile strength and
elongation properties of fiber reinforced
polymer matrix (FRP) composite bars
commonly used as tensile elements
in reinforced, prestressed, or post-
tensioned concrete. Data obtained
finally tensile strength, Poisson ratio,
transition strain. It is clearly seen in
the figures that flexural strength and
flexural modulus increases with glass
fibre content.
5.3 Impact Test
Here the pendulum is raised and
locked. Then release the trigger and
allow the pendulum to oscillate then
makes the pointer to move in dial.
Hence the calculation is used. Hence
the specimen tested as per the ASTM
standard. Calculation formula:
Impact strength = Energy absorbed/
Area of cross section
6. Conclusions
The mechanical properties such
as tensile and impact properties of
untreated and 18% NaOH treated hybrid
composites were studied. The variation
of tensile and mechanical properties
of these hybrid composites were
studied by different weight ratios10. It
Table 3. Impact test of specimen
Fibre weight ratios sisal/
glass Impact strength (J)
50:50 0.63
45:55 0.55
40:60 0.47
30:70 50.85
was observed that 18% NaOH boiled
sisal/glass fibre reinforced hybrid
composites showed superior tensile
and flexural properties than untreated
sisal/glass hybrid composites. This
is due to the fact that characteristics
by removing hemicellulose, thereby
producing rough surface topography.
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Table 4. Chemical test results

S.No. Chemicals Matrix Different weight ratios of untreated sisal/ Different weight ratios of 18% NaOH boiled
glass hybrid sisal/glass
50:50 45:55 40:60 30:70 50:50 45:55 40:60 30:70
1 Toluene 0.73 1.234 3.854 3.860 3.658 0.224 3.422 4.031 1.941
2 Benzene 0.618 5.172 0.813 2.583 4.314 0.492 0.056 4.593 5.063
3 CCl4 0.55 1.218 1.116 0.351 1.012 0.363 0.185 0.731 0.359
4 H2O 0.618 1.982 2.082 1.481 1.377 6.828 1.577 1.408 0.607
5 HCL 0.235 0.543 1.620 1.299 1.072 0.543 0.643 0.497 0.648

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 G. Yuvaraj, Hemanth Kumar and Saravanan G.

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