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Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibre (Banana, Coir, Sisal) Polymer Composites

Article · July 2013

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SCIENCE PARK
ISSN: 2321 – 8045 Vol-1, Issue-1, July 2013

Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibre (Banana,

Coir, Sisal) Polymer Composites
M.SAKTHIVEl1, S.RAMESH2
1
Asst.Professor, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur .
2
Professor, Sona College of Engineering, Salem

ABSTRACT
Natural fibres have been used to reinforce materials for over 3000 years. More currently they have been employed in
combination with plastics. Many types of natural fibres have been investigated for use in plastics including flax,
hemp, jute, sisal and banana. Natural fibres have the advantage that they are renewable resources and have
marketing appeal. These agricultural wastes can be used to prepare fibre reinforced polymer composites for
commercial use. Application of composite materials to structures has presented the need for the engineering analysis
the present work focuses on the fabrication of polymer matrix composites by using natural fibres like coir,banana
and sisal which are abundant nature in desired shape by the help of various structures of paterns and calculating its
material characteristics(flexural modulus, flexural rigidity, hardness number,% gain of water) by conducting tests
like flexural test, hardness test, water absorption test, impact test, density test, and their results are measured on
sections of the material and make use of the natural fibre reinforced polymer composite material for automotive seat
shell manufacturing.

KEYWORDS: Natural fibres, coir, reinforced polymer, paterns, sisal.

1. INTRODUCTION applications. The combination of reinforcement with

high thermal conductivity embedded in a resin matrix
The interest in using natural fibres such as with low thermal conductivity is desirable to
different plant fibres and wood fibres as dissipating the heat flux for electronic packaging
reinforcement in plastics has increased dramatically components. Studies on the mechanical properties of
during last few years. With regard to the surrounding short fibre reinforced polymer composites have
aspects it would be very interesting if natural fibres shown that both fibre length distribution and fibre
could be used instead of glass fibres as reinforcement orientation distribution play very important role in
in some structural applications. Natural fibres have determining the mechanical properties.
many advantages compared to glass fibres, for Natural fiber composites combine plant-
example they have low density, and they are derived fibers with a plastic binder. The natural fiber
recyclable and biodegradable. Additionally they are components may be wood, sisal, hemp, coconut,
renewable raw materials and have relatively high thread, kenaf, flax, jute, abaca, banana leaf fibers,
strength and stiffness. Their low-density values allow Bamboo, wheat straw or other fibrous material. The
producing composites that combine good mechanical advantages of natural fiber composites include
properties with a low specific mass. In tropical lightweight, low-energy production, and
countries fibrous plants are available in abundance. environmental friendly. The use of natural fibers
Fibre reinforced polymer composites have reduces weight by 10% and lowers the energy needed
many applications as a class of structural materials for production by 80%, while the cost of the
because of their ease of fabrication, relatively low component is 5% lower than the comparable fiber
prize and higher mechanical properties compared to glass-reinforced component.
polymer resins. These composites are considered as In the past, composites of coconut
replacements for metal materials where the fiber/natural rubber latex were extensively used by
association of metallic fibre with polymeric matrix is the automotive industry. How-ever, during the
attractive material for electronic packaging seventies and eighties, newly developed synthetic

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ISSN: 2321 – 8045 Vol-1, Issue-1, July 2013

fibers due to better performance gradually substituted evenly distributed load on the mixture which is filled
cellulose fibers. There has been a renewed interest in in the pattern.
using these fibers as reinforcement materials, to some
extent in the plastic industry. This resurgence of
interest may be attributed to the increasing cost of
plastics and the environmental aspects associated
with using renewable and biodegradable materials.
Sisal fibre is fairly coarse and unsuitable . It
has godly ability, durability, strength to stretch,
affinity for certain dyestuffs and resistance to regress
in seawater. Sisal ropes and twines are widely used
for marine, agronomic, transport and general
industrial use.
Banana fibre at present is a waste product of
banana cultivation. Hence, without any including cost
input, banana fibre can be obtained for industrial
purposes. Banana fibre is found to be good
reinforcement in polyester resin. The properties of
the composites are strongly influenced by the fibre Fig 2.1 Pattern
length.
2.3 REQUIREMENTS FOR FABRICATE
NATURAL FIBRE COMPOSITES
2. METHODOLOGY
 Epoxy resin
2.1 NATURAL FIBRE PREPARATION  Hardener
 Natural Fibre
Here discontinuous fibre is used for fabricate the  Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
natural fibre composites. First the natural fibres are  Weighing Machine
cleaned in the distilled water. The cleaned natural  Roller
fibres are dried in the sun light. The dried natural  Bowl
fibres are again cleaned by chemical cleaning  Stirrer
process. In chemical cleaning process the 80%
sodium hydroxide is mixed with 20% distilled water. 2.4 MOULD PREPARATION
The dried natural fibres dipped in the diluted sodium
hydroxide solution. Its again dried in sun light .The
In mould preparation the resin is mixed with
dried natural fibres are cut in the length of 2 mm by
hardener in the ratio of 4:1. The mixer is strewed
EDM machine. The cut natural fibres are used in
fabricate the natural fibre composites. with stirrer for 15 minutes continuously

2.2 PATTERN

The pattern is designed by as per ASTM

standard. The pattern is made up of mild steel. The
pattern Size is 235 x 85 x 15 mm (ASTM D37-08)
The pattern consist of three parts
 Base Plate
 Frame
 Lid

The Base plate is very thin plate which is placed

inside the inning. The Lid is placed on the top of the
inning. The main purpose of the lid is applied the

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ISSN: 2321 – 8045 Vol-1, Issue-1, July 2013

2.5 FABRICATION PROCESS

Fig 2.2 Fabrication approach 2.6 FABRICATED NATURAL FIBRE

COMPOSITES

 Polymer Coir matrix composites

 Polymer Banana matrix composites
 Polymer Sisal matrix composites

Fig 2.3 fibre alignment Fig 2.5 Polymer matrix composite

Here Hand Laminating Molding is used for

fabricate the natural FIBRE composites. The base
plate is fixed inside the frame For fabricate the 2.7.MATERIAL PROPERTIES
natural fibre composites 70% of rein hardener
mixture and remaining natural fibres are used. The The main objective is to determine the material
mixed resin and hardener is filled in the pattern. The properties (Flexural modulus, flexural rigidity,
prepared natural fibres are randomly poured in the Hardness number, % gain of water, density, Impact
resin hardener mixture without any gap. The roller is Strength) of natural FIBRE reinforced composite
rolled in the mould. Again the mould is filled in material by conducting the following respective tests.
pattern by next layer and fibres poured randomly  Flexural test
.This process is simultaneously done till the height of  Hardness Test
the mould 10mm.The lid is fixed on the top of the  Water absorption Test
frame for distribute the load evenly on the mould.  Density Test
The setup is kept in the dry place for 24 hours. After  Impact Test
24hours the mould is take away from the pattern,
finally the natural fibre composite is fabricated.
3.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 FLEXURAL TEST RESULT

The flexural test measures the force required

to bend a beam under three point loading
situations. The data is often used to select
elements for parts that will support loads
without inflection. Flexural modulus is used
as an indication of a material’s stiffness
when inflection. Since the physical
Fig 2.4 Hand Laminating Method properties of many elements (especially
thermoplastics) can vary depending on
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ISSN: 2321 – 8045 Vol-1, Issue-1, July 2013

ambient temperature, it is appropriate to test L = 200 mm

materials at temperatures that simulate the B = 80 mm
Load F Modulus
intended end use environment. Flexural
of Rigidity
Proving In Deflection
3.1.1 FORMULA USED S.No Reading
Elasticity
EI in N-mm2
Division Y in mm
E in
N/mm2
E= N/mm2 Kg N

1 1 6.25 61.31 0.54 2838.54 18.92X106

2
EI= N-mm
2 2 12.5 122.625 1.15 2665.76 17.77X106

I= 3 3 18.75 183.94 1.82 2627.68 17.52 X106

E – Modulus of elasticity 2710.66 18.07X106

E I – Flexural Rigidity
y- Deflection in mm y = H/2
H = 10 mm
F- load in N y = 5 mm from natural Axis
I=
I = 6666.67 mm4
Load F Flexural
Modulus
Rigidity E=
of
Proving In Deflection
S.No Reading
Elasticity
EI in N- E = 2043.67 N/mm2
Division Y in mm mm2 EI = N-mm2
E in

Kg N N/mm2
=
1 1 6.25 61.31 1.93 1551.11 10.34X106 EI = 13.624 x 106 N-mm2

2 2 12.5 122.625 5.55 1078.79 7.19X106

3 3 18.75 183.94 9.75 921.12 6.14X106

Table 3.1.1 Polymer Coir Matrix Composites
Average 1183.67 7.89X106

3.1.2 MODEL CALCULATION

E=
y = 0.75 mm Table 3.1.2 Polymer Sisal Matrix Composites
I=

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ISSN: 2321 – 8045 Vol-1, Issue-1, July 2013

plastic, additives used, temperature and length of

exposure. The data sheds light on the performance of
materials in humid.
3.2 HARDNESS TEST RESULTS

The Rockwell hardness number represents

Table 3.3.1 Water Absorption Test result
the additional depth to which a test ball or sphere-
conical penetrator is driven by a heavy (major) load
beyond the depth of a previously applied light Polymer matrix
Mass before test
(minor) load. Top hardness numbers that are obtained composite Mass after test (g) (%) gain of water
(g)
from hard materials indicate a shallow indentation material
while low numbers found with soft materials indicate
9.141 9.150 0.09
deep indentation. The increment of penetration depth COIR
for each point of hardness on the Rockwell mount is
7.815 7.823 0.10
0.00008 inch. For example, if a piece of steel BANANA
measures Rockwell C 58 (extremely hard) at same
point and C 55 at another, the depth of penetration 7.531 7.535 0.05
SISAL
would have been 0.00024 inch deeper at the softer
spot.

Table 3.2.1 Tabulated Readings of Rockwell 3.4 Density Test result

Hardness Number
Density is the term used to describe the relationship
Polymer matrix Load in between the weight of the substance and its size.
S.No Indenter used RHN
composite Kg
Load F Modulus Flexural
1 Coir 36HRC of Rigidity
Proving Deflection
In Elasticity
S.No Reading
EI in N-mm2
2 Banana 63HRC Division Y in mm
Diamond E in
150 Kg N
Indenter N/mm2

3 Sisal 54HRC
1 1 6.25 61.31 0.89 1722.26 11.48X106

2 2 12.5 122.625 1.86 1648,18 10.98X106

4 Coir 76HRC

3 3 18.75 183.94 2.88 1596.68 10.64X106

5 Banana 1/16 Ball 57HRC 1655.71 11.03X106

100
Indenter

6 Sisal 92HRC
Density is a physical property of every substance, and
different substances have different densities. Density
can be measured in a variety of units, including
grams per centimeter and pounds per cubic foot.
3.3 WATER ABSORPTION TEST RESULT

Water absorption is used to determine the

amount of water absorbed under specified conditions.
Factors affecting water absorption include: type of

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ISSN: 2321 – 8045 Vol-1, Issue-1, July 2013

Table 3.4.1 Density Test result manufacturing of automotive seat shells among the
other natural fibre combinations.
Polymer matrix
Mass(m) Volume(v) Density(ρ), m/v
5. REFERENCES
composite
-4 3 3
material (Kg) (10 m ) (Kg/m )
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2.99625 composites. Arab J Sci Eng 2003;28(2B):171–81.
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[2] Luo S, Netravali AN. Mechanical and thermal

2.99625
BANANA 0.330 1101 properties of environmentally friendly green
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2.99625 poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) resin. Polym
SISAL 0.346 1155
Compos 1999;20(3):367–78.

[3] Belmares H, Barrera A, Monjaras M. New

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[7] Fuad MYA, Rahmad S, Azlan MRN. Filler
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