Abstract:
Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials have high specific strength, are
lightweight, non-corrosive, environmentally friendly, and low cost. Due to its attractive
features, they have an involvement in some parts of the green economy. The
incorporation of natural fibers with synthetic fibers hybrid composites also has enhanced
economic applications.The main goal of this study is to incorporate natural fiber such as
sisal and synthetic fibers (glass) to fabricate hybrid fiber composite material (HFCM) for
automotive body interior panels. This HFCM was prepared by hand lay-up technique
with consideration of process parameters like fiber weight ratio (30%, 35%, and 40%),
fiber orientation (MMM, UMU, MUM, MRM, and RMR), and ply arrangement (SGS,
GSG, and SSS). The sisal fiber surfaces were chemically treated with 10% NaOH. The
treated sisal fibers and glass fibers were combined by using matrix material unsaturated
polyester and the hardener (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide). Then mechanical properties
such as tensile, flexural, and compressive strength and physical properties tests like
water absorption and thickness swelling of prepared composite materials were conducted
to characterize experimentally. From mechanical property tests, the result shows that
35% fiber weight ratio composite material with mat-mat-mat (MMM) fiber orientation
and glass-sisal-glass (GSG) ply arrangement revealed the highest tensile, flexural and
compressive strength when compared to other composite materials. Secondly, the
physical property tests were also investigated. The results indicates that the mat-mat-mat
(MMM) fiber orientation with glass-sisal-glass (GSG) ply arrangement and 30 % fiber
weight fraction composite materials shows the lowest water absorption and thickness
swelling characteristics. Finally, it is concluded from the results of this study the
composite material prepared from the sisal-glass fiber can be used for automotive body
interior panels.
