Development and Characterization of Hybrid Glass-Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polyester Composites

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.