SHORT SISAL FIBRE REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITE: FABRICATION,

MECHANICAL AND WEAR PROPERTIES

1. Objective
The objective of this research is fabrication of short sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composite
sheet and testing of specimen which is prepared by sheet. The following testing is performed:
1. Mechanical properties
Tensile test
Flexural test
Impact test
2. Physical properties
Water absorption test
Moisture content test
3. Wear Properties
2. Introduction
A composite is composed of two (or more) individual materials, which come from the
categories such as metals, ceramics, and polymers. Environment is being polluted day by day
due to broadly use of synthetic fibre as reinforcement for polymer composite. The researchers,
engineers and scientists are showing their interest in natural fibre as reinforcement in place of
synthetic fibre. Natural fibres have advantages such as lightweight, low cost, environmental
friendly, good thermal properties, high toughness, reduced tool wear, non-irritation to skin,
renewability, biodegradability, high specific strength and abundance. Natural fibre reinforced
polymer composites have been used in automotive parts, building materials and electrical
industries.
3. Literature Survey
There were a lot research paper on sisal epoxy composite and hybrid but a few research paper
on the short sisal epoxy composite. Natural fibre reinforced polymer composites are very good
replacement of synthetic fibre. Mechanical properties of the natural fibre reinforced polymer
composite are dependent on various parameter such as fibre length, treatment, and method of
manufacturing etc. The natural fibre reinforced polymer exhibit good specific mechanical
properties than synthetic fibre reinforced polymer composite. Chemical treatment of fibres can
be done for improve the interface bonding between fibre and matrix results improved
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mechanical, physical and wear properties. The strength over weight is very good with
comparison to synthetic fibre reinforced polymer composites due to such reason these are
suitable for light weight application such as aeroplane and sports utilities vehicle which need
to efficient in fuel. Although, a great deal of work has been done on the different modes of
wear of sisal fibre polymer composites, however study on sliding wear behaviour of short sisal
fibre reinforced epoxy composite is rare. The wear behaviour of the natural fibre reinforced
composite independent of the mechanical properties.
4. Methodology and experimental work
Epoxy resin is a frequently used thermoset matrix for polymer composite. The potential of sisal
fibre is motivated us to select sisal as a reinforcement. In this work epoxy AY-105 with
hardener HY-951 is used as a matrix. The epoxy resin AY-105 and hardener HY-951 are mixed
in ratio of 10:1 by weight as recommended. An aluminium steel mould is prepared which has
dimension 400 mm 200 mm 3.2 mm and wax is used as release agent. In this work, sisal
fibre reinforced epoxy composites are manufactured by hand lay-up method with varying the
length (5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm) of 30 % wt. of fibre loading. The mechanical
properties (tensile, flexural and impact test), wear properties (specific wear rate and coefficient
of friction) and physical properties (water absorption and moisture content behaviour) of
prepared composites are carried out. The specimens are cut as per ASTM standard.
5. Results
The results from performed test show that tensile, flexural and impact strength are found
maximum 40.25 MPa, 128.79 MPa and 27.63 kJ/m2 respectively for the composite with fibre
lengths of 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm respectively. On increasing the load, sliding velocity and
sliding distance, the specific wear rate is found increase whereas value of coefficient of friction
decrease. The water absorption and moisture content is found maximum for sisal fibre
reinforced epoxy composite with 10 mm fibre length of composite.
6. Conclusion
Tensile strength of epoxy is not improved by the reinforcing of sisal fibre while tensile
modulus, flexural properties and impact properties are found to be improved.
Sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composite shows lower acceptable value of water
absorption and moisture content test.

 Specific wear rate and coefficient of friction of sisal reinforced epoxy composite is
found to be decreased with the reinforcement in epoxy.
Wear rate of composite is observed increased with load, sliding velocity and sliding
distance.
Friction force of composite is increased with load, sliding velocity and sliding distance
while the coefficient of friction is observed decreased with load, sliding velocity and
sliding distance.