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Permeability and mechanical property correlation of bio based epoxy reinforced with unidirectional sisal fiber mat through vacuum infusion molding technique
Author(s) -
Rajkumar S.,
Tjong Jimi,
Nayak S.K.,
Sain M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.23797
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , sisal , epoxy , scanning electron microscope , natural fiber , fiber , molding (decorative)
The present investigation is focused to study the permeability of natural fiber during vacuum infusion (VI) process and the effect of the surface treatments of natural fiber, fiber loading direction, resin flow direction and process parameter on the tensile properties of developed composites (sisal/bio based epoxy). The bio based resin exhibits good flow characteristics in NaOH and isocyanate treated fibers which may be attributed to change in polarity. The surface treatments appear to provide an appreciable enhancement in tensile strength through enhanced bonding between fiber and matrix. The longitudinal tensile strength has been found to be higher than that of the transverse direction and the flow along the fiber provides maximum tensile strength. It has also been demonstrated that VI process provides improved mechanical properties as compared to hand‐layup process. Morphological studies of fractured developed composites were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the de‐bonding of fiber/matrix adhesion. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2192–2200, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers