IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)

e-ISSN: 2278-1684, p-ISSN: 2320-334X

PP 01-05
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Study of mechanical properties of hybrid natural fiber composite
Mayur Thombre1, Animesh Agarwal 2 , Chandrajeet 3, Sandeep Nair4
1,2,3,4
Mechanical engg. , Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Technology and Management Bhilai, India

ABSTRACT: The present experimental study aims at learning the mechanical behaviour of hybrid natural
fiber composites. Samples of several Jute-Bagasse-Epoxy & Jute-Lantana camara-Epoxy hybrids were
manufactured using hand layup method where the stacking of plies was alternate and the weight fraction of
fibre and matrix was kept at 40%-60%.Specimens were cut from the fabricated laminate according to the ASTM
standards for different experiments. For Tensile test & flexural test samples were cut in Dog-bone shape and
flat bar shape respectively.

I. INTRODUCTION
A composite is combination of two materials in which one of the materials, called the reinforcing
phase, is in the form of fibers, sheets, or particles, and is embedded in the other materials called the matrix
phase. The reinforcing material and the matrix material can be metal, ceramic, or polymer. Composites typically
have a fiber or particle phase that is stiffer and stronger than the continuous matrix phase and serve as the
principal load carrying members. The matrix acts as a load transfer medium between fibers, and in less ideal
cases where the loads are complex, the matrix may even have to bear loads transverse to the fiber axis. The
matrix is more ductile than the fibers and thus acts as a source of composite toughness. The matrix also serves to
protect the fibers from environmental damage before, during and after composite processing. When designed
properly, the new combined material exhibits better strength than would each individual material. Composites
are used not only for their structural properties, but also for electrical, thermal, tribological, and environmental
applications.
Jartiz [1] stated that “Composites are multifunctional material systems that provide characteristics not
obtainable from any discrete material. They are cohesive structures made by physically combining two or more
compatible materials, different in composition and characteristics and sometimes in form”.
Kelly [2] very clearly stresses that the composites should not be regarded simple as a combination of two
materials. In the broader significance; the combination has its own distinctive properties. In terms of strength to
resistance to heat or some other desirable quality, it is better than either of the components alone or radically
different from either of them.
Beghezan [3] defines as “The composites are compound materials which differ from alloys by the fact
that the individual components retain their characteristics but are so incorporated into the composite as to take
advantage only of their attributes and not of their short comings”, in order to obtain improved materials.
Van Suchetclan [4] explains composite materials as heterogeneous materials consisting of two or more solid
phases, which are in intimate contact with each other on a microscopic scale. They can be also considered as
homogeneous materials on a microscopic scale in the sense that any portion of it will have the same physical
property.

Classification of composites
According to the type of reinforcing material composites can be classified as:
(1)Fibrous Composite:
A fiber is characterized by its length being much greater compared to its cross-sectional dimensions. The
dimensions of the reinforcement determine its capability of contributing its properties to the composite. Fibers
are very effective in improving the fracture resistance of the matrix since a reinforcement having a long
dimension discourages the growth of incipient cracks normal to the reinforcement that might otherwise lead to
failure, particularly with brittle matrices.
(2)Particulate Composites:
In particulate composites the reinforcement is of particle nature. It may be spherical, cubic, tetragonal, a platelet,
or of other regular or irregular shape. In general, particles are not very effective in improving fracture resistance
but they enhance the stiffness of the composite to a limited extent.
According to type of matrix material they are classified as:
Metal Matrix Composites (MMC)
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC)
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IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)
e-ISSN: 2278-1684, p-ISSN: 2320-334X
PP 01-05
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Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC)
(1)Metal Matrix Composites:
Higher strength, fracture toughness and stiffness are offered by metal matrices. Metal matrix can withstand
elevated temperature in corrosive environment than polymer composites. titanium, aluminium and magnesium
are the popular matrix metals currently in vogue, which are particularly useful for aircraft applications. Because
of these attributes metal matrix composites are under consideration for wide range of applications viz.
combustion chamber nozzle (in rocket, space shuttle), housings, tubing, cables, heat exchangers, structural
members etc.
(2)Ceramic matrix Composites:
One of the main objectives in producing ceramic matrix composites is to increase the toughness. Naturally it is
hoped and indeed often found that there is a concomitant improvement in strength and stiffness of ceramic
matrix composites.
(3)Polymer Matrix Composites:
Most commonly used matrix materials are polymeric. In general the mechanical properties of polymers are
inadequate for many structural purposes. In particular their strength and stiffness are low compared to metals
and ceramics. These difficulties are overcome by reinforcing other materials with polymers. Secondly the
processing of polymer matrix composites need not involve high pressure and doesn‟t require high temperature.
Also equipments required for manufacturing polymer matrix composites are simpler. For this reason polymer
matrix composites developed rapidly and soon became popular for structural applications. Two types of polymer
composites are:
(a) Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)
(b) Particle reinforced polymer (PRP)
(a)Fiber Reinforced Polymer:
Common fiber reinforced composites are composed of fibers and a matrix. Fibers are the reinforcement and the
main source of strength while matrix glues all the fibers together in shape and transfers stresses between the
reinforcing fibers. Sometimes, filler might be added to smooth the manufacturing process, impact special
properties to the composites, and / or reduce the product cost.
(b)Particle Reinforced Polymer:
Particles used for reinforcing include ceramics and glasses such as small mineral particles, metal particles such
as aluminium and amorphous materials, including polymers and carbon black. Particles are used to increase the
modules of the matrix and to decrease the ductility of the matrix.
1.3 Hybrid composite
Hybrid composites are more advanced composites as compared to conventional FRP composites. Hybrids can
have more than one reinforcing phase and a single matrix phase or single reinforcing phase with multiple matrix
phases or multiple reinforcing and multiple matrix phases. They have better flexibility as compared to other
fiber reinforced composites. Normally it contains a high modulus fiber with low modulus fiber.The high-
modulus fiber provides the stiffness and load bearing qualities, whereas the low-modulus fiber makes the
composite more damage tolerant and keeps the material cost low. The mechanical properties of a hybrid
composite can be varied by changing volume ratio and stacking sequence of different plies.
1.4 Natural fiber reinforced composites
The interest in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials is rapidly growing both in terms of
their industrial applications and fundamental research. They are renewable, cheap, completely or partially
recyclable, and biodegradable. Plants, such as flax, cotton, hemp, jute, sisal, kenaf, pineapple, ramie, bamboo,
banana, etc., as well as wood, used from time immemorial as a source of lignocellulosic fibers, are more and
more often applied as the reinforcement of composites. Their availability, renewability, low density, and price as
well as satisfactory mechanical properties make them an attractive ecological alternative to glass, carbon and
man-made fibers used for the manufacturing of composites. The natural fiber-containing composites are more
environmentally friendly, and are used in transportation (automobiles, railway coaches, aerospace), military
applications, building and construction industries (ceiling paneling, partition boards), packaging, consumer
products, etc.
1.5 Applications of natural fiber composites
The natural fiber composites can be very cost effective material for following applications:
Building and construction industry: panels for partition and false ceiling, partition boards, wall, floor, window
and door frames, roof tiles, mobile or pre-fabricated buildings which can be used in times of natural calamities
such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, etc.

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IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)
e-ISSN: 2278-1684, p-ISSN: 2320-334X
PP 01-05
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II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The following section will elaborate in detail the experimental procedure carried out during the course of our
project work. The steps involved are:
1. Specimen Fabrication (Fabrication of FRP).
By Hand Lay-Up method.
Cutting of Laminates into samples of desired dimensions.
2. Tensile test
3. Flexural test (3-Point Bend test)
4. SEM of fractured surface
Raw materials
Raw materials used in this experimental work are:
(i) Natural fiber
Jute
Bagasse
Lantana camara
(ii) Epoxy resin
(iii)Hardener
A. Hand lay-up technique:
The fiber piles were cut to size from the jute fiber cloth. The appropriate numbers of fiber plies were taken: two
for each. Then the fibers were weighed and accordingly the resin and hardeners were weighed. Epoxy and
hardener were mixed by using glass rod in a bowl. Care was taken to avoid formation of bubbles. Because the
air bubbles were trapped in matrix may result failure in the material. The subsequent fabrication process
consisted of first putting a releasing film on the mould surface. Next a polymer coating was applied on the
sheets. Then fiber ply of one kind was put and proper rolling was done. Then resin was again applied, next to it
fiber ply of another kind was put and rolled. Rolling was done using cylindrical mild steel rod. This procedure
was repeated until eight alternating fibers have been laid. On the top of the last ply a polymer coating is done
which serves to ensure a god surface finish. Finally a releasing sheet was put on the top; a light rolling was
carried out. Then a 20 kgf weight was applied on the composite. It was left for 72 hrs to allow sufficient time for
curing and subsequent hardening.(Figure(1))

III. EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE

Cutting of laminates into samples of desired dimensions:
A WIRE HACKSAW blade was used to cut each laminate into smaller pieces, for various experiments:
TENSILE TEST- Sample was cut into dog bone shape(150x10x5)mm.
FLEXURAL TEST- Sample was cut into flat shape(20x150x5)mm, in accordance with ASTM standards.
fig(3.1& 3.2)
Tesnsile test:
The tensile strength of a material is the maximum amount of tensile stress that it can take before faliure. The
commonly used specimen for tensile test is the dog-bone type. During the test a uniaxial load is applied through
both the ends of the specimen.fig 4
Flexural test
Flexural strength is defined as a materials‟s ability to resist deformation under load. The short beam shear
(SBS) tests are performed on the composites samples to evaluate the value of inter-laminar shear strength
(ILSS). It is a 3-point bend test, which generally promotes failure by inter-laminar shear. This test is
conductedas per ASTM standard using UTM. The loading arrangement is shown in figure . The dimension of
the specimen is (20x150x5)mm. It is measured by loading desired shape specimen(6x6-inch) with a span length
at least three times the depth. The flexural strength is epressed as modulus of rupture(MR) in psi (MPa) .fig 5
SEM FRACTROGRAPHY
The surfaces of the specimens are examined directly by scanning electron microscope JEOL JSM-6480LV as
shown in Figure 3.4. The composite samples are mounted on stubs with silver paste. To enhance the
conductivity of the samples, a thin film of platinum is vacuum-evaporated onto them before the
photomicrographs are taken.fig 6
Figures and Tables

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IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)
e-ISSN: 2278-1684, p-ISSN: 2320-334X
PP 01-05
www.iosrjournals.org

Fig(1). Hand Lay-Up Fig(2).Hybrid Natural Fiber Fig(3.2) Flat Bar

Fig(3.1) Dog-Bone Shape
Technique Composite Shape

Fig(4)UTM Machine Sample Loaded Fig(5)UTM Machine Sample Loaded Fig(6) Scanning Electron
Condition For Tensile Testing Condition For Tensile Testing Microscope(SEM)

IV. CALCULATION TABLE :

For the preparation of the composite we calculate the percentage of fibers, polymer and hardener required from
the table we come to know about the amounts accurately.

V. RESULT & CONCLUSION

FLEXURAL TEST
Table 1:

TABLE 2 THREE POINT BEND TEST DATA

Graph: Variation of force with extension in 3 point bend test

Tensile Test

TABBLE 3 RESULTS OF TENSILE TEST

SEM ANALYSIS

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IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)
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1. The jute, bagasse and lantana camara fibers was successfully used to fabricate hybrid natural composites with
40% fiber and 60 % resin, these fibers are bio-degradable and highly crystalline with well aligned structure. So
it has been known that they also have higher tensile strength than glass, good elasticity, excellent resilience and
in turn it would not induce a serious environmental problem like in glass fibres.
2. The flexural strength of pure epoxy resin is 130-136 MPa with (7-9.5)% elongation. With increase of fiber
loading capacity by 20%, the flexural strength value increases to 155.5MPa for Jute-bagasse and 310.9MPa for
jute-lantana camara.
The tensile strength of epoxy is 62-72 MPa wit 3-4 % elongation and with increase of fiber loading capacity by
20 % the tensile strength increase.
So, it is clearly indicates that inclusion of natural fibers improves the load bearing capacity (tensile strength) and
the ability to withstand bending (flexural strength) of the composites.
3. In flexural test, Jute-lantana camara combination sustains more elongation than jute-bagasse combination, but
there is no large difference in maximum load of both samples. Due to more elongation in jute-lantana
combination it has more flexural strength than jute-bagasse sample.
4. In tensile test also jute-lantana has more elongation than jute-bagasse combination, and hence the tensile
strength of jute-lantana camara is more than jute-bagasse sample.
5. By comparing the flexural strength and tensile strength of the composites with varying, the best mechanical
property results are obtained with jute-lantana camara combination.
6. From SEM micrograph it is clearly visible that fiber is nicely embaded with matrix but still there
are some cavaties.

REFERENCES
Journal Papers:
[1] A. K. Rana, A. Mandal, B.C. Mitra, R. Jacobson, R. Rowell, A. N. Banerjee “Short Jute Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites:
Effect of Compatibilizer” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 69, 329-338 (1998).
Books:
[1] Monteiro S.N.; Rodriquez R.J.S.; De Souza M.V., D'Almeida J.R.M., “Sugar Cane Bagasse Waste As Reinforcement In Low Cost
Composites”, Advanced Performance Material, Volume 5, No.3, (December 1998): P. 183-191.
Chapters in Books:
[1] Monteiro S.N.; Rodriquez R.J.S.; De Souza M.V., D'Almeida J.R.M., “Sugar Cane Bagasse Waste As Reinforcement In Low Cost
Composites”, Advanced Performance Material, Volume 5, No.3, (December 1998): P. 183-191.
[2] Hassan M.L., Rowell R.M., Fadl N.A., Yacoub S.F. And Chrisainsen A.W. “Thermo Plasticization Of Bagasse. I. Preparation And
Characterization Of Esterified Bagasse Fibers.” Journal Of Applied Polymer Science, Volume 76, (2000): P. 561- 574.
[3] Yan Li , Chunjing Hu, Yehong Yu “Interfacial studies of sisal fiber reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites” Part A 39
(2008) 570–578

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