Effect of Fiber Loading on the Mechanical Properties of Kenaf and Fiberfrax Fiber-reinforced Phenol-Formaldehyde Composites
- 15 March 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Composite Materials
- Vol. 44 (19), 2265-2288
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998310364265
Abstract
In this study, mechanical properties such as tensile characteristics, flexural characteristics, impact strengths, and hardness of kenaf/phenol-formaldehyde (PF), fiberfrax/PF, and kenaf/fiberfrax hybrid PF composites have been investigated as a function of fiber loading. Composite samples were prepared by mixing the fibers and resin in a mixing chamber for 5 min. The composite sheets were prepared by pressing fiber-resin material in a steel mold at 120°C for 30 min at 10 MPa pressure. The test samples were cut from the composite sheets. At least five specimens were tested and mean value was taken for each composite according to ASTM standards. The reinforcing effects of kenaf and fiberfrax fibers were evaluated at various fiber loadings, that is, 19, 28, 36, 43, 52, and 62 vol. %. The hybrid effect of kenaf and fiberfrax fiber on the tensile, flexural, impact strengths, and hardness was also investigated for various ratios of kenaf/fiberfrax fiber loadings ranging between 1 : 0 and 0 : 1. Total fiber loading of the hybrid composites was 43 vol.%. The tensile, flexural strength, and hardness of the composites increased with increasing fiber loading up to 43 vol.% and decreased above this value for kenaf/PF composites. Impact strength of kenaf/PF composite showed a trend of increase with increasing fiber loading. The tensile and flexural strength of fiberfrax/PF composites increased by incorporation of fiberfrax fiber up to 36 vol. % and decreased beyond this value. However, the maximum impact strength and hardness were obtained for 52 vol. % fiberfrax fiber loading. The tensile, flexural, and impact strength values of fiberfrax/PF composites were found to be lower compared to kenaf/PF composites. With addition of fiberfrax fiber, the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths of the kenaf/fiberfrax hybrid PF composites decreased linearly and the hardness of the composite increased. The maximum hardness value was obtained for 0.25 : 0.75 kenaf/fiberfrax ratio.Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Properties and performances of various hybrid glass/natural fibre composites for curved pipesMaterials & Design (1980-2015), 2009
- Mechanical properties of kenaf fibers and kenaf/PLA compositesMechanics of Materials, 2008
- Kenaf natural fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: A discussion on manufacturing problems and solutionsComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2007
- Contributions of feather fibers and various cellulose fibers to the mechanical properties of polypropylene matrix compositesComposites Science and Technology, 2006
- The effect of fibre content on the mechanical properties of hemp and basalt fibre reinforced phenol formaldehyde compositesJournal of Materials Science, 2005
- The effect of alkalization and fibre alignment on the mechanical and thermal properties of kenaf and hemp bast fibre composites: Part 1 – polyester resin matrixComposites Science and Technology, 2004
- Effect of process engineering on the performance of natural fiber reinforced cellulose acetate biocompositesComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2004
- Kenaf reinforced biodegradable compositeComposites Science and Technology, 2003
- Novel hybrid coupling agent as an adhesion promoter in natural fiber reinforced powder polypropylene compositesJournal of Materials Science Letters, 2002
- Biofibres, biodegradable polymers and biocomposites: An overviewMacromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2000