Evaluation of mechanical properties of calotropis giganteastem fiber-rein forced composite material

Abstract

The awareness in natural fiber reinforced composite materials is rapidly growing both in terms of industrial applications and fundamental research. Natural fibers have recently become attractive to researchers, engineers and scientists as an alternative reinforcement for fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Owing to their availability, low cost, good mechanical properties, high specific strength, non-abrasive, eco-friendly and bio-degradability characteristics, they are exploited as a replacement for the conventional fiber, such as aramid and carbon. Several chemical modifications are employed to improve the interfacial matrix-fiber bonding resulting in the enhancement of mechanical properties of the composites. Calotropisgigenteais a species of calotropis, native to Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and tropical Africa. Itsfiber was extracted manually from the plant’s stem and treated chemically. The samples have been prepared by varying the fiber percentages and epoxy resin. Hybrid Composites are fabricated using raw calotropisgigenteastem fiber/glass with varying fiber weight percent 5:0 to 5:3 weight by using hand layup method. The fabricated specimens were cut as rectangular pieces according to the ASTM standards for conducting all tests. The purpose of this paper is to assess the tensile strength, impact strength, density and hardness of hybrid calotropisgigantea stem fiber reinforced composites. Results illustrates that the use of less than 12 gm glass fiber in this composite increases tensile strength, impact, density and hardness.