Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites
Due to environmental and energy conservation concerns, a thrust towards low-cost lightweight materials has resulted in renewed interest in the development of sustainable materials that can replace nonbiodegradable and environmentally unfriendly materials in reinforced composites. In this study, mech...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Hindawi Limited
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Materials Science and Engineering |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6290480 |
| _version_ | 1826998734627536896 |
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| author | Silas M. Mbeche Paul M. Wambua David N. Githinji |
| author_facet | Silas M. Mbeche Paul M. Wambua David N. Githinji |
| author_sort | Silas M. Mbeche |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to environmental and energy conservation concerns, a thrust towards low-cost lightweight materials has resulted in renewed interest in the development of sustainable materials that can replace nonbiodegradable and environmentally unfriendly materials in reinforced composites. In this study, mechanical properties of a hybrid composite consisting of polyester resin reinforced with a blend of sisal and cattail fibres were evaluated. The composite was fabricated using a hand lay-up technique at varying hybrid fibre weight fractions (5 to 25 wt%) while maintaining a constant fibre blend ratio of 50/50. Composites were also prepared at a constant fibre weight fraction of 20% while varying the fibre blend ratio between 0 and 100%. Fabricated composites were then characterised in terms of flexural, tensile, compressive, and impact strengths following ASTM and ISO standards. Results showed that, at a constant fibre blend ratio of 50/50, there was increase in the mechanical properties as the fibre weight fraction increased from 5 to 20%. At a constant fibre weight fraction (20%), a positive improvement in flexural, tensile, and compressive properties was registered as the fibre blend ratio varied between 0 and 75% with optimal values at a sisal/cattail ratio of 75/25. The current study suggests that blending sisal and cattail fibres for production of polyester composites yields hybrid composites with enhanced mechanical properties. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d51dde425d03457a9a7b17d45d65feb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1687-8434 1687-8442 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-18T10:18:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Hindawi Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Materials Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-d51dde425d03457a9a7b17d45d65feb52024-11-02T05:31:44ZengHindawi LimitedAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84341687-84422020-01-01202010.1155/2020/62904806290480Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester CompositesSilas M. Mbeche0Paul M. Wambua1David N. Githinji2Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, Uasin Gishu County, P. O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, Uasin Gishu County, P. O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, Uasin Gishu County, P. O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaDue to environmental and energy conservation concerns, a thrust towards low-cost lightweight materials has resulted in renewed interest in the development of sustainable materials that can replace nonbiodegradable and environmentally unfriendly materials in reinforced composites. In this study, mechanical properties of a hybrid composite consisting of polyester resin reinforced with a blend of sisal and cattail fibres were evaluated. The composite was fabricated using a hand lay-up technique at varying hybrid fibre weight fractions (5 to 25 wt%) while maintaining a constant fibre blend ratio of 50/50. Composites were also prepared at a constant fibre weight fraction of 20% while varying the fibre blend ratio between 0 and 100%. Fabricated composites were then characterised in terms of flexural, tensile, compressive, and impact strengths following ASTM and ISO standards. Results showed that, at a constant fibre blend ratio of 50/50, there was increase in the mechanical properties as the fibre weight fraction increased from 5 to 20%. At a constant fibre weight fraction (20%), a positive improvement in flexural, tensile, and compressive properties was registered as the fibre blend ratio varied between 0 and 75% with optimal values at a sisal/cattail ratio of 75/25. The current study suggests that blending sisal and cattail fibres for production of polyester composites yields hybrid composites with enhanced mechanical properties.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6290480 |
| spellingShingle | Silas M. Mbeche Paul M. Wambua David N. Githinji Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites Advances in Materials Science and Engineering |
| title | Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites |
| title_full | Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites |
| title_short | Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid-Reinforced Polyester Composites |
| title_sort | mechanical properties of sisal cattail hybrid reinforced polyester composites |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6290480 |
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