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This investigation is carried out to understand the effects of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hybrid phenol formaldehyde (PF) composite fabricated with Areca Fine Fibres (AFFs) and Calotropis Gigantea Fibre (CGF). Hybrid CGF/AFF/PF composites were manufactured using the hand layup technique at varying weight percentages of fibre reinforcement (25, 35 and 45%). Hybrid composite having 35 wt.% showed better mechanical properties (tensile strength ca. 59 MPa, flexural strength ca. 73 MPa and impact strength 1.43 kJ/m2) under wet and dry conditions as compared to the other hybrid composites. In general, the inclusion of the fibres enhanced the mechanical properties of neat PF. Increase in the fibre content increased the water absorption, however, after 120 h of immersion, all the composites attained an equilibrium state.

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In this work, the alkali‐treated roselle and sisal fibers were used as reinforcement fillers for thermosetting matrix with aim of obtaining better mechanical properties and machinability of natural fiber hybrid polyester composite. However, their mechanical properties and machinability were compared with untreated fiber composites. The roselle and the sisal fibers were subjected to a 10% sodium hydroxide solution treatment at different duration of 2, 4, 6, and 8 h. Besides, the fractured surfaces of composite specimen were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Drill hole profiles were analyzed using profile projector and machine vision inspection system. An improvement in strength and stiffness combined with high toughness was achieved by treating the fibers using 10% NaOH solution. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers

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The present investigation reports the mechanical properties of banana short fiber, macro particle, and micro particle reinforced epoxy composites. Mechanical properties, such as tensile, flexural, and impact strength, of three different composites were studied and compared based on the three different fiber contents (25 wt%, 30 wt%, and 35 wt%). The composites were prepared by a compression moulding method for which the mixture containing the reinforcing agents and resin matrix was prepare dusing a mechanical stirrer. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the failure mechanism and the resulting damage that occurred in the composites. The short fiber composite with 35 wt% content showed the highest tensile strength (35.59 MPa), whereas the macro particle composite with 35 wt% content showed the highest flexural strength (67.16 MPa). In the case of the impact strength, both the short fiber and macro particle composites showed the highest impact strength (0.32 J). The mechanical properties of epoxy composites increased substantially with increase of content of reinforcing agents (short fiber, macro particle, and micro particle).