Kenaf fibres have gained substantial attracted considerable attention due to their economic feasibility and environmental acceptability. Natural fibre (kenaf) has started in mechanical and electrical applications by hybridising synthetic (glass) fibres. In recent years, the hybrid composite has been employed in various functions in industrial engineering. The present study deals with water absorption of glass/kenaf/epoxy hybrid composite materials used in high voltage polymeric insulator rods. Kenaf fibres have substituted two proportions of glass fibres (20 vol% IR20EP and 30 vol% IR30EP) with modified 60% of epoxy resins to fabricate the kenaf/glass/epoxy hybrid composites. The water absorption test was carried out at room temperature, and the water absorption resistance for composites was calculated regarding the rate of water absorption. Remarkable variations in the characteristics of water soaking up of the hybrid composite were obtained demonstrating that the water absorption influence on the insulator rod properties relies on the arrangement profiles and volume fraction of kenaf fibre of composite used. Based on the finding, a minor impact of water absorption on the glass fibre (non-hybrid) composite was noticed. Adding kenaf fibres to the composite fibreglass rod increases the composite’s water absorption. Glass fibres around kenaf fibres have been shown to minimise water absorption. After 330 hours, all the composite specimens attained stability and ceased to soak up water.
Kenaf fibres have acquired enormous attention in recent years, owing to their economic viability and environmental acceptability. Kenaf (natural) fibres have been started to replace the glass fibre (synthetic) in mechanical, electrical applications and have been utilized in several applications of industrial engineering. The current study deals with water absorption of kenaf/glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composite materials used in high voltage polymeric insulator rods. The kenaf/glass hybrid composites were based on 20%, 30% and 40%(by volume) of kenaf fibers replacement glass fibres with modified 60 vol.% unsaturated polyester resins. The composites were immersedin distilled water at room temperature, and composites resistance to water absorption in terms of the rate of water absorption was determined.A considerable difference in the properties of water absorption of the hybrid composite was found demonstrating that the water absorption effect on the characteristics of insulator rods depends on the arrangement and volume fraction of kenaf fibre of the composite used. Based on the results obtained, a slight effect of water absorption on pure glass fibre composite (control) was observed. The addition of kenaf fibre on glass fibre composite rod increased the water absorption of the composite. It was shown that glass fibres surrounding kena ffibre reduced water absorption. Despite the fact that 40 vol.% of kenaf fibre composite had the highest natural fibre content, it showed the lowest water absorption because of its arrangement on all composite diameters, and also because of being surrounded by glass fibres. All of the materials reached equilibrium and ceased to absorb water after 300 hours
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