Dynamic mechanical properties of sisal fiber reinforced polyester composites fabricated by resin transfer molding

Abstract

The dynamic mechanical properties of sisal fiber reinforced polyester composites fabricated by resin transfer molding (RTM) were investigated as a function of fiber content, frequency, and temperature. Investigation proved that at all temperature range the storage modulus (E′) value is maximum for the composites having fiber loading of 40 vol%. The loss modulus (E″) and damping peaks (tan δ) were lowered with increasing fiber content. The height of the damping peaks depends upon the fiber content and the fiber/matrix adhesion. The extent of the reinforcement was estimated from the experimental storage modulus, and it has been found that the effect of reinforcement is maximum at 40 vol% fiber content. As the fiber content increases the Tg from tan δ curve showed a positive shift. The loss modulus, storage modulus, and damping peaks were evaluated as a function of frequency. The activation energy for the glass transition increases upon the fiber content. Cole–Cole analysis was made to understand the phase behavior of the fiber reinforced composites. Finally, attempts were made to correlate the experimental dynamic properties with theoretical predictions. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers

Vegetal fibers in polymeric composites: a review

“…Polyester bamboo [132] ,banana [133,134] , coconut [69,135] , curaua [111,136] , flax [137,138] ,hemp [139][140] , jute [141][142] , pineapple [143,144] , sisal [145,146] , sugarcane bagasse [74,147] Polyurethane (PU) banana [148] , coconut [149] , curaua [108] , sisal [150,151] Epoxy banana [114,152] , coconut [153,154] , cotton [155] , flax [156][157] , hemp [158] , juta [159][160][161][162] , pineapple [163] , sisal [164][165] Phenolic banana [166,167] , flax [168,169] , jute [170] , sisal [171][172][173][174]…”

Use of eco‐friendly epoxy resins from renewable resources as potential substitutes of petrochemical epoxy resins for ambient cured composites with flax reinforcements

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Research on the use of natural fibers as reinforcements in petroleumbased polymeric matrices has been extensively studied and the use of sisal, flax, jute, kenaf, hemp, etc. as natural reinforcements in phenolic, unsaturated polyester and epoxies has been reported [7][8][9][10][11]. Natural fibers are not abrasive, cost effective and health safety while handled and they offer interesting balanced properties as potential substitutes of conventional reinforcements [12,13].…”

Thermal behavior of chemically treated and untreated sisal fiber reinforced composites fabricated by resin transfer molding

“…Figure 10 confirms that, as fiber content increases, the water evaporation of composites also increases due the hydrophilic nature of fiber. Earlier our studies regarding the water absorption characteristics of sisal fiber reinforced polyester composites proved that, as the fiber content increases, the water uptake increases at 30, 60 and 90 • C, respectively [27]. It is seen from the DTG curves that there are two distinguishable peaks between 200 and 400 • C. This indicates that all the natural fiber reinforced composites used have two decomposition stages depending on the component, as reported by Melo et al [18].…”

“…The well-separated, cleaned fibers were chopped into 30 mm length. The details of the fiber used were reported earlier [27]. It was washed with water, dried in air and desired amount was weighed.…”