Mechanical properties of hybrid kenaf/glass reinforced epoxy composite for passenger car bumper beam

Abstract

It is estimated that the annual world car production rate will reach 76 million vehicles per year by 2020. New regulations such as the EU End of Life Vehicles (ELV) regulations are forcing car manufacturers to consider the environmental impact of their production and possibly shift from the use of synthetic materials to the use of agro-based materials. Poor mechanical properties and certain manufacturing limitations currently limit the use of agrobased materials to non-structural and semi-structural automotive components. The hybridization of natural fiber with glass fiber provides a method to improve the mechanical properties over natural fibers alone. This research is focused on a hybrid of kenaf/glass fiber to enhance the desired mechanical properties for car bumper beams as automotive structural components with modified sheet molding compound (SMC). A specimen without any modifier is tested and compared with a typical bumper beam material called glass mat thermoplastic (GMT). The results indicate that some mechanical properties such as tensile strength, Young's modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus are similar to GMT, but impact strength is still low, and shows the potential for utilization of hybrid natural fiber in some car structural components such as bumper beams.

Applications of Natural Fibers and Its Composites: An Overview

“…Plastic/wood fiber composites are being used in a large number of applications in decks, docks, window frames and molded panel components [30]. The passenger car bumper beam is manufactured by kenaf/glass epoxy composite material [31]. Recently, banana fiber reinforced composites are coming into in interest due to the innovative application of banana fiber in under-floor protection for passenger cars [32].…”

An Evaluation of Mechanical Properties on Kenaf Natural Fiber/Polyester Composite Structures as Table Tennis Blade

“…al. (2010) natural fiber composites have an advantage, which is better formability, renewable, cost effective and safe toward health [4]. Furthermore, by comparing glass fiber composites, natural fiber composites are likely to be enviromentally superior [1].…”

Effects of Kenaf Fiber Orientation on Mechanical Properties and Fatigue Life of Glass/Kenaf Hybrid Composites

“…In the automotive industry, natural fiber composites reduce toxin emissions and improve fuel efficiency. It has recently been estimated that substituting natural fibers for 50% of the glass fibers used in automotive applications in the USA would eliminate 3.07 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 1.19 million m 3 of crude oil consumption by 2020 (Davoodi et al 2010). Natural fibers such as hemp, jute, sisal, and kenaf are lighter, low-cost materials with highly specific mechanical properties that can reduce the density of a composite by 10 to 15% compared Recently, Atiqah et al (2014) developed chopped strand mat (treated and untreated) kenaf-glass fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester hybrid composites fabricated using a sheet molding compound process for structural applications.…”