Mechanical Properties of Sisal and Corn Starch Mixed Polymer Matrix Composites Using Experimental and Micromechanics

Abstract

The usage of reinforcing fibers extracted from nature is increasing in the present decade due to increasing the demand for biodegradability and environmentally friendly materials. In this paper, biodegradable sisal fiber and corn starch powder mixed thermoset and thermoplastic composite are prepared and tested for Young’s modulus. The effect of sisal fiber weight fraction on the Young’s modulus is identified at constant content of corn starch powder. Later, using Micromechanics approach and Finite Element Method simulation studies are performed to estimate transverse Modulus, Shear modulus, major and minor Poisson’s ratio of the sisal and starch based polymer composites. It is found that the composites prepared with sisal fiber and corn starch powder are a promising replacement for plastic reinforced composite to promote the biodegradability, especially under high weight fraction of sisal fiber