Modelling and Optimization of the Manufacturing Parameters of a Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite PxGyEz

Abstract

In this study, a Pineapple Leaf fiber (PALF)/Glass fiber Epoxy hybrid composite PxGyEz (with x, y, and z representing the volume fraction of pineapple leaf fiber (P), volume fraction of glass fiber (G) and fiber length respectively in Epoxy (E) matrix) was developed and its tensile properties modelled and optimized with regards to the variable parameters of x, y, and z respectively. For the quality characteristics (high tensile strength) investigated, the Minitab®19 software was used to analyze the Taguchi robust experiment design technique on the higher the better basis. The optimum combination of the control factors was found at x=10%, y=20% and z = 15mm. The optimized composite P10G20E15 possessed a tensile strength of 95.3144MPa which was only a 5.9% deviation from the predicted optimum tensile strength. Analysis of variance showed that the glass fiber had the highest contribution of 50.64% to the tensile strength of PxGyEz, PALF 15.53% and fiber length 28.84%. SEM Images of the PALF, glass fiber and fractured surface of the optimized material P10G20E15 revealed the surface structure which explained their different contribution to the tensile strength of the materials. An equation for the prediction of the tensile properties of PxGyEz was derived from the regression model.