Studies on the properties of bagasse fiber reinforced polyester composites

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Date
2007
Authors
Vannaladsaysy, Vilay
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Abstract
Bagasse is a by-product from sugar mills and is being mostly used as fuel or disposed of by incineration. An attempt has been made to convert this byproduct into useful plastic composites, which can be used for various engineering applications. In this study, the properties of bagasse fiber reinforced polyester composites were investigated. Effects of parameters such as bagasse fiber extraction techniques, fiber treatment, fiber volume content, and hybrid stacking arrangement and number of hybrid layer on the properties of glass-bagasse fiber polyester composites were evaluated. From the observation of different fiber extraction methods, manual extraction method is found to produce fine and long fibers. Fiber obtained from manual extraction method produced composite with higher mechanical properties compared to those of machine technique. For example, manual extraction composite exhibits 6.63% and 59.9% higher flexural and impact strength compared to those of latter system. Bigger size of fiber bundle presence of rind and pith components in fiber obtained from machine extraction method results in lower mechanical properties and higher water absorption of the composites. The alkali treatments using Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and acrylic acid (AA) treatment were carried out to modify the properties of fibers. It is noted that the use of AA treated fibers lead to 12.18% and 53.54% increased in tensile and flexural strengths of the composites, respectively, compared to untreated fiber composites. The NaOH and AA treated fiber composites exhibits higher storage modulus of 23% and 34%, respectively, compared to the untreated fiber composites. This indicates greater interfacial adhesion and bond strength exist between the resin and fibers. The tensile properties, flexural properties, Tg and dynamic storage modulus (E’) at the glassy region of bagasse fiber polyester composites increase with increasing fiber content. The moisture resistance of the composites reduced at higher fiber content. The hybrid composites (GBG and GGB) exhibits higher tensile strength compared to the bagasse fiber composites. The water absorption of thicker laminate (5 and 7 ply) is higher compared to thinner laminate (3 ply), this is due to the defect which might exist between the layers and hence increase the water absorption of the composite system.
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Master
Keywords
Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering , Bagasse fiber , Polyester composites
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