STUDIES ON EFFECTS OF SHORT COIR FIBER REINFORCEMENT ON FLEXURAL PRPPERTIES OF POLYMER MATRIX

Abstract

For environmental concern on synthetic fibers (such as glass, carbon, ceramics etc) natural fibers such as sisal, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, coir etc., are widely used. In this research work, short coir fibers reinforced polymer composite have been developed by hand layup techniques with varying fiber percentages (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% by weight). The developed coir fiber reinforced composites were then tested for their FLEXTURAL properties. The result shows that a flexural property increases with increases in fiber percentage; however after a certain fiber weight percentage the properties are decreased. From the data of tested results conclude that 20% of coir reinforcement at 4mm thickness of polymer composite exhibited higher percentage of elongation. The coir fiber in the present study could be used as an effective reinforcement for making composites, which have an added advantage of being light weight