Mechanical Properties and Morphological Characterisation of Waste Natural Fiber Composites Reinforced Polyester: Gelam (Melaleuca Leucadendra)

Abstract

The mechanical (tensile, flexural, and impact) tests and morphology observation were investigated on Natural Fiber Composites (NFCs) formed by strengthening Gelam as a fiber into the polyester as a resin matrix. The samples were prepared up to a maximum volume fraction of 0.70 from the fibers in powder form, hand lay-up method, and compared with pure Gelam and pure polyester. The synthesis results indicate for adding Gelam fiber in volume fraction that the optimum composition is at the addition of 0.70 fiber, with a tensile strength of 14.77 MPa, bending strength of 53.12 MPa, and the impact strength of 755.48 MPa. It was investigated that the impact strength and tensile strength of Gelam-polyester composite increase compare to pure Gelam. However, the result of flexural strength is decreased that can be associated with many factors such as incompatibility between matrix and fiber, instability of the hand lay-up method.