Static and dynamic properties of sisal fiber polyester composites - Effect of interlaminar fiber orientation

Abstract

The effect of fiber orientation was studied relative to the static and dynamic properties of sisal/polyester composites. Different composites were developed using the compression moulding technique with the aid of a specially designed mould. Composite laminates were formulated by stacking a number of fiber lamina with different orientations such as 90°/0° /90°, 0° /90° /0°, 90° /0° /0° /90°, 0° /45° /0°, 0° /90° /45° /45° /90° /0°, and 0° /45° /90° /90° /45° /0°. In general, the performance of static and dynamic characteristics was found to be significantly influenced by the effect of interlaminar fiber orientation. Experimental results exhibited a higher flexural strength of 68 MPa and an impact strength of 320 J/m in the case of 0° /90° /45° /45° /90° /0° oriented composites. Dynamic characteristics such as natural frequency and damping were found to be higher in the case of 0° /45° /0° and 0° /90° /0°, respectively. Morphological analysis was performed for understanding the interlaminar orientation and failure mechanisms between the fiber and the matrix.