Survival of mechanical properties after water absorption on coconut shell filled banana fiber polymer composites

Abstract

Natural fibres are responsive to the environment though it is necessary to study the properties with respect to the severe environmental conditions. This study reveals about the endurance of mechanical characteristics after water absorption on banana raw fiber reinforced with coconut shell filler polymer composites. Composite material fabricated through hand layup process with 3 different compositions with the reinforcement of 30 vol % of banana fiber and it varies with the compositions of coconut shell filler such as 1%, 3% and 5%. For the study of accounting survival of mechanical properties, tensile and flexural tests are performed before and after water absorption. Water absorption was conducted for 1 month on the tensile and flexural specimen in normal water. The main outcome shows that material with 3% filler gives high tensile and flexural properties before water absorption. Interestingly after water absorption material with 5% of coconut shell filler provides better properties.