Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites for automobile accessories

Abstract

The invention is an effort to utilize the advantages offered by renewable resources for the development of composite materials based on polymer and particles of natural fibers for Conservation of natural resources. In this research, natural fibers like Sisal (Agave sisalana), Banana (Musa sepientum) and Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), Sisal and banana (hybrid), Roselle and banana (hybrid) and Roselle and sisal (hybrid) are fabricated with bio epoxy resin using molding method. The applications of these materials require a sustainable approach to creating green products. Green materials are very important to form environment friendly from renewable resources and decrease the use of petroleum based chemicals. Nowadays natural fibers form an interesting alternative for the most widely applied fibre in the composite technology, glass. The use of fibers like sisal, Roselle and banana in this industry so far is small since availability of a durable semifinished product with constant quality is often a problem. Recent research and development have shown that these aspects can be improved considerably. Knowing that natural fibers are cheap and have a better stiffness per weight than glass, which results in lighter components, the grown interest in natural fibers is clear. Secondly, the environmental impact is smaller since the natural fibre can be thermally recycled and fibers come from a renewable resource. Their moderate mechanical properties restrain the fibers from using them in high-tech applications, but for many reasons they can compete with glass fibers. In this paper the optimum mixing of fiber and resin is achieved by using Taguchi method. In this work, tensile and hardness of Sisal and banana (hybrid), Roselle and banana (hybrid and Roselle and sisal (hybrid) composite at dry and wet conditions were studied. Hardness test were conducted using Brinell hardness testing machine. In this work micro structure of the specimens are scanned by the Scanning Electron Microscope. The disclosure includes the process to make the composite and also the variety of products in automobile accessories. © 2013 Science Publication.