Fabrication and Mechanical Characterization of Jute-Coir Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Resin Hybrid Composites with Various Fiber Size using Compression Moulding Technique

Abstract

Fiber reinforced composites plays major role in improving the strength of various applications in current trends. Based on these trends the combination of natural jute/coir fiber hybrid composite of different size of fiber length was examined in this study. The hybrid fiber composite was fabricated by compression moulding technique by impregnating jute fiber and coir fiber with unsaturated polyester resin, Cobalt octoate and methyl-ethyl-ketone peroxide as accelerator and catalyst. Then the prepared mould placed into the oven to dry for 4 hrs. at 50°C beneath closely to vacuum condition then convert the cured mould to the hot press initially for 1 hr at 105°C under 84 bar pressure until while squeeze out the excess resin, then it was cooled in cold press under constant pressure of 275 bar pressure for 15 min to prevent the warpage of hybrid composites. The micro hardness, tensile, flexural, impact strength of hybrid composite was carried out and the morphology of the composites was evaluated and compared. The test results of the hybrid composite were analyzed by one way ANOVA analysis technique and it shows significant difference among the groups.