EFFECT OF BIO-COMPOSITE HYBRIDIZATION STACKING SEQUENCING ANALYSIS ON PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOURS OF GLASS AND UKAM FIBRE REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

Abstract

In this study, the compression moulding technique was used to fabricate hybrid composites using different wt. % of the glass and ukam fibers in different stacking sequences. The physical properties studied were density, water absorption, and wear resistance while mechanical properties included tensile strength, hardness, and impact strength and morphology studies were performed for the glass and ukam fibers and the effect of bio-composite hybridization stacking sequencing was studied. A technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution model was used to determine the optimal reinforcement composition in the hybrid composites. The stacking sequence played a crucial role in the physical and mechanical characteristics of the hybrid composites. The GUG (stacking sequence: Glass (4 wt. %) - Ukam (4 wt. %) – Glass (4 wt. %)) hybrid composite showed optimal characteristics; tensile strength: 116 MPa, hardness: 41 Hv, impact energy: 3.55, void content: 1.09% and wear: 67 ?m. However, if glass fibers were sandwiched between the ukam fiber layer, the composite showed lower physical and mechanical characteristics; tensile strength: 72 MPa, hardness: 28 Hv, impact energy: 3.1. The glass fiber reinforced composites (GG and GGG) exhibited better water absorption characteristics. The UUU composite’s impact strength was comparable with the GGG composites due to the stacking of the composites. Moreover, the glass fiber composites stacking (UU to UGU) exhibited lower tensile strength than ukam fiber composites stacking (GG to GUG). The micro-structural analysis of the fractured composite surface revealed voids, de-lamination, interfacial bonding of the fibers with the matrix, fiber pull-out, and matrix distribution.

Keywords: Hybrid bio-composites; natural fibers; ukam fibers; epoxy resin