Experimental Study of Mechanical Properties of Different Strengthen Fibers for Composite Materials

ABSTRACT

The reason for using composite materials across a variety of sectors is their light

density and consequently, this study's goal is to enhance the mechanical and

physical properties of polymer composite materials. To do this, two types of

polymer epoxy resin used as a matrix and reinforced with various fibers, including

mica and pinecone fiber as natural and glass fiber as synthetic fibers. Each fiber

added to the strength of epoxy resin by 15%, and creating hybrid composite by

combing mica and glass fibers; also glass and pinecone fibers at different wt%

(10:5, 7.5:7.5, and 5:10). Mica and pinecone fiber were also combined at wt%

(7.5:7.5). Due to mica fiber being used here to reinforce polymer composites for the

first time so three different forms (long fiber, powder and particle form) are used

and compared the results. Pinecone fiber used previously but no one mixed it with

glass fiber and these types of epoxy. Each sample was created using the hand lay-up

approach. The bulk density has been measured as a physical property, and

mechanical properties (tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact energy) have

all been carried out in accordance with ASTM standards.

Composite materials reinforced by glass and mica fiber in long fiber unidirectional

form were utilized. Noticing that mica fiber had a role in lowering bulk density to

2.76% for sikadur epoxy and 1.93% for master brace epoxy. Nevertheless, glass

fiber increased bulk density. Both fibers enhanced mechanical properties; however,

glass fiber has a bigger influence rather than mica fiber, even though mica fiber

may also provide improvements from 26% to 67% to each of them.

Also composite materials reinforced by unidirectional glass fiber and pinecone

fibers as reinforcement uses while using powdered pinecone. Pinecones

significantly impact reducing bulk density; for example, both epoxy had decreases

of 6.947% and 4.3%, respectively. In terms of mechanical properties pinecone fiber

had a decline effect, it saw a 5-26% decrease in the tensile and flexural strengths, 39-51% for impact energy, and however, when coupled with glass fiber, it had

positive results.

Using mica as (long fiber, particle, and powder), all enhanced bulk density by 2-

4%, but the effect was greatest when pinecone was added. In terms of tensile and

flexural strength, all of them improved by 10–60%, but the long fiber show greater

effect. However, impact energy increased by 26–50%, the powder form achieved

more value, but when mixed with pinecone, the impact energy decreased roughly 25

to 30 % comparing with the neat epoxy