Original Articles
Murali B. and Chandra Mohan D.
Abstract
During the last few years, natural fibers have received much more attention than ever before from the research community all over the world. These natural fibers offer a number of advantages over traditional synthetic fibers. In the present communication, a study on the synthesis and mechanical properties of new series of green composites involving Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L) and Abaca (Musa textilis) fiber as a reinforcing material in Epoxy resin based polymer matrix has been reported. Static mechanical properties of randomly oriented intimately mixed Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L) and Abaca (Musa textilis) fiber reinforced polymer composites such as flexural, Impact, hardness strength, water absorption properties etc, were investigated as a function of fiber loading as per ASTM standards. Initially Epoxy resin prepared was subjected to evaluation of its optimum mechanical properties. Then reinforcing of the resin with Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L) and Abaca (Musa textilis) fiber was accomplished in three different forms: particle size, short fiber and long fiber by employing optimized resin. Present work reveals that mechanical properties such as flexural, hardness, water absorption and etc of the epoxy resin increases to considerable extent when reinforced with the fiber.