Affiliation:
1. SIMATS, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha Schoo
2. KCG College of Technology, Department of Mechatronics Engine
3. Loyola Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical
4. SR University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The automotive sector’s growing focus on sustainability has been spurred to
investigate the creation of sustainable resources for different parts,
emphasizing enhancing efficiency and minimizing environmental harm. For use in
automobile flooring trays and underbody shields, this study examines the impact
of injection molding on composite materials made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and
<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> (flax) fibers. As processed organic
fiber content was increased, the bending and tensile rigidity initially
witnessed an upsurge, peaking at a specific fiber loading. At this optimal
loading, the composite exhibited tensile strength, flexural strength, and
elastic modulus values of 41.26 MPa, 52.32 MPa, and 2.65 GPa, respectively.
Given their deformation resistance and impact absorption attributes, the
mechanical properties recorded suggest that such composites can be efficiently
utilized for automotive underbody shields and floor trays. The inherent
structure of the flax fiber within the PVC matrix constrains molecular movement,
leading to superior deformation resistance that enhances impact force
absorption. This characteristic is also responsible for the observed decline in
impact strength as fiber content increases. The investigation’s results add to
the expanding literature on environmentally friendly materials in automobile
manufacturing and offer important new information for designing and producing
floor trays and underbody shields made of PVC composites with <i>Linum
usitatissimum</i> fiber.</div></div>