Mechanical Characterization of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Epoxy Composites with Steel Wire Mesh

Abstract

In the present experimental research work hybrid composite is manufactured using hand lay-up technique, taking epoxy resin as matrix material and stainless-steel wire mesh along with alkaline treated and untreated pineapple leaf fiber as reinforcement. Mechanical characterization such as tensile, flexural, hardness and water absorption test were performed on the samples of developed composites as per ASTM standards. Mechanical characterization revealed that treatment of fiber is having significant effect on mechanical properties. Tensile strength and flexural strength of treated fiber reinforced composite is 132.12 % and 109.98% respectively higher than untreated fiber reinforced composite. Inclusion of wire mesh along with fiber enhanced the tensile strength by 11.22% whereas bending strength decreases by 8%. Analysis of fractured surfaces using scanning electron microscope revealed there is a lack of bonding between wire mesh and epoxy resin. Water absorption test revealed that treated fiber reinforced composite is having the least water absorption capacity of 6.63 %, wire mesh included composite is having water absorption capacity of 6.96 % and untreated fiber reinforced composite is having the highest water absorption capacity of 8.7 %.