Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of PTSL FRP Composites

Abstract

Utilization of natural fibers for making composites and employ them in various structural applications due to superior specific properties drawn the attention of researchers in the present scenario. In the present research a new natural fiber i.e. Palm Tree Sprout Leaf (PTSL) is introduced, and is extracted by a novel technique called pure splitting method. Untreated and chemically treated palm tree sprout leaf fiber are reinforced into the polyester matrix for fabricating composites and are tested for determining their mechanical and dielectric properties as per ASTM procedures. Morphological characterization of fiber is also done using Scanning Electron Microscope. Tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength of chemically treated PTSL fiber reinforced polyester composites exhibited a reasonable improvement when compared with the untreated fiber reinforced polyester (FRP) composites. Flexural modulus of PTSL FRP composites is more when compared with chemically treated FRP composites at all volume fractions of fiber. Impact strength of PTSL FRP composites clearly increased with increase in fiber volume fraction. The reasonable values of dielectric strength at various fiber volume fractions exhibited by PTSL FRP composites will give an opportunity for designer in choosing light weight insulating material.