Impact Behaviour Analysis of Sisal/Jute and Glass Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Composites

Abstract

The fibers from naturally available resources are considered to have potential alternate reinforcing agent in polymer matrix composite materials due to their properties such as high strength, stiffness, degradable in nature and renewable in nature. In this study a lightweight, low cost and environment friendly hybrid composites are prepared by using sisal-jute-glass fibers as the reinforcement materials. There are three types of composites such as sisal/glass fiber reinforced polymer (SGFRP) composites, jute/glass fiber reinforced polymer (JGFRP) composites and sisal/jute/glass fiber reinforced polymer (SJGFRP) composites are prepared by hand lay-up process and underwent to charpy impact test in order to study their impact properties. Post impact induced damage, material failure mechanism, matrix cracking, fiber breakage and pullout was observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results showed that the energy absorption and load carrying capacity of JGFRP composites are better and able to withstand higher loads than SGFRP composites and SJGFRP composites. It is further observed from the experiment, the inclusion of sisal and jute fibers with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites has gained good impact properties. It is suggested that these light weight sisal and jute fibers have been used as an alternative reinforcing material to synthetic fiber for medium load applications.