14-08-2012, 04:36 PM
Tensile and flexural strengths of coconut spathe-fibre reinforced epoxy composites
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Abstract
Tensile and flexural strengths of coconut spathe and spathe-fibre reinforced epoxy composites were evaluated to assess the
possibility of using it as a new material in engineering applications. Samples were fabricated by the hand lay up process (30:70
fibre and matrix ratio by weight) and the properties evaluated using the INSTRON Material Test System. Tensile and flexural
strengths for the coconut spathe-fibre-reinforced composite laminates ranged from 7.9 to 11.6 MPa and from 25.6 to 67.2 MPa
respectively, implying that the tensile strength of coconut spathe-fibre is inferior to other natural fibres such as cotton, coconut
coir and banana fibres. However, fibre treatment may improve the interfacial bonding between fibre and matrix leading to better
mechanical properties of the spathe-fibre-reinforced composite laminates.
INTRODUCTION
Natural fibre-composites have considerable potential
to replace conventional materials like metal, plastics
and wood in structural and non-structural applications,
especially in furniture industry (Sapuan and Maleque,
2005). Such composites impart strength and stiffness
to the product, besides having advantages such as low
cost, environment friendliness, abundant availability
and renewable nature. Coconut spathe, the covering of
the coconut inflorescence, is an under-exploited
material with considerable potential in this respect.
Although substantial research has been carried out on
other tissue-types of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera),
e.g., leaf bud sheath (Sapuan et al., 2001), coir (Lai et
al., 2005), shell (Sapuan et al., 2003), reports on the use
of coconut spathe as a source of fibre in composite
materials are scarce. Furthermore, production of fibrereinforced
composite materials strengthens the bonding
between fibre and matrix, so that it could resist the applied
load. Hence coconut spathe-fibre and fibre-reinforced
epoxy composites were tested in this study to determine
the tensile and flexural strengths.