INVESTIGATION OF FLEXURAL AND IMPACT STRENGTH OF SISAL/GLASS HYBRID FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

Abstract

In this work, hybrid composites of unsaturated epoxy reinforced with sisal/glass hybrid fiber composites were prepared. The sisal fibers were surface treated with NaOH and silane solution while glass fiber was used without any treatment. Hand lay-up method was used in producing the composites in which unidirectional sisal fiber and random glass fiber mats were arranged in different patterns. The flexural and impact properties were studied. The results indicated that the flexural strength and flexural modulus of hybrid fiber composite decrease as degree of hybridization increases. The impact strength did not follow any particular trend as a result of hybridization instead it was more sensitive to the fiber arrangement (cross ply lay-up). However it increased with increase in mass fraction of the reinforcements.