BY

K. Kishore Kumar
Under The Guidance
of
Dr P. Ramesh Babu
Associate Professor
MED, UCE,OU.
 Objective of the Work
 Introduction to natural fiber composite
 Literature survey
 Materials And Methods
 Tests to be Conducted
 Progress of Work
 Conclusions
 References

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 The aim of this work is to project the potential of hybrid short natural fiber composite
laminates and their products and to explore the possibility of producing them on commercial
basis. The present work is pertaining to development and characterization of hybrid short fiber
reinforced natural composites using short fibers from plants of Thespesia lampas, Abelmoschus
Esculentus and hibiscus cannabinus that belongs to the malvacea family.

Present work is to prepare the lamina using the short hybrid fibers of lenths 2mm,
4mm,6mm,8mm,10mm and general purpose Isopthalic resin by hand lay-up process. The fibers
without treatment and with chemical treatment of fibers with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are
considered in the work. It is expected that chemical treatment with NaOH will improve adhesion
properties of fibers with resin and improve mechanical properties. Laminas are to be prepared by
using different weight ratios of short fibers and neat resin. The lamina has to be tested according
to ASTM standards to study different mechanical and thermal properties.

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WHY NFRC ?
1) Environmental reasons:
• Renewable resources
• Thermally recyclable, biodegradable, CO2 neutral
2) Cost: often (potentially) low cost (not silk)
3) Health & safety: less abrasive, more pleasant to handle
4) Good specific mechanical properties
5) Natural image, design aspects
6) Others, like good acoustic damping.

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 It has been estimated that there are at least 1000
types of plants that produce usable fibers. Natural
fibers are obtained from different parts of plants, to
name few, for example, jute, ramie, flax, kenaf and
hemp are obtained from the stem; sisal, banana and
pineapple from the leaf; cotton and kapok from seed;
coir from fruit.

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 Classification of Natural Fibers

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 Hybrid composites consists of two or more types of fibers embedded in
a common matrix.
 They have better flexibility as compared to other fiber reinforced
composites. Normally it contains a high modulus fiber with low
modulus fiber.
 The high-modulus fiber provides the stiffness and load bearing
qualities, whereas the low-modulus fiber makes the composite more
damage tolerant and keeps the material cost low.
 The mechanical properties of a hybrid composite can be varied by
changing volume ratio and stacking sequence of different plies.
 They provide dimensional stability and reduced weight, and improve
fatigue and fracture resistance.
 Hybrid composites are employed for sporting goods and light weight
orthopedic components.

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 Plant fibers are a renewable raw material and their
availability is more or less unlimited.
 Very good mechanical properties.
 Very good heat, acoustic and electrical insulating
properties.
 Combustibility
 Biodegradability
 Lower Abrasive nature

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Advantages :

These are environmentally superior

Low cost
Less weight
Availability from renewable sources
Low density
Enhanced energy recovery
Can be thermally recycled (posses a good
calorific value)
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APPLICATIONS

Building Products
 Window/Door
 Fencing
 Decorative Trim Railings
 Roofing panels
 Railings
Infrastructure
 Bridge
 Boardwalks
 Guardrails Floorings

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Applications :

Marine
 Small fishing boats
Transportation
 Interior Panels
 Truck Floor
 Shelves
 Ducting
 Head liners

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Applications in Automobile Industry

• Door panels
• Seat backs
• Headliners
• Package trays
• Dash boards Flax, hemp, sisal, wool and other fibers are
• Trunk liner used to make interior components

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Applications :

Industrial/Consumer
 Playground
 Benches/Tables
 Floorings
 Pallets
 Trash

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K. N. Bharath, R. P. Swamy, G. C. Mohan kumar, had studied the Thickness Swelling
Behaviour Of Hybrid Natural Fiber Reinforced Uf Composites and concluded that

 The areca fiber/maize powder and UF composite exhibited excellent resistance to moisture
up to 40% when compared to wood-based particleboard.
 Results revealed that application of the areca fibers increased in the water absorption
significantly in the hybrid composites due to formed micro-gaps in interfaces.
 Composites containing alkali-treated fiber absorbed less solvent, indicating that alkali
treatment improves the adhesion between fiber and matrix. At higher fiber loadings
swelling predominantly takes place in the thickness direction.
 Areca fiber composites exhibited maximum water absorption when the composite was
immersed in water. Due to hybridization i.e., areca fiber with maize powder, there was
significantly less water absorption.
 Finally, it is concluded that the composite plate with areca fiber and maize powder
reinforced with UF resin are very promising alternate and substitute materials for the
conventional wood-based plywood or particle board.

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Elammaran Jayamania etal, had done a Comparative Study of Dielectric Properties of Hybrid
Natural Fiber Composite the electrical properties of jute/bamboo reinforced polypropylene
and unsaturated polyester hybrid composites were assessed.

 Dielectric constant values decreased with an increase in the frequency for all the hybrid
composites.
 The maximum values of dielectric constant in the lower frequency region were attributed to
the interfacial polarization.
 The dielectric constant, dissipation factor and loss factor increased with increasing fiber
content because of an increase in the number of polar groups, which led to high orientation
polarization.
 The increase in dielectric constant, dissipation factor and loss factor were more apparent
with a fiber content of 30wt%. As a result of chemical treatment of natural fibers, the
interfacial adhesion between the polymer and natural fibers increased and led to a
reduction in voids which in turn caused a reduction in moisture uptake.

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 K.V. Arun, S. Basavarajappa, B.S. Sherigara carried out experimental
analysis on glass/textile fabric reinforced hybrid composites under
normal condition and sea water environments have been reported.
The critical stress intensity factor, interlaminar shear strength and
impact toughness have been evaluated, both in interlaminar and
translaminar directions. The matrix material used was a medium
viscosity epoxy resin and fibers are plain weave E-glass fabric and silk
based textile fabric.

 Yi Zou, Shah Huda, Yiqi Yang studied the tensile strength, flexural
strength, impact strength and sound absorption properties of laminas made
of Whole and split wheat straws (WS) have been used with polypropylene
(PP).

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Work Methodology :
2 mm 4 mm 6 mm 8 mm 10mm
K+A K+A K+A K+A K+A
K-Kenaf
K+T K+T K+T K+T K+T T-Thespesia Lampus
T+A T+A T+A T+A T+A
A-Abelmoschus Esculentus
K+T+A K+T+A K+T+A K+T+A K+T+A

•Total 20 lamina have to be prepared , by using three

different plant fibers and Isopthalic resin by Hand
layup process.
•For each Lamina 70 % volume is filled with resin and
remaining 30% volume with Fibers .

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Plant Details

Kenaf Thespesia lampas Abelmoschus Esculentus

Family Name MALVACEAE MALVACEAE MALVACEAE

Botanical Name Hibiscus cannabinus Thespecia Abelmoschus

Lampas Esculentus
Telugu Name Gogu, gonkura Adavi Benda Benda

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Resins can be divided into two broad classes:

Thermosetting and Thermoplastic.

 Thermoplastic resins have a definite melting point
 Thermosetting resins cure to produce an infusible solid material that does
not melt when heated. They soften, but they do not liquefy.

Thermosetting resins used for FRP are typically purchased in liquid form and are
reacted to a solid with chemical additives.
The most commonly used thermosetting resin systems: ƒ
 Vinyl ester ƒ
 Bisphenol-A fumarate polyester
 ƒ
Terephthalic polyester ƒ
 Isophthalic polyester

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 Thespesia Lampus, Abelmoschus Esculentus and
Hibiscus cannabinus plants are available in the forest
near Mahabubabad of Warangal district.
By using water retting process the fibers are extracted
from the plants.
In water retting process following steps are Followed:
 The bast of the plants are soaked in water for the
duration of 1-2 days.
 Then the fiber was peeled off from the bast.
 Then the fiber was allowed to dry for a day.

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Treatment of Fibers
•The quality of a fiber reinforced composite depends considerably on the fiber-
matrix interface because the interface acts as a binder and transfers stress between
the matrix and fibers.
• Good bonding is expected due to improved wetting of fibers with the matrix.

Treatment of fibers
•Bonding between fibers and binder can be increased by chemical treatment of
fibers using chemical agent like sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
• For treatment process water by volume is taken along with 2% of NaOH. The
fibers are soak in to the water for 24 hours, Then the fibers are washed thoroughly
with distilled water to remove the final residues of alkali.
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Hibiscus Cannabinus T fiber
Hibiscus Cannabinus UT fiber

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Preparation of Lamina

Glass Plate Surface Preparation

Wax, PVA, Catalyst Accelerator Isopthalic resin.

Glass plate, Surface plate,

Isopthalic resin with measures and dishes

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Hand Lay Up Process
Fibers are mixed with the resin according Volume ratio and this mixture is
poured in the mould the Rollers are used to ensure the removal of entrapped air and
uniform distribution of resin and fibers. A weight is placed upon this. A typical hand
lay-up process is shown in Fig

Hand lay-up process

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 Preparation of laminas

The laminas are prepared by hand layup technique.

1.Wax polish is applied on the surfaces of the base plates and poly vinyl alcohol
(PVA) is applied .
2. Unsaturated Isopthalic Polyester Resin.
3. Short Kenaf fibers are mixed perfectly with resin
4. 2% each of catalyst and accelerator -Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) and
Cobalt Naphthenate is added.
5. The fibers are mixed with the resin thoroughly
6. The mixture is then poured and evenly layed up in the mould .

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Prepared laminas

Untreated 8mm and 4mm and 8 mm

4mm fiber treated fiber
laminates laminate

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 Specimens for Flexural Test, Tensile test and Water
Absorption Tests are cut on a jig saw machine as per
ASTM standards.

Cutting the laminates for required dimensions

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 Tensile test is conducted as per ASTM D 638 Standards

 Tensile Testing In a broad sense, tensile test is a measurement of

the ability of a material to withstand forces that tend to pull it
apart and to what extent the material stretches before breaking.

 The stiffness of a material which represented by tensile modulus

can be determined from stress-strain diagram.

 Universal Testing Machine (Zwick / Roell Z010 10KN) has to be

used at cross-head speed of 3mm/min.

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 The specimens were positioned vertically in the grips of the
testing machine.

 The grips were then tightened evenly and firmly to prevent any
slippage with gauge length kept at 50mm.

 The precise five tested result were chosen for each fiber loading.

Dimensions Of Tensile Test Specimen

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Tensile testing machine & Taking properties of tensile test by the
computer

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Flexural Testing

Flexural test has done as per ASTM D792 Standards ,

Three-point loading system applied on a supported beam was
utilized in the test method.

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 Thickness t = 3mm

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8mm UT fiber composite 4mm UT fiber composite

4mm T fiber composite 8mm T fiber composite

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Flexural Strength

σƒ= 3PL/2bd2

Where
σf = stress in the outer specimen at midpoint, MPa

P = load at a given point on the load deflection curve, N

L = support span, mm

b = width of beam tested, mm

d = depth of beam tested,

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Flexural Modulus

EB = L3m/4bd3

Where EB= modulus of elasticity in bending, MPa

L = support span, mm

m = slope of the tangent to the initial straight line portion of the load
deflection curve, N/mm of deflection

b = width of beam tested, mm

d = depth of beam tested, mm

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Results of Flexural Test:

SPECIMEN H2 H4 H6 H8 K4 K6 B8
S
FLEXURAL 75.146 96.85 78.48 91.845 83.496 75.146 58.447
STRENGTH
(N/mm2)

FLEXURAL 5984.09 7284.34 5902.82 6544.01 7064.55 6781.97 5274.87

MODULUS
(N/mm2)

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 Water absorption test is done as per ASTM D 570 standards .This test
method covers the determination of the relative rate of absorption of water by
fiber when immersed.

Electronic Balance Hot air oven.

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The specimens are placed in oven at 50 ± 3oc for 24 hr to evaporate any
water particles in specimen and weight (conditioned) of specimen is noted
.The conditioned specimens shall be placed in a container of double
distilled water maintained at a temperature of 23 ± 1 o C and shell rest on
edge and be entirely immersed. After 24 hr the specimens shall be
removed from water, all surface water wiped off with a dry cloth, and
weighed immediately, and again the specimens are kept in oven for 24
hours for reconditioning, and weight (reconditioned) of specimen is noted.

Increase in weight (%) = ((Wet weight- Conditioned

Weight)/Conditioned Weight)X 100

Soluble matter lost (%) = ((Conditioned Weight-

Reconditioned Weight)/ Conditioned Weight)X100

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Long Term Immersion : It is to determine the total water absorbed when substantially
saturated, the conditioned specimens shall be tested as described in twenty four hour
immersion except that reconditioning, after taking wet weight the specimens are
replaced in distilled water. The weighings shall be repeated. WA and TS were calculated
as:
-------------- (5.7)

-------------- (5.8)

Where WA= percentage of water Absorption :

TS = Percentage of Thickness Swelling
WT = weight and thickness at a given time (g),
TK = thickness at a given time (mm),
WT0 = initial weight (g),
TK0 = initial thickness (mm).

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4mm T and UT fiber laminate 8mm T and UT fiber laminate

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 The Scanning Electron Microscopy was conducted on the
fractured surface of the flexural test specimen to find the fiber
matrix interfacial adhesion. The test was conducted in various
magnifications ranging from 50x to 3000x. This test was performed
in JSW steel plant on HitachiS-3400N scanning electron
microscope and fig shows the test setup

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Micro graph of 2mm UT Composite Micro graph of 2mm T Composite

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Micro graph of 4mm UT Composite Micro graph of 4mm T Composite

Micro graph of 6mm UT Composite Micro graph of 6mm T Composite

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 DSC measures the temperatures and heat flows associated with
transitions in materials as a function of temperature or time in a
controlled atmosphere. This technique provides quantitative and
qualitative information about physical and chemical changes that
involve endothermic or exothermic processes, or changes in heat
capacity.

 The glass transition is the temperature region where an amorphous

material changes from a glassy phase to a rubbery phase upon
heating, or vice versa if cooling.
 The glass transition is very important in polymer characterization as
the properties of a material are highly dependent on the relationship
of the polymer end-use temperature to its Tg.

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 Polymer samples should be free from impurities, including monomers, water and
solvent.

Sample preparation
 Use forceps to handle the sample pan and lid. Obtain the weight of a sample pan.
 Record the mass of the sample pan.
 Add about 1-25 mg of sample to the pan and weigh again. A powdered sample
provides better thermal contact.
 Record the mass of the sample.
 Remove the sample pan carefully from the balance using forceps. (Skin moisture
and oils will be left on the sample pan if they are picked up by fingers. This extra
mass will affect the DSC experiment.)
 Keep the sample pan and another empty sample pan as reference pan close the lid.

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 2mm hybrid fiber laminate

 From the DSC test glass transition temperature is 101.74OC and

endothermic reaction takes place specific heat capacity is 10.012*10-3 j/gk.

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 4mm hybrid fiber laminate

 Glass transition temperature is 103.21OC and endothermic reaction takes place

specific heat capacity is 26.304*10-3 j/gk.
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 6mm hybrid fiber laminate

 Glass transition temperature is 106.49 OC ,endothermic reaction takes place and

specific heat capacity is 5.886*10-3 j/gk.
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 8mm hybrid fiber laminate

 Glass transition temperature is 107.24 OC ,endothermic reaction takes place and

specific heat capacity is 287.156*10-6 j/gk.
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 From above DSC test results, it is concluded that the 8mm fiber
laminate has more glass transition temperature compared to other
laminates.

 For all the laminates it is observed that at the glass transition

temperature, endothermic reaction takes place.

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 [1]Maya, J.J. and Rajesh, D.A. (2008). Recent developments in chemical modifications and
characterization of natural fiber composites, Polym Compos., 29: 187-207.

 [2]Laly A Pathan, Zachariahoommen, sabu Thomas Dynamic mechanical analysis of

banana fiber reinforced polyester composites, Composites Science and Technology 63
(2003)283–293 , Kottayam, Kerala, India

 [3]Mehdi Tajdive, Robert H falk, john c Hermanson, Effect of Natural Fibers on Thermal
and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Polypropylene Composites Studied by
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis. Received 15 October 2005;

 [4] Laly A Pathan, Zachariahoommen, sabu Thomas Dynamic mechanical analysis of

banana fiber reinforced polyester composites, Composites Science and Technology 63
(2003) 283–293 , Kottayam, Kerala, India

 [5] Maya, J.J., Bejoy, F., Varughese, K.T. and Thomas, S. (2008). Effect of chemical
modification on properties of hybrid biocomposites, Composites: Part A, 39: 352-362.

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Publications in Refereed Journals

 K.Kishor Kumar, P.Ramesh Babu , K. Rajanarender Reddy, “Hybrid Composites Of Short Kenaf And
Abelmoschus Esculentus Fiber-Flexural Properties And Sem Analysis” International Journal on Design
& Manufacturing Technologies, Vol. 9 No. 1 January 2015, Pp 38-42.

 K.Kishor Kumar, Dr P.Ramesh Babu and Dr K.Raja Narender Reddy, “Evaluation Of Flexural and
Tensile Properties of Short Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Composites” International Journal of Advanced
Mechanical Engineering , Vol.4, No.4 , pp. 371-380, 2014 ( ISSN 2250-3234)

Publications in Refereed Conference Proceedings

 K.Kishor Kumar, P.Ramesh Babu, A.Dharma Teja, A.Sai Venkat “Hybrid Composites Of Short Kenaf
And Abelmoschus Esculentus Fiber-Flexural Properties And Sem Analysis” IN Proc. Of Int. Conf. on
Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineering: Advancements and Current Trends at MANIT,
Bhopal November 27-29, 2014

 K.Kishor Kumar, Ch. Karunakar and Dr K.Raja Narender Reddy “Flexural Properties Of Green
Composites Reinforced With Short Kenaf And Thespesia Lampus Fibers” in Proc. of International
Conference on Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, Management & Thermal Sciences (AMMMT-2013)
at SIT-Tumkur, during May 03-04. ISBN-13 978-81-926304-0-3.Pp 1-7.

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