Development and Assessment of Vinylester Reinforced with Sansevieria cylindrica / Betel Nut Fruit fibers
B.Amarababu and V.Pandu Rangadu
Abstract
The objective of this research was to gain a better understanding of tensile properties of vinylester resin hybrid composites reinforced with Sansevaria cylindrica fiber (SCF)/betel nut empty fruit fiber (EFF) using rule of hybrid mixture. Tri layer hybrid composites of betel nut empty fruit (EFF) and Sansevieria cylindrica leaf fiber (SCF)was prepared by keeping betel nut EFF as skin material and Sansevieria cylindrica as the core material and vice versa. The chemical resistance, void content and tensile properties of betel nut EFF/SCF composites was investigated with reference to the relative weight of betel nut EFF/SCF, i.e. 4.5:1, the fibre loading was optimized and different layering pattern were investigated. It is found from the chemical resistance test that all the composites are resistant to various chemicals. It was observed that marked reduction in void content of hybrid composites in different layering pattern. From the different layering pattern, the tensile properties were slightly higher for the composite having SCF as skin and betel nut EFF as core material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study tensile fracture surfaces of different composites.