Effect of Fiber Loadings on Mechanical Properties of Coir Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composites

Abstract

This research is to develop a coir fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites. Coir fiber composite had been studied and investigated in many forms of variation by innumerable number of scholars around the globe. Specifically this research carried the study of effect of coir fiber loadings on mechanical properties of the composite. Coir fiber is generally known as a renewable or natural fiber resource which can be found abundantly throughout the world. This fiber possesses versatile characteristics which can be developed and utilized for many benefits. This research used experimental approach to fabricate the fiber composites and to obtain the mechanical properties of the composites. Previous studies show that altering the composition of matrix will eventually increase the reactivity of matrix towards the reinforcement material. Impact test, Brinell hardness test, flexural strength and modulus test, tensile test are among the mechanical test conducted to study the mechanical behavior of the coir fiber composites. It is determined that the coir fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites with fiber loading of 60wt.% exhibited the most ideal mechanical properties although fiber loading of 40wt.% exhibited the highest measured value for flexural modulus which is 4.07 GPa. Brinell hardness measured for fiber loading of 60wt.% is 7.84. Meanwhile, tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, impact strength measured of fiber loading 60wt.% are 8.449 MPa, 1.527 GPa, 57.69 MPa and 44.49 Kj/m2 respectively.