a project on fiber composite, evaluating the mechanical properties such as tensile, impact and flexural

1. EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OF
JUTE-PINEAPPLE (HYBRID) NATURAL FIBER
COMPOSITE
a major project presentation by
G Madhusudhan Rao 158W5A0315
SK.K.Khamuruddin 158W5A0324
K Naveen Teja 148W1A0386
B Anusha 158W5A0325
Under the esteemed guidance of
SRI N. VIJAYA KUMAR, M.E.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR,
Department of mechanical engineering , VRSEC

2. ABSTRACT
The natural hybrid composites are intended for engineering applications as an
alternative to synthetic fiber composites. The aim is to investigate the
mechanical properties of pineapple-jute natural fiber reinforced polyester
hybrid composites. To improve the mechanical properties, pineapple fiber is
hybridized with jute fiber. The hybrid combination of fiber with various weight
fractions (%) i.e., (30/70, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40 and 70/30) for Tensile, Impact
& Flexural Strength Testing are incorporated into polyester and hardener
using Hand lay-up technique. The specimens for Tensile Strength, Impact
Strength and Flexural Strength were prepared according to ASTM standards
and tested using Tensometer and IZOD/CHARPY impact tester.

3. INTRODUCTION
• DEFINITION OF COMPOSITE
A composite is a material made from two or more constituent
materials with significantly with different physical and chemical properties
that, combined produce a material with characteristics different from the
individual components.
• Composite materials are man-made materials which are manufactured with
an aim of replacing the conventional materials by overcoming their
disadvantages.
• A composite material has two main constituents namely, matrix and
reinforcements.

4. • The reinforcements or fiber are the main load carrying elements and it provides
strength and rigidity to composite whereas, matrix gives the shape to composite,
maintains fiber alignment and protects them against the environmental and
possible damage
• The composites industry has begun to recognize that the commercial
applications of composites promise to offer much larger business opportunities
than the aerospace sector due to the sheer size of transportation industry.
• Unlike conventional materials (e.g., steel), the properties of the composite
material can be designed considering the structural aspects.
• Composite properties (e.g. stiffness, thermal expansion etc.) can be varied
continuously over a broad range of values under the control of the designer.
• Whilst the use of composites will be a clear choice in many instances, material
selection in others will depend on factors such as working lifetime requirements,
number of items to be produced (run length), complexity of product shape,
possible savings in assembly costs and on the experience & skills the designer in
tapping the optimum potential of composites.

5. CLASSIFICATION OF COMPOSITES
1. Based on Matrix
• Organic matrix composites
▫ Polymer matrix composites
▫ Carbon matrix composites
• Metal matrix composites
• Ceramic matrix composites
2. Based on Reinforcement
• Fiber reinforced composites
• Laminar reinforced composites
• Particulate reinforced composites

6. • THERMOPLASTICS
Thermoplastic materials are those materials
that are made of polymers linked by intermolecular, forming linear
or branched structures.
• THERMOSETS
Thermoset materials are those materials that are made
by polymers joined together by chemical bonds, acquiring a highly
cross linked polymer structure. The highly cross linked structure
produced by chemical bonds in thermoset materials, is directly
responsible for the high mechanical and physical strength (high
strength to support high stress or load, temperature ...) compared with
thermoplastics or elastomers materials.

7. • FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITES
A fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) is a
composite building material that consists of three components: (i)
the fiber as the discontinuous or dispersed phase, (ii) the matrix as
the continuous phase, and (iii) the fine interphase region, also
known as the interface. This is a type of advanced composite group,
which makes use of rice husk, rice hull, and plastic as ingredients.

8. FIBER
DEFINITION OF FIBER
Fiber is a natural or synthetic substance that is significantly longer
than it is wide. Fiber are often used in the manufacture of other materials
TYPES OF FIBERS
1. On the basis of origin
• Natural fiber
▫ Plant fiber
▫ Animal fiber
▫ Mineral fiber
• Man-made fiber
▫ Regenerated fiber
▫ Organic fiber
▫ In-organic fiber
▫ Synthetic fiber
2. On the basis of physical structure
• Bast fiber
• Leaf fiber
• Seed fiber

9. Natural fiber
• They are renewable, cheap, completely or partially recyclable, and biodegradable.
Plants, such as flax, cotton, hemp, jute, sisal, kenaf, pineapple, ramie, bamboo,
banana, etc., as well as wood, used from time immemorial as a source of
lignocellulose fiber, are more and more often applied as the reinforcement of
composites.
• The natural fiber-containing composites are more environmentally friendly, and are
used in transportation (automobiles, railway coaches, aerospace), military
applications, building and construction industries (ceiling panelling, partition
boards), packaging, consumer products, etc.

10. Classification of Natural Fibers
• Fiber are a class of hair-like material that are continuous filaments
or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to pieces of thread. They
can be spun into filaments, thread, or rope. They can be used as a
component of composites materials. They can also be matted into
sheets to make products such as paper or felt. Fibers are of two
types: natural fiber and manmade or synthetic fiber.

11. Jute Fiber
• Jute is known as the “golden fiber” due to its golden brown colour and
its importance. In terms of usage, production and global consumption,
jute is second only to cotton. It is a fiber use to make hessian sacks and
garden twine.
• Jute is environmentally friendly as well as being one of the most
affordable fibers; jute plants are easy to grow, have a high yield per
acre and, unlike cotton, have little need for pesticides and fertilizers.
• Jute fibers are very long, silky, lustrous and golden brown in colour.
• Jute fibers has strength, low cost, durability, versatility.

12. Jute plant
Jute fiber

13. Pineapple Fiber
• Pineapple plant is widely cultivated for the fruit in tropical and
subtropical regions of the world. The leaves of pineapple plant
contain approximately 3% of strong white silky fibers.
• These fibers can be extracted from the leaves either by Retting or
mechanical means.
• Pineapple leaf fiber is a high textile grade commercial fiber.
• Manual extraction process of pineapple leaf fiber is time consuming
and laborious.

14. Pineapple leafs
Pineapple leaf fiber

15. Advantages of Natural Fiber
Composites
• The main advantages of natural fiber composite are:
• Low specific weight, resulting in a higher specific strength and stiffness than
glass fiber.
• It is a renewable source, the production requires little energy, and CO2 is used
while oxygen is given back to the environment.
• Producible with low investment at low cost, which makes the material an
interesting product for low wage countries.
• Reduced wear of tooling, healthier working condition, and no skin irritation.
• Thermal recycling is possible while glass causes problem in combustion
furnaces.
• Good thermal and acoustic insulating properties

16. The natural fiber composites can be very cost effective material for following
applications:
• Building and construction industry: panels for partition and false ceiling,
partition boards, wall, floor, window and door frames, roof tiles, mobile or
prefabricated buildings which can be used in times of natural calamities
such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, etc.
• Storage devices: post-boxes, grain storage silos, bio-gas containers, etc.
• Furniture: chair, table, shower, bath units, etc.
• Electric devices: electrical appliances, pipes, etc.
• Everyday applications: lampshades, suitcases, helmets, etc.
• Transportation: automobile and railway coach interior, boat, etc.
• Toys

17. The reasons for the application of natural fibers in the automotive industry include:
• Low density: which may lead to a weight reduction of 10 to 30%15 Acceptable
mechanical properties, good acoustic properties.
• Favourable processing properties, for instance low wear on tools, etc.
• Options for new production technologies and materials.
• Favourable accident performance, high stability, less splintering.
• Favourable eco balance for part production.
• Favourable eco balance during vehicle operation due to weight savings.
• Occupational health benefits compared to glass fibers during production.
• No off-gassing of toxic compounds (in contrast to phenol resin bonded Wood and
recycled Cotton fiber parts).
• Reduced fogging behaviour.
• Price advantages both for the fibers and the applied technologies

18. FABRICATION
FIBER EXTRACTION PROCESS
Fiber extraction process of jute and pineapple fiber is usually done by
the help of water retting process .In this process the stem of jute plant with
high fiber and lignin content and pineapple leaves are placed in a water body
for 6 to 8 days .The water body may running water body as rivers or stagnant
one like lake. During this period microbial action takes place in stem and leads
to separation of fibers and thus finally fiber is extracted by water retting
process.

19. RESIN
Polyester resin material is a three-component material.
However, the manufacturer mixes the two reactive parts. At the time of
application, a catalyst is added to start the reaction. The material has the
potential to be 100 per cent solid. This depends on how fast the reaction takes
place. The catalyst is added to drive the reaction. Usually, the catalyst is
methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or benzoyl peroxide. The polyester resin and the
styrene solvent react together to crosslink, or polymerize, to form a film. The
polyester resin system will not cure properly if the appropriate quantity of
catalyst is not added. A measured amount of polymer was taken for different
volume fraction of fiber composite and mixed with the hardener in the ratio
4:1. The mixture was stirred properly for uniform mixing. Care was taken to
avoid formation of bubbles.

20. RESIN

21. Hand Lay-Up Process
• Hand lay-up technique is the simplest method of composite
processing.
• The infrastructural requirement for this method is also minimal.
• The processing steps are quite simple. First of all, a release gel is
applied on the mould surface to avoid the sticking of polymer to the
surface.
• plastic sheets are used at top and bottom of the mould plate to get
good surface finish of the product.
• Reinforcement in the form of woven mats is chopped strand mats
are cut as per the mould size and placed at the surface of mould
after Perspex sheet Then Thermosetting polymer in liquid form is
mixed thoroughly in suitable proportion with a Prescribed hardener
and poured onto the surface of mat already placed in the mould.
• After curing either at room temperature or at some specific
temperature, mould is opened and the developed composite part is
taken out and further processed. The time of curing depends on type
of polymer used for composite processing.

23. specimens

24. TESTING OF COMPOSITES
VOLUME FRACTION
Fiber volume ratio is an important mathematical element in composite
engineering. Fiber volume ratio, or fiber volume fraction, is the percentage of fiber
volume in the entire volume of a fiber-reinforced composite material.
Fiber volume ratio is an important mathematical element in composite
engineering. Fiber volume ratio, or fiber volume fraction, is the percentage of fiber
volume in the entire volume of a fiber-reinforced composite material.
A higher fiber volume fraction typically results in better mechanical
properties of the composite.

25. The hybrid composite specimens are prepared according to ASTM D638M-89
standard for tensile test. The tensile test is performed on the Tensometer.
There are five different kinds of specimens which are prepared according to
the different fibers ratios. The fractured specimen after tensile test is
presented in Fig, for each case 5 samples are tested and the average values are
reported for further calculations.
Tensile Test

26. Tensometer tensile tested specimen

27. Impact Test
The impact testing specimens are prepared according to ASTM D256-
97 standards. The apparatus involved was IZOD/Charpy impact tester
for present study. A V-notch cut is made on impact specimens using
notch cutter and impact test is carried further.

28. Izod impact tester Impact tested specimen

29. Flexural Test
The flexural specimens are prepared as per the ASTM D79M-86
standards. Test results include flexural strength. The testing process
involves placing the test specimen in the Tensometer and applying
force on it until it fractures and breaks. The specimen used for
conducting the flexural test is presented

30. Tensometer Flexural specimens after fracture

31. RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS

32. VOLUME FRACTION
• TENSILE SPECIMENS
• IMPACT SPECIMENS
W.F
(P/J)
mf
(gm)
vc
(cm3)
mc
(gm)
ρr
(gm/cm3)
mr
(gm)
ρc
(gm/cm3)
vr
(%)
vf
(%)
30/70 2 8 9.4 1.258 7.4 1.175 73.5 26.48
40/60 2 8 9.16 1.258 7.16 1.145 71.14 28.86
50/50 2 8 9.02 1.258 7.02 1.1275 69.75 30.25
60/40 2 8 8.85 1.258 6.85 1.1062 68.06 31.94
70/30 2 8 8.78 1.258 6.78 1.0975 67.36 32.64
W.F (P/J) mf
(gm)
vc
(cm3)
mc
(gm)
ρr
(gm/cm3)
mr
(gm)
ρc
(gm/cm3)
vr
(%)
vf
(%)
30/70 2.5 9 10.44 1.258 7.94 1.16 70.12 29.88
40/60 2.5 8 9.81 1.258 7.31 1.226 72.62 27.38
50/50 2.5 8 9.12 1.258 6.62 1.14 65.7 34.3
60/40 2.5 8 9.72 1.258 7.22 1.215 71.74 28.26
70/30 2.5 9 10.34 1.258 7.84 1.148 69.19 30.81

33. • FLEXURAL SPECIMENS
W.F (P/J) mf
(gm)
vc
(cm3)
mc
(gm)
ρr
(gm/cm3)
mr
(gm)
ρc
(gm/cm3)
vr
(%)
vf
(%)
30/70 2.5 12 15.03 1.258 12.53 1.25 82.83 17.17
40/60 2.5 10 13.2 1.258 10.7 1.32 85.05 14.95
50/50 2.5 10 12.83 1.258 10.33 1.283 82.11 17.89
60/40 2.5 10 12.74 1.258 10.24 1.274 81.4 18.6
70/30 2.5 10 12.58 1.258 10.08 1.258 80.1 19.9

34. TENSILE STRENGTH
&
TENSILE MODULUS
• Formula: tensile strength = (tensile load) / (area)
• Strain = (change in length) / (gauge length)
• Tensile modulus = (tensile strength) / (strain)
• Gauge length of the specimen = 60mm

35. Tensile strength of different weight fractions of hybrid fiber
reinforced composite
Weight Fraction (%) Vs Tensile Strength (N/mm2)
Composite Weight fraction (%) Load (N) Area (mm2)
Tensile strength
(N/mm2)
Jute/Pineapple 30/70 2046 38.4 53.28
Jute/Pineapple 40/60 3012 42.4 71.03
Jute/Pineapple 50/50 2858 40.1 71.27
Jute/Pineapple 60/40 3148 39.9 78.89
Jute/Pineapple 70/30 3904 39 100.1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 2 4 6
TensileStrength
Jute/Pineapple Fiber Composition

36. Result
The results indicated that (70/30) (jute/pineapple) composite shows
better tensile strength (100.1 N/mm2) then the other types of
composites. It is evident that when the jute fiber content increases,
strength of the composite also increases to certain extent.

37. Tensile modulus of different weight fractions of hybrid fiber
reinforced composite
Weight Fraction (%) Vs Tensile Modulus (N/mm2)
Composite
Weight
fraction (%)
Tensile
strength
(N/mm2)
Change in
length (mm)
Strain
Tensile modulus
(N/mm2)
Jute/Pineapple 30/70 53.28 2.44 0.040 1332
Jute/Pineapple 40/60 71.03 2.66 0.044 1614.3
Jute/Pineapple 50/50 71.27 2.44 0.040 1781.7
Jute/Pineapple 60/40 78.89 2.64 0.043 1834.6
Jute/Pineapple 70/30 100.1 3.2 0.053 1888.6
0
500
1000
1500
2000
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
TensileModulus
Jute/Pineapple Fiber Composition

38. Result
The results indicated that (70/30) (jute/pineapple) composite shows
better tensile modulus (1888.6 N/mm2) then the other types of
composites. It is evident that when the jute fiber content increases,
tensile modulus of the composite also increases to certain extent.

39. IMPACT STRENGTH
Impact strength = impact energy / thickness
Impact strength of different weight fractions of hybrid fiber
reinforced composite
S.No Composite
Weight Fraction
(%)
Impact Energy (J)
Impact Strength
(J/m)
1 Pineapple/Jute 30/70 0.578 57.8
2 Pineapple/Jute 40/60 0.956 95.6
3 Pineapple/Jute 50/50 1.074 107.4
4 Pineapple/Jute 60/40 0.964 96.4
5 Pineapple/Jute 70/30 0.688 68.8

40. Weight Fraction (%) Vs Impact Strength (J/m)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Impactstrength(J/m)
Pineapple/Jute fibre composition

41. Result
The hybridization increases the mechanical properties of the
composites. The results indicated that the hybrid composite having
weight fraction of 50/50 (jute/pineapple) posses high impact strength
compared to other weight fractions.

42. FLEXURAL STRENGTH
Maximum flexural stress (S) = 3PL/2BT2
Where
B= width of the specimen (mm)
L= span length of specimen (mm)
T= thickness of specimen (mm)
P= maximum load (N)

43. S.No
Composite Weight
fraction (%)
Load (N) Change in
length (mm)
Thickness
(mm)
Flexural
strength
(N/mm2)
1 Pineapple/Jute 30/70 686 3.66 4.54 191.65
2 Pineapple/Jute 40/60 436 4.7 3.18 258.03
3 Pineapple/Jute 50/50 488 5.42 3.32 265.32
4 Pineapple/Jute 60/40 358 6.24 3.12 220.48
5 Pineapple/Jute 70/30 462 5.8 3.61 211.371
Impact strength of different weight fractions of hybrid
fiber reinforced composite

44. Weight Fraction (%) Vs Flexural Strength (N/mm2)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0 2 4 6
FlexuralStrength
Pineapple/Jute Fiber Composition

45. Result
The flexural test readings are shown in table. The results indicated
that pineapple/jute (50/50) hybrid composite exhibits better flexural
strength (265.32 N/mm2) as compared to other weight fractions.

46. CONCLUSION
• After determining the material properties of hybrid natural fiber reinforced polyester
composites with five different weight fractions of the materials, the following conclusions
can be made,
• Successful fabrication of the hybrid composite using pineapple/jute fiber reinforced
polyester has been done by hand layup technique.
• It is observed that (70/30) (jute/pineapple) weight fraction(%) hybrid composite samples
possess good tensile strength and can with stand the strength up to 100.1 MPa.
• It is observed that (70/30) (jute/pineapple) weight fraction (%) hybrid composite samples
possess good tensile modulus of 1888.6 MPa.
• It is observed that (50/50) (jute/pineapple) weight fraction (%) hybrid composite samples
possess good Impact strength of 107.4 J/m.
• The (50/50) (jute/pineapple) weight fraction (%) hybrid composite samples possess
maximum flexural strength 265.32MPa.
• This work also demonstrates the potential of the hybrid natural fiber composites can be
regarded as a useful material in light weight applications.

47. THANKYOU