Mechanical properties of hair and feather fiber reinforced epoxy composites

1 | P a g e
B.TECH. THESIS NIT RAIPUR 2016
FABRICATION AND COMPARISON OF MECHANICAL
CHARACTERIZATION OF HAIR AND CHICKEN FEATHER
EPOXY COMPOSITE
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
Bachelor of Technology
In
Mechanical Engineering
By
BACHAN SINGH (13119016)
KHGENDRA KUMAR DEWANGAN (13119040)
SHYAMAL KISHOR PANDIT (13119079)
VISHAL SINGH SALUJA (13119089)
AMAN KUMAR (13119902)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
RAIPUR
DEC 2016
Approved by-
Dr. A. K. Tiwari
Head of Department
National Institute of Technology, Raipur
Guided by-
Dr. H. K. Narang
Assistant Professor

2 | P a g e
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, RAIPUR
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the thesis entitled “A Study on Mechanical Behaviour of Hair Fiber &
Chick Feather Reinforced Epoxy Composites” submitted by
1. BACHAN SINGH (13119016)
2. KHGENDRA KUMAR DEWANGAN (13119040)
3. SHYAMAL KISHOR PANDIT (13119079)
4. VISHAL SINGH SALUJA (13119089)
5. AMAN KUMAR (13119902)
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Technology in the
department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, RAIPUR is an authentic
work carried out under my supervision and guidance.
To the best of my knowledge, the matter embodied in the thesis has not been submitted to
elsewhere for the award of any degree.
Guided by-
Dr. H. K. Narang
Assistant Professor
Approved by-
Dr. A. K. Tiwari
Head of Department

3 | P a g e
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
RAIPUR 492010
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It gives us immense pleasure to express our deep sense of gratitude to our supervisor Dr. H.
K. Narang for his invaluable guidance, motivation, constant inspiration and above all for his ever-
co-operating attitude that enabled us in bringing up this thesis in the present form.
We are extremely thankful to Dr. A. K. Tiwari, Head of Department, and Department of
Mechanical Engineering for providing all kinds of possible help and advice during the course of
this work.
We are greatly thankful to all the staff members of the department and my entire well-wishers,
class mates and friends for their inspiration and help.
Place: RAIPUR BACHAN SINGH (13119016)
Date: KHGENDRA KUMAR DEWANGAN (13119040)
SHYAMAL KISHOR PANDIT (13119079)
VISHAL SINGH SALUJA (13119089)
AMAN KUMAR (13119902)
Mechanical Engineering Department
National Institute of Technology, RAIPUR

4 | P a g e
ABSTRACT
Fiber reinforced polymer composites is an important class of structural material due to their
numerous advantages. Reinforcement in polymer is either engineered or characteristic.
Engineered fiber, for example, glass, carbon and so on has high particular quality however their
fields of requisition are restricted because of higher expense of creation. As of late there is an
increment in enthusiasm toward common composites which are made by reinforcement of
characteristic fiber. Human hair has solid malleable property; thus it could be utilized as a fiber
reinforcement material.
It gives great property at easier expense of generation. It additionally makes ecological issue for
its deteriorations because of its non-degradable properties. To this end, an attempt has been made
to study the potential utilization of human hair which is economically and effortlessly found in
India for making value added products.
The objective of present work is to evaluate the mechanical properties of human hair & chick
feather reinforced epoxy composites. The impact of fiber loading and length on mechanical
properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and hardness of composites is
examined. Trials were directed on polymer composites with different contents of human hair &
Chick feather fiber i.e. 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and with shifting length of fibers i.e. 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2
cm. By testing of composites it has been observed that there is significant influence natural fiber
reinforcement on the mechanical behaviour of composites.

5 | P a g e
CONTENTS
Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
1.2. COMPOSITE: An Introduction
1.3. FIBRES: An Introduction
1.4. HUMAN HAIR: behavior and details
1.5. CHICKEN FEATHER: details and behavior
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
3. OBJECTIVE OF PRESENT REASEARCH WORK
4. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
4.1. RESIN
4.1.1. EPOXY RESIN
4.2. FIBRE MATERIALS
4.2.1. HUMAN HAIR
4.2.2. CHICK FEATHER
5.METHODOLOGY
5.1. Hand lay-up technique
5.2. SPRAY LAY UP TECHNIQUE
5.3. Composites can be made as per specifications:
REFERENCES
Page No.
6-11

6 | P a g e
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
The existence of composite is not new. The word “composite” has become very popular in
recent four-five decades due to the use of modern composite materials in various
applications. The composites have existed from 10000 BC. The evolution of materials and
their relative importance over the years. The common composite was straw bricks, used as
construction-material.
Then the next composite material can be seen from Egypt around 4000 BC where fibrous
composite materials were used for preparing the writing material. These were the
laminated writing materials fabricated from the papyrus plant. Further, Egyptians made
containers from coarse fibres that were drawn from heat softened glass. One more
important application of composites can be seen around 1200 BC from Mongols. Mongols
invented the so called “modern” composite bow.
As said, “Need is the mother of all inventions”, the modern composites, that is, polymer
composites came into existence during the Second World War. During the Second World War
due to constraint impositions on various nations for crossing boundaries as well as importing
and exporting the materials, there was scarcity of materials, especially in the military
applications. During this period the fighter planes were the most advanced instruments of
war. The light weight yet strong materials were in high demand. Hence, the Glass Fibre
Reinforced Plastics (GFRP) were first used in these applications. Phenolic resins were used as
the matrix material. The first use of composite laminates can be seen in the Havilland
Mosquito Bomber of the British Royal Air Force.
The composites exist in day to day life applications as well. The most common existence is
in the form of concrete. Concrete is a composite made from gravel, sand and cement. Further,
when it is used along with steel to form structural components in construction, it forms one
further form of composite. The other material is wood which is a composite made from
cellulose and lignin. The advanced forms of wood composites can be ply-woods. These can be
particle bonded composites or mixture of wooden planks/blocks with some binding agent.
Now days, these are widely used to make furniture and as construction materials.

7 | P a g e
1.2. COMPOSITE: An Introduction
Composites are combinations of two or more than two materials in which one of the
materials, is reinforcing phase (fibre, sheets or particles) and the other is matrix phase
(polymer, metal or ceramic).
Composite materials are usually classified by type of reinforcement such as polymer
composites, cement and metal- matrix composites. Polymer matrix composites are mostly
commercially produced composites in which resin is used as matrix with different reinforcing
materials.
Composite materials can be classified based on the types of matrix used as
a) Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC)
b) Metal Matrix Composites (MMC)
c) Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC)
Among various types of composites, PMC is the most commonly used composites, due to
its
many advantages such as simple manufacturing principle, low cost and high strength
1.2.1 Polymer (resin) is classified in two types:
1. THERMOPLASTICS (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyether ether ketone
(PEEK), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyolefin etc.)
2. THERMOSETS (epoxy, polyester, and phenol–formaldehyde resin, etc.)
1.2.2 The reinforcements in a composite material come in various forms.
1. Fibre: Fibre is an individual filament of the material. A filament with length to diameter
ratio above 1000 is called a fibre. The fibres can be in the following two forms:
a. Continuous fibres: If the fibres used in a composite are very long and unbroken
or cut then it forms a continuous fibre composite. A composite, thus formed
using continuous fibres is called as fibrous composite.
b. Short/chopped fibres: The fibres are chopped into small pieces when used in
fabricating a composite. A composite with short fibres as reinforcements is
called as short fibre composite.
2. Particulate: The reinforcement is in the form of particles which are of the order of a
few microns in diameter.
3. Flake: Flake is a small, flat, thin piece or layer (or a chip) that is broken from a larger
piece.
4. Whiskers: These are nearly perfect single crystal fibres. These are short, discontinuous
and polygonal in cross-section.

8 | P a g e
1.3. FIBRES: An Introduction
The fibres that are used in the fabrication of a composite can be divided into two broad
categories as follows:
1. Natural fibres
2. Advanced fibres
1.3.1. Natural fibres
The natural fibres are divided into following three sub categories.
a) Animal fibers: silk, wool, spider silk, sinew, camel hair, human hair, chick
feather etc.
b) Plant/vegetable fibers: cotton (seed), jute (stem), hemp (stem), sisal (leaf),
ramie, bamboo, maze, sugarcane, banana, kapok, coir, abaca, kenaf, flax, raffia
palm, etc.
c) Mineral fibers: asbestos, basalt, mineral wool, glass wool.
1.3.2. Advanced fibers:
An advanced fibre is defined as a fibre which has a high specific stiffness (that is, ratio of
Young’s modulus to the density of the material, and a high specific strength (that is the ratio
of ultimate strength to the density of the material.
The fibres made from following materials are the advanced fibres.
1. Carbon and/or Graphite
2. Glass fibers
3. Alumina
4. Aramid
5. Silicon carbide Sapphire

9 | P a g e
1.4. Human hair: behavior and details
Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis or skin. Keratins
are proteins, long chains (polymers) of amino acids. In terms of raw elements, on an average,
hair is composed of 50.65% carbon, 20.85% oxygen, 17.14% nitrogen, 6.36% hydrogen, and
5.0% Sulphur. Amino acid present in hair contain cytosine, serine, glutamine, threonine,
glycine, leucine, valine and arginine
The part beneath the skin called the hair
follicle or when pulled from the skin,
called the bulb. This organ is located in
the dermis and maintains stem cells.
The cross section of human hair shaft
may be divided roughly into three zones:
1. The cuticle, which consists of
several layers of flat, thin cells
laid out overlapping one another
as roof shingles.
2. The cortex, which contains the
keratin bundles in cell structures
that remain roughly rod like.
3. The medulla, a disorganized and open area at the fiber’s center
The surface properties of hair depend on cuticle which forms the outermost layer by cross
linked cystine. The medulla contains highly concentrated lipid and less cystine. It is in the form
of cylinder and forms the innermost hair thread.
Usage of hair as a reinforcement material is a new attempt as it evolves a new method
to utilize the material which is available in large quantities. It can be used as a reinforcement
material due to its capacity to resist stretching and compression
Physicochemical properties of human hair
Hair is surprisingly strong. Cortex keratin is responsible for this property and its long chains
are compressed to form a regular structure . The physical proprieties of hair involve,
stretching, elasticity and hydrophilic power. Generally physical proprieties of hair depend on
its geometry. Due to elasticity, hair can resist forces that could change its shape, its volume
or its length. Elasticity is one of the most important properties of hair. Hair fibre has an elastic
characteristic and it may undergo moderate stretching. The elasticity of hair depends on the
long keratin fibres in the cortex. Both natural sunlight and artificial ultraviolet light break
down chemicals in the hair and damage its elasticity. The texture of hair depends mainly on
average diameter of the individual hairs. There are different chemical components present in
the human hair it is an “integrated” system.

10 | P a g e
The different chemical components in human hair act together to maintain the normal
flow of functions. The chemical composition of hair fibre includes essential functional
elements like amino acids, keratin, melanin, and protein. Proteins are present also within the
cuticle which provides elasticity to the hair. Hair, from its growth under the skin of the scalp,
is filled with a fibrous protein called keratin. The keratin protein found in hair is called hard
keratin. It is made up of eighteen amino acids. The lipid content of the hair is not constant but
varies with age and other factors. In the hair structure, lipids are present in Inner Root Sheaths
and hair shaft lipids provide sheen to the hair and contribute towards its tensile properties.
Melanin is the hair pigment which gives color to the skin and hair. The size, type and
distribution of the melanosomes will determine the natural color of the hair. Amino acids are
the principle building block of the keratin proteins found in hair fibres, and approximately 20
different amino acids are present in these proteins. The chemical composition of hair fibres
is dominated by carbon, which comprises about 45% of the atomic structure of hair. Oxygen
accounts for approximately 28%, nitrogen 15%, hydrogen 7%, and sulfur 5%. Several essential
trace elements are also present in hair fibres including iron (20 - 220 ppm), copper (10-20
ppm), zinc (190 ppm), and iodine.
Mechanical properties of hair
The mechanical properties of α-keratin fibres such as hair fibres and wools are primarily
related to the two components of the elongated cortical cells, the highly ordered
intermediate filaments (microfibrils) which contain the α-helices, and the matrix in which the
intermediate filaments are embedded. Chemical treatment, bleaching and dyeing is known
to be one of hair cuticle and cortex damage producing and properties impairing factors.
Mechanical properties such as elasticity and durability are governed by the interactions of
proteins in the cortex. The cortex is a complicated, disulfide cross-linked polymer system
comprising the crystalline low-sulfur proteins and the globular matrix of high-sulfur proteins.

11 | P a g e
1.5. Feathers: details and behavior
Feathers are among the most complex integumentary structure found in vertebrates and
are formed in tiny follicles in the epidermis, or outer skin layer, that produce keratin proteins.
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering or plumage
on birds. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in
vertebrates.
Physicochemical properties of feather
The moisture content of processed feathers can vary depending upon processing and
environmental conditions.. Hong and Wool, reported a typical value of 8 mm for fibre length.
Barone and Schmidt, measured the density of chicken feather fibre. Density of solid keratin
was studied by Arai et al and also Barone and Schmidt, reported an apparent density of
feathers and reported fibre lengths of 3.2-13 mm for the feather fibre.
Hong and Wool have reported that the density of feather fibre is 0.8 g/cm3. However,
Barone and Schmidt’s reported a value of 0.89 g/cm3 and is relatively similar to the value
(0.80 g/cm3) cited by Hong and Wool when compared with a value of 1.3 g/cm3 reported by
keratin. Barone and Schmidt, reported fibre lengths of 3.2-13 mm. The structure of keratin,
affects its chemical durability which is the primary constituent of feathers. Keratin shows
good durability and resistance to degradation.
Mechanical properties of feather
The first step in exploring the mechanics of feathers in birds was to investigate how
variable the properties of keratins are between species. While examining the stiffness
(Young’s modulus) properties of a wide range of bird species. Hence, the mechanical
performance of feathers were therefore, controlled more by shape than by material
properties The fracture toughness of β-keratin has proved to be very high, around 10 kJm.
The mechanical properties of feather fibre are related to the structure of keratin.
The mechanical properties of bird’s feathers are highly related to their function. the
mechanical properties of feather keratin vary appreciably along the length of the rachis. Using
x-ray diffraction, Cameron et al., discovered that, moving from calamus to tip, the keratin
molecules become more aligned than at the birds skin before returning to a state of higher
disorder towards the rachis tip. George et al., studied turkey feather fibre properties for fibres
at different positions along the rachis. It was found that both the tenacity and modulus of
turkey feather fibre, measured in g/denier, increased with the distance from the calamus.
Purslow and Vincent measured the elastic modulus of feather rachis from pigeons with and
without inner quill. Dehydrated feather rachises were tested in bending. Taylor et al., (2004)
studied the effect of moisture content on mechanical properties

12 | P a g e
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
This topic presents the background information on the issues to be considered in the
present research work and to focus the significance of the current study.
Hair is a proteinaceous fiber with a strongly hierarchical organization of subunits, from
the α-keratin chains, via intermediate filaments to the fiber. The exceptional properties of
human hair such as its unique chemical composition, slow degradation rate, high tensile
strength, thermal insulation, elastic recovery, scaly surface, and unique interactions with
water and oils, has led to many diverse uses [6].
1. Volkin et al. [7] identified and characterized the processes leading to destruction of
cystine residues. They compared proteins from different species, including those of
thermophilic bacteria living near the boiling point of water. Thompson [8]
manufactured a hair-based composite material by manipulating a plurality of cut
lengths of hair to form a web or mat of hair, and combining said web or mat of hair
with a structural additive to form said composite material.
2. Jain et al. [9] studied on hair fibre reinforced concrete and concluded that there is
tremendous increment in properties of concrete according to the percentages of hairs
by weight of in concrete. The addition of human hairs to the concrete improves
various properties of concrete like tensile strength, compressive strength, binding
properties, micro cracking control and also increases spalling resistance. Therefore,
human hairs are in relative abundance in nature and are non-degradable provides a
new era in field of FRC.
3. Hu et al. [10] studied on Protein-based composite biomaterials which can be formed
into a wide range of biomaterials with tunable properties, including control of cell
responses. They provided new biomaterials which is an important need in the field of
biomedical science with direct relevance to tissue regeneration, Nano medicine, and
disease treatments. Human hair is considered as a waste material in most parts of the
world and it is found in municipal waste streams which cause numerous ecological
issues.
4. Gupta [11] studied on Human Hair ‘‘Waste’’ and Its Utilization. Through this it has
been concluded that the human hair has a large number of uses in areas ranging from
agriculture to medicine to engineering industries.
5. Hernandez et al. [12] studied on keratin which is a fiber which is found in hair and
feathers. Keratin fiber has a hierarchical structure with a highly ordered conformation,
is by itself a bio composite, product of a large evolution of animal species. Through
this it has been concluded that the keratin fibers from chicken feathers shows a eco-
friendly material which can be applied in the development of green composites.

13 | P a g e
6. Babu et al. [13] studied on bio-based polymers and concluded that it has widely
increased the attention due to environmental concerns and the realization that global
petroleum resources are finite.
Mechanical strengths of composites reinforced with different natural fibers have been
investigated by several researchers in the recent past. During characterization of jute fiber
reinforced polypropylene composites, it was observed that the mechanical properties like
tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength were better when jute fibers are
pretreated with urea than when used as raw ones (Rezaur Rahman et al. 2010). A study on
jute and glass fiber reinforced epoxy laminates reported that the tensile and flexural strength
of composites were enhanced when glass fibers are used as extreme plies during fabrication
(Soma Dalbehera & Acharya 2014).
A research work on pine needle reinforced composites reported that, pine needles in
the form of particle fibers showed better mechanical properties than when it was used as
short fibers but it was more reactive to moisture (Vijay Kumar Thakur & Amar Singh Singha
2010). Steam explosion method is a technique of extracting the bamboo fibers. In a study, it
was concluded that the tensile strength of steam exploded bamboo fibers were superior to
jute fibers and its specific strength was equivalent to glass fibers. Hence bamboo fibers could
act as a potential alternate to synthetic fibers (Kazuya Okubo et al. 2004 & Subhash Mandal
et al. 2010).
Diameter of fibers and its surface treatment has more influence on composite
properties. An investigation on date palm fibers reinforced epoxy laminates showed an
increase in tensile strength as a result of decrease in fiber diameter and the decrease in
diameter happens during surface treatment (Abdal-hay et al. 2012). Investigations on oil palm
fiber reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites reported that the incorporation of
chemically modified oil palm fibers in composites improved the impact resistance and tensile
properties (Sreekala et al. 2000).
A research on kenaf fiber reinforced polypropylene plastic reported that the inclusion
of kenaf fiber in polypropylene matrix improved the mechanical properties like young’s
modulus, failure strain and impact resistance (Hamma et al. 2014). Another experiment on
kenaf/glass hybrid composites developed by hot impregnation technique reported that
twisted kenaf fibers when used along with glass showed better mechanical properties. This
hybrid composite could be substituted for conventional materials in automobile bumper
beams (Jeyanthi & Janci Rani 2011).
Hybridization of two fibers in a composite always gives better behavior than single
fibered composites. Mechanical properties of sisal and glass fibers reinforced hybrid
composite showed best characters than the sisal fibered composites. Also stacking sequence
of the fibers plays an important role in deciding the composite properties (Amico et al. 2010).
In another work a comparative study was done between sisal and banana fiber
reinforced composites. The study reported that tensile, flexural and impact strengths sisal
fiber composites were better than banana fiber composites. Also it concluded that 20 % fiber

14 | P a g e
loaded composites behaves better than 15 % fiber loaded composites (Faizur Rahman et al.
2014).
A research has been done to evaluate the influence of household waste such as matetea
and eucalypt wood particles as reinforcements in polypropylene matrix. The outcomes of the
study represented that composites made by using eucalypt particles showed better
mechanical strengths than composites made by using mate-tea particles (Mattos et al.
2014).Wooden particles acts as an important natural fiber and the composite properties are
comparable with that of the medium density fiber board (Majid Chaharmahali et al. 2010).
In another work areca fibers are chemically treated and reinforced in to epoxy matrix.
The impact strength and hardness of composite increases directly with the fiber volume
fraction and post curing time (Srinivasa & Bharath 2011). A study on flax fibers reported that
tensile strength and tensile modulus of composites increased due to the inclusion of flax
fibers in caseinate plastics when compared to plastics without reinforcements (Fossen et al.
2000). A research has been done to evaluate the tensile, flexural and impact strength of coir
and bagasse fiber reinforced hybrid composites and concluded that a combination of 30 %
coir and 10 % bagasse fibers when reinforced with polyester resin gives optimum values of
mechanical strengths (Sivaraj & Rajeshkumar 2014).
In another study, okra bast fibers were used as reinforcements in phenol formaldehyde
resin to make composites. The study reported that alkali treatment to okra fibers improved
the tensile strength by 21 % and flexural strength by 85 %. Also it was concluded that
composites prepared with 30 % of okra fibers showed good tensile, flexural strengths
(Arifuzzaman Khan et al. 2014). A study on natural rubber/wood flour composites reported
that by appropriate addition of wood flour in natural rubber, mechanical properties and water
absorption properties were enhanced; however, overloading of wood flour destroys the
mechanical properties (Haoqun Hong et al. 2011).
In a study, comparative analysis between basalt and glass fiber reinforced composites
was made. The results reported that, both basalt composite and glass composite showed a
similar damage tolerance to impact and a slightly increased residual properties by the basalt
composites (Igor et al. 2012). In a research work, natural composites were developed through
compression moulding by using poly lactic acid as the resin and sweet sorghum as the fiber.
The fibers were pretreated before moulding and mechanical properties were analyzed. The
study reported that chemical pretreatment enhanced the flexural strength by 63 % (Jing
Zhong et al. 2011).
Investigations on rice husk reinforced polyester composites reported that mechanical
properties like tensile and flexural strengths were increased when fiber loading is increased.
It was concluded that a 50 % rice husk reinforced composite showed best mechanical
properties (Wayan Surata et al. 2014). In a study Typha Domingensis leaves were used as
reinforcements in polyester resin to form composite plates. The study reported that
mechanical properties increases with increase in fiber volume fraction and these composites

15 | P a g e
could be used as insulating boards, electronic packages and construction industries
(Ponnukrishnan et al. 2014).
In another research work, mechanical properties of three composites namely
pinepolypropylene, oak wood-polypropylene, rapeseed straw-polypropylene were compared
with polypropylene plastic. The results reported that all the three natural composites have a
same failure strain whereas Young’s modulus and impact resistance are far higher than
polypropylene (Slawomir Borysiak & Dominik Paukszta 2008).
In an investigation, composites were manufactured by using two constituents namely
isostatic polypropylene and hollow glass beads. The glass beads were pretreated by using
cerous trinitate hexahydrate as the surface modifier and the mechanical behaviour has been
studied. The results reported that the surface modification to the glass beads considerably
increased all the properties of the composite (Xiang Feng Wu et al. 2012). In a research work,
wooden particles were used as reinforcement in polypropylene matrix to form composite
laminates. The wooden particles were heat treated before preparing the laminates. The study
concluded that, heat treated wooden particles when used as reinforcement improved the
mechanical properties of composites (Svetlana Butylina et al. 2011).
A study has been done using three types of reinforcements namely coconut coir, human
hair and glass. The study reported that coconut coir reinforced composites have high tensile
strength than hybrid composites containing all the three fibers. Also it was concluded that the
stacking sequence of the fibers play a vital in deciding the properties of the composite
(Senthilnathan et al. 2014). Investigations on maize fiber reinforced epoxy composites
reported that alkali treatment to maize fibers removed the excess lignin and improved the
water absorption characteristics of the composites (Baranitharan & Mahesh 2014).
Although many research works on characterization had been done on various fibers like
luffa, licuri, pine apple leaves and hemp (Jose Luiz Westrup et al. 2014; Leao et al. 2011;
Mohamed et al. 2009; Pengfei Niu et al. 2011) many natural fibers were not used to its fullest
extent. The present work investigates the mechanical behaviour of vetiveria zizanioides root,
jute and glass fibers reinforced hybrid composites.
The mechanical behaviour of a natural fiber based polymer composite depends on
numerous factors, for example, fiber length and quality, matrix, fiber-matrix adhesion bond
quality and so forth. The strong interface bond between fiber and matrix is paramount to
show signs of improvement mechanical properties of composites.

16 | P a g e
3. Objectives of the present research work
Based on the knowledge gap through the existing literature the objectives of the current
research work are fixed which are outlined as below:
1. Fabrication of human hair fiber reinforced epoxy composites.
2. Fabrication of chick feather reinforced epoxy composite.
3. Assessment of mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, impact
strength and hardness of composites.
4. To study the effect of fiber length and fiber content on the mechanical behaviour of
composites
5. Analyze the fracture behaviour of developed composite by using sem (scanning electron
microscope)

17 | P a g e
4. MATERIALS:
The materials used in this composite material can be distinguished as materials
constituting the matrix phase and dispersed phase. Matrix phase is constituted by epoxy resin
and the dispersed phase is constituted by glass fibres, silk fibers and human hair.
4.1. RESIN
4.1.1. EPOXY RESIN
The large family of epoxy resins represents some of the highest performance resins of
those available at this time. Epoxies generally out-perform most other resin types in terms
of mechanical properties and resistance to environmental degradation, which leads to their
almost exclusive use in aircraft components. As a laminating resin their increased adhesive
properties and resistance to water degradation make these resins ideal for use in applications
such as boat building. Here epoxies are widely used as a primary construction material for
high-performance boats or as a secondary application to sheath a hull or replace water-
degraded polyester resins and gel coats.
The term ‘epoxy’ refers to a chemical group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to
two carbon atoms that are already bonded in some way. The simplest epoxy is a three-
member ring structure known by the term ‘alpha-epoxy’ or ‘1,2-epoxy’. The chemical
structure is shown in the figure below and is the most easily identified Characteristic of any
more complex epoxy molecule.
Usually identifiable by their characteristic amber or brown coloring, epoxy resins have
a number of useful properties. Both the liquid resin and the curing agents form low viscosity
easily processed systems. Epoxy resins are easily and quickly cured at any temperature from
5°C to 150°C, depending on the choice of curing agent. One of the most advantageous
properties of epoxies is their low shrinkage during cure which minimizes fabric ‘print-through’
and internal stresses. High adhesive strength and high mechanical properties are also
enhanced by high electrical insulation and good chemical resistance. Epoxies find uses as
adhesives, caulking compounds, casting compounds, sealants, varnishes and paints, as well
as laminating resins for a variety of industrial applications.
Epoxy resins are formed from a long chain molecular structure similar to vinyl ester
with reactive sites at either end. In the epoxy resin, however, these reactive sites are formed
by epoxy groups instead of ester groups. The absence of ester groups means that the epoxy
resin has particularly good water resistance. The epoxy molecule also contains two ring
groups at its centre which are able to absorb both mechanical and thermal stresses better
than linear groups and therefore give the epoxy resin very good stiffness, toughness and heat
resistant properties.
The figure below shows the idealized chemical structure of a typical epoxy. Note the
absence of the ester groups within the molecular chain.

18 | P a g e
Fig- Idealized Chemical Structure of aTypical Epoxy (Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol-A)
Epoxies differ from polyester resins in that they are cured by a ‘hardener’ rather than a
Catalyst. The hardener, often an amine, is used to cure the epoxy by an ‘addition reaction’
where both materials take place in the chemical reaction. The chemistry of this reaction
means that there are usually two epoxy sites binding to each amine site.This forms a complex
three-dimensional molecular structure which is illustrated in Figure.
Figure- Schematic Representation of Epoxy Resin (Cured 3-D Structure)
Since the amine molecules ‘co-react’ with the epoxy molecules in a fixed ratio, it is
essential that the correct mix ratio is obtained between resin and hardener to ensure that a
complete reaction takes place. If amine and epoxy are not mixed in the correct ratios,
unreacted resin or hardener will remain within the matrix which will affect the final
properties after cure. To assist with the accurate mixing of the resin and hardener,
manufacturers usually formulate the components to give a simple mix ratio which is easily
achieved by measuring out by weight or volume.

19 | P a g e
4.2. FIBRE MATERIALS
4.2.1. HUMAN HAIR
Human hair has the following composition. Proteins constitute 65-95% by weight, 32%
water and the rest is constituted by lipid pigments and another compound. Keratin is the
type of protein that is almost 80% responsible for the formation of hair. Structural analysis
of hair shows it consists of three different layers. They are cuticle, cortex and medulla. The
surface properties of hair depend on cuticle which forms the outermost layer by cross
linked cystine. The medulla contains highly concentrated lipid and less cystine. It is in the
form of cylinder and forms the innermost hair thread.
Usage of hair as a reinforcement material is a new attempt as it evolves a new method
to utilize the material which is available in large quantities. It can be used as a
reinforcement material due to its capacity to resist stretching and compression.
Investigation of mechanical properties on fibre composites were done and it was
concluded that hybrid composites exhibits high strength
Hair threads form a major part of the external coating of most mammals. In the human
being, hair represents a structure which long time ago lost their functional significance
during the species evolution process. The value of the hair, however, should not be
underestimated in emotional and social terms. The hair thread has a cylindrical structure,
highly organized, formed by inert cells, most of them keratinized and distributed following
a very precise and pre-defined design. Hair forms a very rigid structure in the molecular
level, which is able to offer the thread both flexibility and mechanical resistance. Hair is
considered as a dead mater and it is only alive when it is inserted in the scalp (pilose
follicle). When the thread emerges, it becomes dead matter although it appears to be
growing since the fiber follows increasing its length by a speed of about 1.0 cm/month.
Human hair has about 65-95% of its weight in proteins, more 32% of water, lipid pigments
and other components. Chemically, about 80% of human hair is formed by a protein known
as keratin, with a high grade of sulfur– coming from the amino acid cystine – which is the
characteristic to distinguish it from other proteins. Keratin is a laminated complex formed
by different structures, which gives the hair strength, flexibility, durability, and
functionality. Threads present remarkable structural differences, according to the ethnic
group, and within the same group. These properties are related with fibers characteristics
and with cosmetic attributes. Among the first ones we have: resistance, elasticity,
diameter, bending, and shape of the cross section.

20 | P a g e
The cross section of human hair shaft may be divided roughly into three zones:
1. The cuticle, which consists of several layers of flat, thin cells laid out overlapping one
another as roof shingles.
2. The cortex, which contains the keratin bundles in cell structures that remain roughly
rod like.
3. The medulla, a disorganized and open area at the fiber’s center
Proteins with αhelix structure which are winded in the hair have long filaments of
unknown micro fibres which link to each other to form bigger structures, in order to produce
cortex cells. This enchained structure offers the capillary fibre more strength and elasticity.
The main factor to be considered in the human hair is the high amount of the amino acid
cysteine, which may be degraded and afterwards may be re-oxidated under a disulphidic
bounding form. Hair is surprisingly strong. Cortex keratin is responsible for this propriety and
its long chains are compressed to form a regular structure which, besides being strong, is
flexible. The physical proprieties of hair involve: resistance to stretching, elasticity and
hydrophilic power.
HAIR CROSS SECTION

21 | P a g e
Why Human Hair as a Fibre?
Hair is used as a fibre reinforcing material in EPOXY for the following reasons:
a. It has a high tensile strength which is equal to that of a copper wire with similar
diameter.
b. Hair, a non-degradable matter is creating an environmental problem so its use
as a fibro reinforcing material can minimize the problem.
c. It is also available in abundance and at a very low cost.
d. It reinforces the EPOXY and prevents it from spalling.
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE HAIR
FIBERS
Physical proprieties of hair depend mostly on its geometry. Caucasian hair is oval;
Asian hair is circular; Afro hair is elliptic. Several mechanical proprieties are directly related
with fibers diameter. Hair mechanical proprieties Hair is surprisingly strong. Cortex keratin
is responsible for this propriety and its long chains are compressed to form a regular
structure which, besides being strong, is flexible.
The physical proprieties of hair involve: resistance to stretching, elasticity and
hydrophilic power. Resistance to stretching In general, the weight needed to produce a
natural hair thread rupture is 50-100 g. An average head has about 120,000 threads of hair
and would support about 12 tons. The resistance to breakage is a function of the diameter
of the thread, of the cortex condition, and it is negatively affected by chemical treatments.
When a certain load is applied on a hair and its elongation is measured we obtain the
graphic representation of its several characteristic regions:
•Hookean’s region or pre-recovering:
during the stretching between 0 and
2% the elongation is proportional to
the load applied.
• Recovering region: between 25-30%
of stretching, the elongation
considerably increases without a
relationship with the load applied.
• After-recovering region: from 30%
stretching load and fiber extension are
proportional again. We may consider
that in the first and third zones hair acts as a crystal solid; in the second, as an amorphous
solid or a fluid since the fiber presents a plastic-type response.

22 | P a g e
The changes underwent by hair during the stretching may be explained by the protein
conversion and the possible conversion of α-keratin with an organized and compact helicoid
disposition to β-keratin with loose peptide chains. The starting stage is known as Hookean’s
region.
4.2.2. CHICK FEATHER
Feathers distinguish birds from other vertebrates and play an important role in
numerous physiological and functional processes. Most adult birds are covered entirely with
feathers, except on the beak, eyes, and feet. Feathers not only confer the ability of flight, but
are essential for temperature regulation. Feathers are highly ordered, hierarchical branched
structures, ranking among the most complex of keratin structures found in vertebrates.
Chicken feathers are approximately 91% protein (keratin), 1% lipids, and 8% water.
The amino acid sequence of a chicken feather is very similar to that of other feathers and
also has a great deal in common with reptilian keratins from claws. The sequence is largely
composed of cystine, glycine, proline, and serine, and contains almost no histidine, lysine, or
methionine.
Feather follicles are arranged in rows or tracts. A follicle may produce many feathers over
the course of a chicken's lifetime. Shedding or molting usually occurs twice a year, but may
be as infrequent as once every two years, depending on environment, age, food source, and
other factors. Feathers can also regrow to replace those lost through injury.
There are five commonly recognized categories of feathers:
contour, down, semiplume, filoplume, and bristle.
Physical and Mechanical Properties of Chicken feather
Materials derived from chicken feathers could be used advantageously in composite
building material applications. Such applications could potentially consume the five billion
pounds of feathers produced annually as a by-product of the U.S. poultry industry. To aid the
development of successful applications for chicken feather materials (CFM),
The physical and mechanical properties of processed CFM have been characterized in this
research. Results describing the moisture content, aspect ratio, apparent specific gravity,
chemical durability, Young’s modulus, and tensile strength for processed CFM and
specifically their fiber and quill components are presented herein. The aspect ratio (i.e.,
length/diameter) of samples were found to be in the range of 30 - 50, and the fiber material
was found to have a larger aspect ratio than the quill material. A comparison with values in
the literature suggests that different processing regimes produce CFM with higher aspect
ratios. Samples were found to have apparent specific gravities in the range of 0.7 - 1.2, with
the fiber material having a higher apparent specific gravity than the quill material.
A comparison with values in the literature suggests that apparent specific gravity results
vary with fiber length and approach the value for keratin as fiber length decreases and
internal voids become increasingly accessible. The Young’s modulus of processed chicken
feather materials was found to be in the range of 3 - greater than 50 GPa and, thus,
comparable to the Young’s moduli of other natural fibers. The tensile strength of oven-dried
samples was found to be in the range of 10 - greater than 70 MPa.

23 | P a g e
5. METHODOLOGY
Epoxy is taken as matrix material. The Low temperature curing epoxy and the
corresponding hardener are blended in a degree of 10:1 by weight as prescribed. A mold
of size 210×210×40 mm3 is utilized for Fabrication of composites. The human hair fibers
are blended with epoxy by the basic mechanical mixing. The composites are prepared with
three distinctive fiber loading and four distinctive
Fiber lengths utilizing hand lay-up process. The mixture is put into different molds
adjusting to the necessities of different testing conditions and characterization models. The
cast of Each composite is safeguarded under a load of around 20 kg for 24 hours. At that
point This cast is post cured circulating everywhere for an additional 24 hours in the wake
of Uprooting out of the mold. Finally, the specimens of suitable dimensions are cut for
Mechanical tests.
Moulds used for fabrication of composite
Fig-Moulds used for fabrication of composites

24 | P a g e
5.1. Hand lay-up technique
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 sprayed on the mold surface to avoid the sticking of
polymer to the surface. Thin plastic sheets are used at the top and bottom of the mold
plate to get good surface finish of the product. Reinforcement in the form of woven mats
or chopped strand mats are cut as per the mold size and placed at the surface of mold after
perspex sheet. Then thermosetting polymer in liquid form is mixed thoroughly in suitable
proportion with a prescribed hardener (curing agent) and poured onto the surface of mat
already placed in the mold. The polymer is uniformly spread with the help of brush.
Second layer of mat is then placed on the polymer surface and a roller is moved with
a mild pressure on the mat-polymer layer to remove any air trapped as well as the excess
polymer present. The process is repeated for each layer of polymer and mat, till the
required layers are stacked. After placing the plastic sheet, release gel is sprayed on the
inner surface of the top mold plate which is then kept on the stacked layers and the
pressure is applied. After curing either at room temperature or at some specific
temperature, mold is opened and the developed composite part is taken out and further
processed. The schematic of hand lay-up is shown in figure 1.
The time of curing depends on type of polymer used for composite processing. For
example, for epoxy based system, normal curing time at room temperature is 24-48 hours.
This method is mainly suitable for thermosetting polymer based composites. Capital and
infrastructural requirement is less as compared to other methods. Production rate is less
and high volume fraction of reinforcement is difficult to achieve in the processed
composites. Hand lay-up method finds application in many areas like aircraft components,
automotive parts, boat hulls, daises board, deck etc.
Generally, the materials used to develop composites through hand lay-up method are
given in table 1.
Table 1 Raw materials used in hand lay-up method
Materials used
Matrix Epoxy, polyester, polyvinyl ester, phenolic resin, unsaturated polyester,
polyurethane resin
Reinforcement Hair fibre, chick feather fibre, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber,
natural plant fibers
(all these fibers are in the form of unidirectional mat, bidirectional
(woven) mat, stitched into a fabric form, mat of randomly oriented fibers)

25 | P a g e
Fig1- Hand lay-up Technique
5.2. SPRAY LAY UP TECHNIQUE
The spray lay-up technique can be said to be an extension of the hand lay-up method.
In this technique, a spray gun is used to spray pressurized resin and reinforcement which is
in the form of chopped fibers. Generally, glass roving is used as a reinforcement which
passes through spray gun where it is chopped with a chopper gun. Matrix material and
reinforcement may be sprayed simultaneously or separately one after one. Spray release gel
is applied on to the mold surface to facilitate the easy removal of component from the mold.
A roller is rolled over the sprayed material to remove air trapped into the lay-ups.
After spraying fiber and resin to required thickness, curing of the product is done either
at room temperature or at elevated temperature. After curing, mold is opened and the
developed composite part is taken out and further processed further. The time of curing
depends on type of polymer used for composite processing. The schematic of the spray lay-
up process is shown in figure 2.
Spray lay-up method is used for lower load carrying parts like small boats, bath tubs,
fairing of trucks etc. This method provides high volume fraction of reinforcement in
composites and virtually, there is no part size limitation in this technique. Generally, the
materials used to develop composites through spray lay-up method are given in table 2.

26 | P a g e
Figure 2-Spray lay-up method.
Table 2-Raw materials used in spray lay-up method
Materials used
Matrix
Epoxy, polyester, polyvinyl ester, phenolic resin, unsaturated polyester,
polyurethane resin
Reinforcement
Glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, natural plant fibers (sisal, banana, nettle,
hemp, flax, coir, cotton, jute etc.)
(all these fibers are in the form of chopped short fibers, flakes, particle fillers etc.)

27 | P a g e
5.3. Composites can be made as per specifications:
Table-Designations of Composites of human hair
Composites Compositions
C1 Epoxy (90wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length0. 5cm) (10wt. %)
C3 Epoxy (70wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length 0.5cm) (30wt. %)
C4 Epoxy (90wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length1cm) (10wt. %)
C5 Epoxy (80wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length1cm) (20wt. %)
C6 Epoxy (70wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length 1cm) (30w.t%)
C8 Epoxy (80wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length1. 5cm) (20wt.%)
C9 Epoxy (70wt. %) + Hair fiber (fiber length 1.5cm) (30wt. %)
Fig-Human hair fibers

28 | P a g e
Table-Designations of Composites of chick feather
Composites Compositions
C1 Epoxy (90wt. %) + Feather (fiber length0. 5cm) (10wt. %)
C3 Epoxy (70wt. %) + Feather (fiber length 0.5cm) (30wt. %)
C4 Epoxy (90wt. %) + Feather (fiber length1cm) (10wt. %)
C5 Epoxy (80wt. %) + Feather (fiber length1cm) (20wt. %)
C6 Epoxy (70wt. %) + Feather (fiber length 1cm) (30w.t%)
C8 Epoxy (80wt. %) + Feather (fiber length1. 5cm) (20wt.%)
C9 Epoxy (70wt. %) + Feather (fiber length 1.5cm) (30wt. %)
Fig- chick feather fibers

29 | P a g e
References-
1. MF Ashby. Technology of 1990s: Advanced materials and predictive design. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond.
A. 1987; Vol. 322, pp. 393-407.
2. JY Lund, JP Byrne. Leonardo Da Vinci's tensile strength tests: implications for the discovery of
engineering mechanics Civil. Eng. and Env. Syst. 2001; Vol. 18, pp. 243-250
3. E de LaMotte, AJ Perry. Diameter and strain-rate dependence of the ultimate tensile strength and Young's
modulus of carbon fibres. Fibre Science and Technology, 1970; Vol. 3, pp. 157-166.
4. CT Herakovich. Mechanics of Fibrous Composites, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1998
5. BD Agarwal, LJ Broutman, K Chandrashekhara. Analysis and Performance of Fibre Composites, 3rd
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 2006.
6. Popescu C. and Hocker H. (2007). Hair the most sophisticated biological composite material, Chemical
Society Reviews 37(8), pp.1282–1291.
7. Volkin D. B. and Klibanov A. M., (1987). Thermal destruction processes in proteins involving cystine
residues, The Journal of Biological Chemistry 262(7), pp.2945-2950.
8. Thompson R.M., (2010). Hair based composite, U.S. Patent US 12/304,777.
9. Jain D. and Kothari A. (2012). Hair Fibre Reinforced Concrete, Research Journal of Recent Sciences,
Vol. 1, pp.128-133.
10. Hu X., Cebe P., Weiss A.S., Omenetto F., Kaplan D.L., (2012), Protein-based composite materials,
Materials Today 15(5), pp. 208–215.
11. Gupta A. (2009), Human Hair “Waste” and Its Utilization: Gaps and Possibilities, International
Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials 27, pp. 892–899.
12. Hernandez A.L.M., Santos C.V., (2012). Keratin Fibers from Chicken Feathers: Structure and
Advances in Polymer Composites, In: Keratin: Structure, Properties and Applications, Nova Science
Publishers, pp.149-211.
13. Babu R.P., Connor K.O. and Seeram R., (2013). Current progress on bio-based polymers and their future
trends, Progress in Biomaterials, DOI: 10.1186/2194-0517-2-8.
14. RM Jones. Mechanics of Composite Materials, Material Science and Engineering Series.2nd Edition,
Taylor & Francis, 1999.
15. AK Kaw. Mechanics of Composite Materials. 2nd Edition, CRC Press, New York, 2006.
16. RM Christensen. Mechanics of Composite Materials. Dover Publications, 2005.
17. SW Tsai, HT Hahn. Introduction to Composite Materials, Technomic Publishing, Lancaster, PA, 1980.
18. D Hull, TW Clyne. An Introduction to Composite Materials, 2nd ed., Cambridge University, Press, New
York, 1996.
19. IM Daniel, O Ishai. Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials, Oxford University Press, 1994.
20. Composite Handbook.
21. ASTM Standards.
22. SS Pendhari, T Kant, YM Desai. Application of polymer composites in civil construction: A general
review. Composite Structures, 2008; Vol. 84, pp. 114-124.
23. CP Talley. J. Appl. Phys. 1959, Vol. 30, pp 1114.
24. MF Ashby. Technology of 1990s: Advanced materials and predictive design. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond.
A. 1987; Vol. 322, pp. 393-407.
25. JY Lund, JP Byrne. Leonardo Da Vinci's tensile strength tests: implications for the discovery of
engineering mechanics. Civil. Eng. and Env. Syst. 2001; Vol. 18, pp. 243-250.
26. E de LaMotte, AJ Perry. Diameter and strain-rate dependence of the ultimate tensile strength and Young's
modulus of carbon fibres. Fibre Science and Technology, 1970; Vol. 3, pp. 157-166.
27. CT Herakovich. Mechanics of Fibrous Composites, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1998

30 | P a g e
28. .BD Agarwal, LJ Broutman, K Chandrashekhara. Analysis and Performance of Fibre Composites, 3rd
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 2006
29. RM Jones. Mechanics of Composite Materials, Material Science and Engineering Series.2nd Edition,
Taylor & Francis, 1999.
30. AK Kaw. Mechanics of Composite Materials. 2nd Edition, CRC Press, New York, 2006.
31. RM Christensen. Mechanics of Composite Materials. Dover Publications, 2005.
32. SW Tsai, HT Hahn. Introduction to Composite Materials, Technomic Publishing, Lancaster, PA, 1980.
33. D Hull, TW Clyne. An Introduction to Composite Materials, 2nd ed., Cambridge University, Press, New
York, 1996.
34. IM Daniel, O Ishai. Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials, Oxford University Press, 1994.
35. Composite Handbook.
36. ASTM Standards.
37. SS Pendhari, T Kant, YM Desai. Application of polymer composites in civil construction: A general
review. Composite Structures, 2008; Vol. 84, pp. 114-124
38. CP Talley. J. Appl. Phys. 1959, Vol. 30, pp 1114.

Mechanical properties of hair and feather fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Mechanical properties of hair and feather fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Similar to Mechanical properties of hair and feather fiber reinforced epoxy composites (20)

More from KHAGENDRA KUMAR DEWANGAN

More from KHAGENDRA KUMAR DEWANGAN (12)

Mechanical properties of hair and feather fiber reinforced epoxy composites