Abstract
The use of composite materials reinforced with natural fibers has gained popularity in recent years. These fibers are naturally occurring, inexpensive, less-harmful to human resources during processing, recyclable, and non-toxic to the environment as compared to manmade reinforcements like carbon and glass fiber. A study was conducted to explore the compression, hardness, and wear resistance properties of composites formed by reinforcing Cordia-Dichotoma natural fibers with epoxy resin. Water retting and hand methods were used to remove the natural fibers. In this work, Cordia-Dichotoma fibers were subjected to an alkaline (NaOH) solution to diminish their hydrophilicity and moisture absorption. After that, they were inserted into the epoxy resin as reinforcement, and the composite was fabricated by hand layup technique. The fabricated composite’s compression, hardness, and wear resistance properties were assessed to make sure it was suitable for its intended use. Amongst the composites, wear resistance property was superior at 20wt. Percentage fiber content when compared to the other combinations of reinforcements. Compression and hardness properties are maximum at 20wt. Percentage fiber content. Images from a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to better understand the interfacial bonding between the resin and the fibers. Due to the above properties these composites are suitable for automobile, shoe making and structural applications. The investigation of the compression, hardness, wear, and morphology —all of which have not been previously covered in the literature— makes this study original.
Keywords: Compression, Cordia-dichotoma Fiber, Hardness, SEM, Wear Resistance.