Mechanical Characterization of Partially Bio-degradable Coir Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Composites

Abstract

As a response to the increasing demand for sustainable engineered materials, this research has undertaken to aim at exploring the mechanical potential of highly available, less expensive coir fibres derived from coconut husks in a polyester matrix as the reinforcement agent of polymer matrix composites to be applied in the engineering applications like automotive, construction, packaging, marine and consumer goods industries as a replacement for the conventional synthetic composites. The mechanical behaviour of partially bio-degradable coir fibre-reinforced composites made from the hand lay-up method is thoroughly evaluated through a comprehensive, experimental approach to appraise the material's viability. At a 40% fibre volume fraction in polyester resin, impact energy, hardness and wear resistance are rigorously evaluated, focusing on providing valuable insights in the context of environmentally friendly alternatives as replacements for conventional, synthetic composite materials. Test results have been compared with the existing synthetic E-glass fibre-reinforced composites and S-glass fibre-reinforced composites to assess the potential of the developed material. Obtained results illustrate that the developed material comes up with an average 17.6% increase in hardness, 26.7% reduction in impact resistance, and 30% reduction in wear resistance compared to the most common E-glass fibre-reinforced polyester composites. According to the results, it can be noted that higher hardness occurs due to the enhancement of rigidity by the coir fibre due to its chemical composition. However, the reasons for the reduction in wear resistance and impact resistance can be the fibre matrix adhesion and processing conditions. Those mechanical characteristics can be further improved by varying the fibre volume fraction, composition, and processing method and by adding suitable filler materials that improve the considered properties, enhancing the potential of developed material to be applied in the considered industries.