Green Composites from Natural Fibers and Natural Rubber: Effect of Fiber Ratio on Mechanical and Swelling Characteristics

ABSTRACT Sisal and oil palm fibers were incorporated into a natural rubber matrix, and the influence of fiber ratio on the cure and tensile properties of hybrid fiber-reinforced natural rubber composites were analyzed. Tensile strength and modulus was found to decrease with the loading of oil palm fiber. Longitudinally oriented composites showed better mechanical properties than transversely oriented composites. Maximum torque values were found to increase with oil palm fibers content. A positive hybrid effect was observed for the tensile properties. Anisotropic swelling experiments were performed to determine the extent of fiber/matrix interaction.

[1]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  A study of the mechanical properties of randomly oriented short banana and sisal hybrid fiber reinforced polyester composites , 2005 .

[2]  Thomas Lampke,et al.  Plant Fibers as Reinforcement for Green Composites , 2005 .

[3]  H. Khalil,et al.  Lignocellulose-based Hybrid Bilayer Laminate Composite: Part I - Studies on Tensile and Impact Behavior of Oil Palm Fiber-Glass Fiber-reinforced Epoxy Resin , 2005 .

[4]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  Natural Fiber–Rubber Composites and Their Applications , 2005 .

[5]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  Natural rubber composites reinforced with sisal/oil palm hybrid fibers: Tensile and cure characteristics , 2004 .

[6]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  Mechanical properties of sisal/oil palm hybrid fiber reinforced natural rubber composites , 2004 .

[7]  Anil N. Netravali,et al.  Composites get greener , 2003 .

[8]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  The mechanical performance of hybrid phenol-formaldehyde-based composites reinforced with glass and oil palm fibres , 2002 .

[9]  Hanafi Ismail,et al.  The effects of a silane coupling agent on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of bamboo fibre filled natural rubber composites , 2002 .

[10]  L. Nicolais,et al.  Effect of processing conditions on dimensions of sisal fibers in thermoplastic biodegradable composites , 2001 .

[11]  E. Martuscelli,et al.  Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and wheat straw fibre composites: thermal, mechanical properties and biodegradation behaviour , 2000 .

[12]  W. Glasser,et al.  Fiber‐reinforced cellulosic thermoplastic composites , 1999 .

[13]  Z. Ishak,et al.  The effect of compounding techniques on the mechanical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch-polypropylene composites , 1998 .

[14]  K. T. Mathew,et al.  Composite of short coir fibres and natural rubber : effect of chemical modification, loading and orientation of fibre , 1998 .

[15]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  Oil palm fibers: Morphology, chemical composition, surface modification, and mechanical properties , 1997 .

[16]  A. Coran,et al.  Unidirectional fiber–polymer composites: Swelling and modulus anisotropy , 1971 .