Preliminary Study On The Effect Of Composition To The Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy Lalang Composites

Zatil Hazika, Kamaruddin (2015) Preliminary Study On The Effect Of Composition To The Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy Lalang Composites. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The use of natural fibers for different application has been increase every year due to its advantages. Advantages of using natural fiber include low density, low cost, renewable, environmental friendly, lightweight and high specific mechanical performance. In this thesis, the effects of lalang fiber composition on the physical and mechanical properties of Epoxy Lalang Composite were investigated. Lalang fiber was chosen in preparation of polymer composites because of several advantages such as low cost, eco-friendly, abundance, renewable, and biodegradable. For the first step in preparation of fiber, lalang grass was soaked in 5% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution. After that, the fiber was then washed with distilled water until it becomes neutral state. When the fiber has become neutral state, then the fiber was dry under the sunlight until it is completely dried. The fiber was crushed using crusher machine and sieved the size of fiber to 1.0μm. The mixture of resin, fiber and hardener was poured into the mold and cure in the oven at 100 . Five different samples were produced using hand lay-up molding technique by varying the composition of fiber between 0.2% and 1.0% weight composition. A few of testing were carried out to investigate the effect of fiber composition on their mechanical and physical properties such as tensile test, hardness test, density test and microstructure. The tensile strength, mean hardness, mean density, modulus, % elongation and yield strength of the composite were analyzed. The results showed that the tensile strength, modulus and yield strength had their highest values of 38.83 MPa, 1.22GPa and 15MPa respectively at 0.2% of composition .As a conclusion, composition of fiber will give an effect to the mechanical and physical properties of composites if the composition is in the range of 0.8% to 1.0% of weight composition.

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