Mechanical properties of glass fiber rice straw reinforced polyester hybrid composite

Narmi, Muhammad Amar Fahmi (2024) Mechanical properties of glass fiber rice straw reinforced polyester hybrid composite. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Rice straw fiber emerges as a promising and pivotal candidate for reinforcing thermoplastic composites, attributed to its inherent lignocellulosic characteristics. The core aim of this research endeavor is to delve into the mechanical properties of epoxy resin reinforced with rice straw fibers. Various ratios of rice straw fibers, denoted as 20RS80PR, 40RS60PR, 50RS50PR, 60RS40PR, and 80RS20PR, were meticulously integrated with polyester resins to fabricate composite materials. Employing a standardized 300mm length x 200mm width silicone mold for tensile and flexural tests, as well as a similar mold for impact tests, adhering to ASTM standards, these rice straw fiber-reinforced polyester resin composites were meticulously manufactured through the hand lay-up method. Subsequently, the specimens were left to cure at room temperature for 48 hours. Following this curing period, an essential step involved precision cutting of test specimens using a CNC router machine, resulting in specimens measuring 250mm in length and 25mm in width for tensile and flexural tests, and 100mm in length and 15mm in width for impact tests, each maintaining a uniform 10mm thickness. An array of mechanical tests, encompassing tensile, flexural, and impact assessments, was conducted to meticulously evaluate the mechanical properties of these specimens. In addition, environmental testing was employed, including water absorption assessments. Notably, the results of these extensive tests revealed that rice straw-reinforced polyester resin, at various RSPR ratios, exhibited superior tensile strength (MPa), elasticity (MPa), flexural load of maximum force (MPa), flexural load of stress (MPa), impact strength (Joule), and water absorption properties when compared to alternative eco-friendly ratios of rice straw-reinforced polyester resin. Furthermore, a comprehensive one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to ascertain the statistically significant disparities among the different ratios of the reinforced composites. This research underscores the potential of glass fiber and rice straw-reinforced polyester hybrid composites as a valuable lightweight engineering material, offering a cost-effective alternative to synthetic fiber composites.

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