INFLUENCE OF OIL PALM FIBER LOADING ON THE MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY BI-LAYER HYBRID LAMINATE COMPOSITE

摘要

The effect of oil palm fiber addition into the glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin bi-layer laminate composite was studied. The oil palm fiber and glass fiber mats were impregnated with epoxy resin using a hand lay up process. The hybrid laminate composites were cured at 100℃ in a hot press followed by post curing in an oven at 105℃. The tensile strength and modulus of the hybrid laminate composites were reduced with the addition of oil palm fibers. A negative hybrid effect was observed. However hybridization of glass fibers with the oil palm fibers enhanced the elongation at break of the hybrid laminate composites. A positive hybrid effect was noted. The density of the hybrid laminate composites was reduced with the loading of oil palm fibers. Tensile fractured samples were analysed by using a scanning electron microscope.