Influence of Cure Temperature on the Flexural Strength of Natural Based Composites

摘要

The focus of this study is to determine the appropriate fabricating cure temperature which can optimise the flexural strength of natural based composites. The natural fibers and ricehull were embedded in polyester resin. The theoretical proportions of resulting blend were first obtained. These proportions, however, has been adjusted when the composite lamina was fabricated to suit the required conditions for hand-layup fabrication. At certain temperature range, the flexural strength increased with increasing cure temperature. The best fit curve of data points takes the form of 2nd order polynomial with a statistical coefficient (R~2) greater than 90 percent which compares well theoretically. Moreover, abaca/polyester composite lamina shows better flexural strength as compared with banana/polyester, ricehull/poyester and pullverised ricehull/polyeter composites. Specifically, at a constant cure time of 60 minutes the maximum flexural strength of abaca/polyester occurs at a cure temperature of 100deg C. Similar trend is also observed for the other composites.