BANANA FIBER COMPOSITES FOR AUTOMOTIVE AND TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS

摘要

The purpose of this work was to establish and optimize a process for the production of banana fiber reinforced composite materials with a thermoset, suitable for automotive and transportation industry applications. Fiber surface chemical modifications and treatments were studied along with processing conditions for epoxy and eco-polyester banana fiber composites. Flexural tests show that banana fiber/eco-polyester composites have a higher flexural strength and modulus, due to improved fiber/matrix interaction. Environmental tests were conducted and the compressive properties of the composites were evaluated before and after moisture absorption. The resulting banana fiber/epoxy composites were found to yield a flexural strength of 34.99 MPa and compressive strength of 122.11 MPa when alkaline pretreated, with improved environmental exposure resistance. While the non alkaline pretreated banana fiber/polyester composites were found to yield a flexural strength of 40.16 MPa and compressive strength of 123.28 MPa, with higher hygrothermal resistance than pretreated fiber composites with the same matrix.