Experimental Investigation of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Palmyra Fiber Reinforced Polyster Composites With and Without Chemical Treatment and Also Addition of Chalk Powder

摘要

The interest in natural fiber-reinforcedpolymer composite materials is rapidly growing both in termsof their industrial applications and fundamental research. Thenatural fiber composites are more environmentally friendly.The main objective of this project is to investigate effect ofchemical treatment and addition of chalk powder (additive)to the composite on thermal and mechanical properties of(Palmyra bract fiber) natural fiber reinforced polyestercomposites. The composites have been made by with andwithout chemical treatment to Palmyra fiber and addition ofchalk powder to the polyester matrix. Mechanical propertiessuch as tensile properties (such as tensile strength, tensilemodulus), Flexural properties (such as Flexural Strength,Flexural Modulus), Impact Strength when subjected tovarying weights of fiber (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 grams) and thermalproperties such as conductivity, specific Heat capacity,thermal diffusivity of composites are studied.The tensilestrength, flexural strength, impact strength of chemicaltreated fiber composite increased when compared withuntreated fiber composite by increasing fiber content.Thermal properties of treated fiber composite also increasedwhen compared with untreated fiber composite. Withaddition of chalk powder to the treated composite Thermalconductivity, Specific Heat capacity, Thermal diffusivity ofthe composite are increased. But mechanical propertiesalmost equal when compared to without addition of chalkpowder to the composite.