Taguchi method for optimization of fabrication parameters with mechanical properties in sisal fibre-vinyl ester composites

摘要

In this paper, the grey-based Taguchi method was used to optimize the fabrication parameters with mechanical properties multiple performance characteristics (MPC) in sisal fibre-reinforced vinyl ester (SFRVE) composites. Composite plates were prepared based on the Taguchi's L_(27) orthogonal array using hand lay-up technique at room temperature. Fabrication parameters, namely fibre length, fibre content and fibre diameters were optimized based on the grey relational grade as performance index obtained from the grey relational analysis to get the maximum level of MPC such as the tensile strength, the flexural strength and the impact strength. The results show that the fibre content is the most significant fabrication parameter which greatly affects the mechanical properties of SFRVE composite compared to the fibre length and the fibre diameter. It was proved that the MPC of the plant-based natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites can be effectively improved by this method.