%0 Journal Article
%T Mechanical Properties and Failure Topography of Banana Fiber PF Macrocomposites Fabricated by RTM and CM Techniques
%A K. N. Indira
%A Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai
%A Sabu Thomas
%J ISRN Polymer Science
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/936048
%X Banana fiber reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites with different fiber lengths and fiber loadings were prepared by compression molding (CM) and resin transfer molding (RTM) techniques. The mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact behavior were studied. RTM composites showed improved tensile and flexural properties as compared to CM composites. On the other hand, impact strength of RTM composites is slightly lower than that of CM composites. From the studies, it was found that mechanical properties increased with the increase in fiber loading, reached a plateau at 30¨C40£¿wt%, and then subsequently decreased with an increase in fiber loading in both techniques. At high fiber weight fractions, the strength decreased due to poor wetting and very poor stress transfer. The stress value increased up to 30£¿mm fiber lengths and then decreased. In order to examine the fracture surface morphology of the composites, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on the composite samples. A good relationship between morphological and mechanical properties has been observed. Finally, tensile strength of the composites fabricated by RTM and CM was compared with theoretical predictions. 1. Introduction In recent years, there has been a tremendous interest in the usage of plant fibers as reinforcement in polymer matrices for the manufacture of automobile components [1¨C6]. Lignocellulosic materials can significantly contribute to the development of biobased composites [7¨C9]. A few reports from the literature on green fiber polymer composites are summarized afterwords. Francucci et al. worked to understand how the main processing variables are affected when glass fibers are replaced by natural fibers in reinforced plastics [10]. Good flow properties and appreciable mechanical properties came to attention when Oksman manufactured high quality flax fiber reinforced composite using RTM [11]. Sreekumar et al. studied the mechanical and water absorption properties of sisal fiber reinforced polyester composites fabricated by RTM and CM techniques. They found that the composites made by RTM exhibited superior mechanical property and less water sorption due to good fiber/matrix interaction which was a result of low void content and good fiber wetting [12]. Peponi et al. extended a statistical approach to develop a comparative study on the mechanical properties of different natural fibers [13]. Kaith and Kalia studied grafting of flax fiber with vinyl monomers for enhancement of properties of flax-phenolic composites [14]. Megiatto et al. studied the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.polymer.science/2013/936048/