Evaluation of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Short <i>Entada mannii</i>-Glass Fiber Hybrid Composites

Abstract

This study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of short Entada mannii- glass fiber polypropylene hybrid composites. The polymeric hybrid composite was produced by combining different ratios of Entada mannii fiber (EMF)/glass fiber (GF) using the compression molding technique. The tensile properties, compressive strength, impact strength and hardness were evaluated while the fracture surface morphology was examined using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). It further evaluates the moisture absorption and percentage void content of the developed composites. The experimental results show that tensile, compressive, impact and hardness properties of all the hybrid composites were significantly improved as compared with single reinforced composites. Specifically, hybrid composites (EMF/GF5) revealed an overall tensile strength of 41%, hardness of 51% and compressive strength of 47% relative to single reinforced composites, which can be ascribed to enhanced fiber–matrix bonding. The chemical treatment enhanced the EMF fiber surface and promoted good adhesion with the polypropylene (PP) matrix. Moisture absorption properties revealed that the addition of EMF/GF reduces the amount of moisture intake of the hybrid composites attributed to good cementing of the fiber–matrix interface. Morphological analysis revealed that single reinforced composites (EMF1 and GF2) were characterized by fiber pullout and deposition of voids in the composite as compared with the hybrid composites.

Keywords

• <i>Entada mannii</i>-fiber
• adhesion
• glass fiber
• mechanical properties
• polypropylene
• compression molding