Evaluation of Wear Properties and Water Absorption Behavior of Banana and Sisal Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites: Influence of Fiber Length

Abstract

The natural fiber composites are emerging as replacement materials in wide engineering fields. In this work, banana, sisal, and banana-sisal fibers of three different fiber lengths namely 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm are used as reinforcements in the epoxy matrix. The composite samples are prepared by using the injection molding technique. Frictional and wear characteristics of the composites are evaluated under dry operating conditions with the parameters like applied load (15–35 N), sliding speed (300–500 rpm) for a duration of 15 mins. Water absorption characteristics are studied at an interval of 6 days for a duration of 120 days. The results indicate that the incorporation of fibers at different lengths influences frictional force, coefficient of friction and specific wear rate of the composites to an extent. Frictional force and specific wear rate are greater at higher loads. Banana-sisal hybrid fiber composites are showing amplified coefficient of friction and specific wear rate than other composites. Composites made of Sisal fibers (12.4%) are showing more resistance to water absorption than banana (21.5%) and banana-Sisal (15.4%) fibers. SEM images explores the wear characteristics of testing surface with presence of micro cutting, fiber breakage, voids, and debris.

Keywords

• hybrid composite
• tribology characteristics
• water absorption behavior
• specific wear rate
• morphology study