Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Infused with Silicon Carbide Micro Particles

Abstract

Natural fiber composite materials are finding applications in the manufacturing of the nonstructural parts in different areas of aerospace, automobiles…etc. In this study, the effect of addition of silicon carbide (SiC) particles on the mechanical properties of the pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)-reinforced polymer composite is examined using a two-step approach. Finite element analysis was performed to characterize the properties of the equivalent epoxy/SiC matrix. Then, using the equivalent matrix properties, the hybrid composite with the PALF fiber is characterized. It was observed that the infusion of the particles has increased the shear properties of the fiber reinforced composite material significantly.

Keywords

• palf fibers
• sic particles
• fe analysis
• two-step approach
• mechanical properties
• hybrid composite