Evaluation of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Jute and Ramie Reinforced Epoxy-based Hybrid Composites

Abstract

In this study, the hybrid composites were prepared from ramie and jute natural as reinforcement, an epoxy polymer as a matrix, and SiC and cellulose as fillers via hand layup process. Mechanical and thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to quantify the effect of reinforcement on hybrid composites and evaluate their mechanical properties and thermal stability. The mechanical tests showed improvement in tensile and flexural strength of the hybrid composites with increasing content of bidirectional woven ramie fiber, and decreased with increased content of chopped jute fiber. The Izod impact test results revealed that chopped jute fiber form could resist more impact load when compared with woven ramie mat fibers. Hence, the impact energy increased with the increased content of chopped jute fiber in the hybrid composites. The surface morphological analysis of hybrid composites revealed the fiber pullout, cracks, and other failure modes of the hybrid composite using SEM analysis.

Keywords

• natural fiber
• hybrid composites
• silicon carbide
• ramie
• thermal stability
• jute
• mechanical properties