Study on the physicomechanical, fracture-deformation, interface-adhesion, and water-absorption properties of twill fabric cotton-bamboo/epoxy composites

Abstract

Natural fibre reinforced composites are being used in a variety of industries. Epoxy matrix composites reinforced with woven bamboo-cotton fibre has been fabricated via., hand lay-up technique and compression moulding technique. In the fabrication of the composite panels, the number of layers varied from 8 to 14 according to the weight of the fabric. The tensile, bending, impact, compression, water-absorption, and ILS properties for the developed composites have been tested or examined. SEM characterization was being used to examine the fractured morphology and assess interface-strength of the developed composites. It was found that increasing the number of fibre layers improved the composites' physico-mechanical properties. Due to the micro-voids, detachment, and hydrophilic nature of natural fibres, the cotton/bamboo twill fabric reinforced composites absorb the most water. In addition, the results have demonstrated that the fibre matrix debonding, which was actually the result of a weak-bonding amid the fibre and matrix, was the cause of the escalated water absorption behavior. Hence, the fabricated composites are suitable for the applications of moderate load bearing, including automobile body parts and structural components that require sufficient strength.

Keywords

• Cotton/bamboo
• Twill fabric
• Physico-mechanical
• Water-absorption properties
• SEM