International Conference on Current Research in Engineering Science and Technology (ICCREST-2016)

INVESTIGATION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF

MADAR FIBER REINFORCED IN POLYMER MATRIX
COMPOSITES

C.Kandeepan Dr,K.Raja P.Ganeshan

PG Scholar Assitant professor Research scholar
Anna University Regional Campus University college of Enginering University college of Enginering
Madurai Dindugal Dindugal

Abstract -Bio fibers had recently become eye catching for the • Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)
scientists and engineers due to its high mechanical strength. In • Particle reinforced polymer (PRP)
this present work, newly identified madder fiber is used for
making composite material the fiber is extracted from the stem 1.1 Natural fiber composites :
by manual process. The fiber is separated into small parts and The interest in natural fiber-reinforced polymer
then it is mixed with polyester resin .Five plates were going to be composite materials is rapidly growing both in terms of their
made by 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by mass of the fiber. The
mechanical properties of the plates such as tensile strength, industrial applications and fundamental research. They are
compressive strength, impact strength and compressive strength renewable, cheap, completely or partially recyclable, and
of each plate was tested. biodegradable. Plants, such as flax, cotton, hemp, jute, kenaf,
pineapple, ramie, bamboo, banana, etc., as well as wood, used
keywords—madar fiber, polyester resin, from time immemorial as a source of lignocellulose fibers, are
more and more often applied as the reinforcement of
1 INTRODUCTION composites. Their availability, renewability, low density, and
price as well as satisfactory mechanical properties make them
Composite are combination of two or more than two an attractive ecological alternative to glass, carbon and man-
materials in which one of the material, is reinforcing made fibers used for the manufacturing of composites. The
phase(polymer, metal or ceramic) composite material are natural fiber-containing composites are more environmentally
usually classified by type of reinforcement such as polymer friendly, and are used in transportation (automobiles, railway
composite ,cement and metal matrix composite polymer coaches, aerospace), military applications, building and
matrix composite are mostly commercially produced construction industries (ceiling paneling, partition boards),
composites in which resin is used as matrix with different packaging, consumer products, etc. The term “natural fibers”
reinforcing material . Polymer (resin) is classified in two types covers a broad range of vegetable, animal, and mineral fibers.
thermoplastic (PE, PP, PEEK, PVC, PS, Polyolefins etc) and However, in the composites industry, it usually refers to wood
thermo set (epoxy, polyester and phenol-formaldehyde resin fiber and agro based bast, leaf, seed, and stem fibers. These
etc) which reinforces different type of fiber like natural (plant, fibers often contribute greatly to the structural performance of
animal, mineral) and manmade fiber for different application. the plant and, when used in plastic composites, can provide
Composites are now extensively being used for rehabilitation/ significant reinforcement.One of the largest areas of recent
strengthening of pre-existing structures that have to be growth in natural fiber plastic composites is the automotive
retrofitted to make them seismic resistant, or to repair damage industry, particularly in Europe, where natural fibers are
caused by seismic activity. Unlike conventional materials advantageously used as a result of their low density and
(e.g., steel), the properties of the composite material can be increasing environmental pressures. Increased technical
designed considering the structural aspects. Composite innovations, identification of new applications, continuing
materials are broadly, classified into three groups on the basis political and environmental pressures, and government
of matrix material. They are investment in new methods for fiber harvesting and processing
• Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) are leading to projections of continued growth in the use of
• Ceramic Matrix Composites natural fibers in composites, with expectation of reaching
(CMC) 100,000 tons per annum.
• Polymer Matrix Composites
(PMC)

Two types of polymer composites are

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 International Conference on Current Research in Engineering Science and Technology (ICCREST-2016)
1.2 Classification of natural fibers:  Higher fatigue endurance limit (up to 60% of
Composites, due to their heterogeneous composition, ultimate tensile strength).
provide unlimited possibilities of deriving any characteristic  30% - 40% lighter for example any particular
material behavior. This unique flexibility especially molding aluminum structures designed to the same functional
to any shape with polymer composites, repair ability, requirements.
corrosion resistance, durability, adaptability and cost  Lower embedded energy compared to other structural
effectiveness, etc. have attracted the attention of many users in metallic materials like steel, aluminum etc.
several engineering applications Cellulose fibers are flexible  Composites are less noisy while in operation and
but possess high strength. The more closely packed cellulose provide lower vibration transmission than metals.
provides higher density and higher strength. The walls of these  Composites are more versatile than metals and can be
hollow elongated cells are the primary load-bearing tailored to meet performance needs and complex
components of trees and plants. Depends on the cellulosic design requirements.
content the composites are classified as  Long life offer excellent fatigue, impact,
environmental resistance and reduce maintenance.
 Composites enjoy reduced life cycle cost compared
to metals.
 Composites exhibit excellent corrosion resistance and
fire retardance.
 Improved appearance with smooth surfaces and
readily incorporable integral decorative melamine are
other characteristics of composites.
 Composite parts can eliminate joints / fasteners,
providing part simplification and integrated design
compared to conventional metallic parts.

2 . MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fiber used

Fig.1Classification of natural fibers

1.3 Advantages of Composites:

Advantages of composites over their conventional
counterparts are the ability to meet diverse design
requirements with significant weight savings as well as
strength-to-weight ratio. The biggest advantage of modern
composite materials is that they are light as well as strong. By
choosing an appropriate combination of matrix and
reinforcement material, a new material can be made that
exactly meets the requirements of a particular application.
Composites also provide design flexibility because many of
them can be molded into complex shapes. The downside is
often the cost. Although the resulting product is more Fig.2 Calotropis plant
efficient, the raw materials are often expensive.
Some advantages of composite materials over calotropis
conventional ones are as follows
Akund floss, also called calotropis floss, ask, madar,
 Tensile strength of composites is four to six or mader, downy seed fiber obtained from Calotropis
times greater than that of steel or aluminum procera and C. gigantea, milkweed plants of
(depending on the reinforcements). the Apocynaceae family (formerly in Asclepiadaceae).
 Improved torsional stiffness and impact Small trees orshrubs, these two species are native to southern
properties. Asia and Africa and were introduced to South America and
 The mechanical performance of natural fiber the islands of the Caribbean, where they have naturalized. The
reinforced plastics varies greatly depending on the yellowish material is made up of thin fibers 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to
type of natural fibers, fiber treatments, and the type 1.2 inches) long and 12 to 42 microns (a micron is about
of plastic, additives, and processing methods. 0.00004 inch) in diameter and is harvested from the seeds by

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 International Conference on Current Research in Engineering Science and Technology (ICCREST-2016)
hand. While akund floss has been used primarily as upholstery prepare molds for the preparation of10%,20%, 30%, 40%,
stuffing and is sometimes mixed with the seed fibre kapok, it 50%, fiber of the composite. A clean smooth surfaced wooden
has development potential as a new ecological material. board is taken and washed thoroughly. The Steel plate was
Calotropis yields a durable fiber (commercially known as covered with a mold release sheet. After the mold preparation
Bowstring of India) useful for ropes, carpets, fishing nets, and the grass fibers are placed in the mold and then the polyester
sewing thread. Floss, obtained from seeds, is used for stuffing hardener mixture is poured gently for each molds for making
purposes. Fermented mixture of Calotropis and salt is used to five plates with different volume fraction such as 10%, 20%,
remove the hair from goat skins for production of "nari 30%, 40%, and 50%.Then the mold is set at room temperature
leather" and of sheep skins to make leather which is much for 24 hours .care should be taken to avoid bubbles as if
used for inexpensive book-binding (Singh et al. 1996). bubbles produced will affect the plate formed. The fibers are
Fungicidal and insecticidal properties of Calotropis have been aligned in unidirectional for producing composites.
reported.Ganapathy and Narayanasamy (1993).

2.1 Fiber extraction process

Fiber extraction process of the madar fiber is usually
done by the help of water retting process .In this process the
stem with high fiber and lignin content is placed in a water
body for 6 to 8 days .The water body may running water body
as rivers or stagnant one like lake. During this period
microbial action takes place in stem and leads to separation of
fibers and thus finally fiber is extracted by water retting
process.
2.2 Resin used
Fig.3 Mould Dimension
A polyester resin is comprised of an unsaturated
backbone polymer dissolved in a reactive monomer. The 3. CASTING
polyester backbone polymer is formed by condensation of a
mixture of dibasic acids (saturated and unsaturated) and one or The madar fiber prepared in the above steps were put on
more glycols. Vinyl-ester resins are high performance the already designed mold. After putting the madar fiber in the
polyester resins, which are acrylic esters of epoxy resins mold, the polymer-hardener mixture was slowly poured over
dissolved in styrene monomer Polyester resins can be it. Madar fiber due to its light weight and high volume gets
reinforced with almost all types of reinforcements to make swelled up. For that reason only we roll a roller gently till the
polyester composites. Polyester resins are cheaper and more sample fits in the mould. Then we cover the sample with a
versatile, but inferior to epoxy resins in some respects. non-reacting plastic cover and place the glass on it such that
Polyester resin material is a three-component material. no voids or air gaps leave behind. These voids weaken the
However, the manufacturer mixes the two reactive parts. At composite and makes testing difficult. For the composite of
the time of application, a catalyst is added to start the reaction. perfect dimension weight should be carefully put above it.
Then the material is sprayed onto the roadway. The material Weight should be put in such a way that no polymer hardener
has the potential to be 100 percent solid. This depends on how mixture seeps out of the glass.
fast the reaction takes place. The styrene is volatile prior to the
reaction. Heat is not typically added to the system except The composite sheet takes 24 hrs.for curing in room
when cure time is expected to be long, such as on cool spring temperature. Then the samples were cut into desired
or fall days. The catalyst is added to drive the reaction. dimensions for experimental purposes depending on the
Usually, the catalyst is methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or benzoyl standards.
peroxide. The polyester resin and the styrene solvent react
together to crosslink, or polymerize, to form a film. The
polyester resin system will not cure properly if the appropriate
quantity of catalyst is not added.
4.4 Polymer-Hardener Mixture Preparation
A measured amount of polymer was taken for
different volume fraction of fiber composite and mixed with
the hardener in the ratio 4:1. The mixture was stirred properly
for uniform mixing. Care was taken to avoid formation of
bubbles.

4. PREPARATION OF COMPOSITES Fig.4 Composite preparation

For the sample preparation the first and foremost step is
the preparation of the mold which ensures the dimension of 4.1 Fabrication of composite plates:
300×300×30 mm the composite to be prepared. We have to

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 International Conference on Current Research in Engineering Science and Technology (ICCREST-2016)
In this work the fabrication of composite plate is done by
taking the fiber orientation as random discontinuous. While
preparing sample the mold should be prepared in the
dimension of 300×300×3mm.A flat plate is placed and it’s
applied with wax and OHP sheet is placed over it. In this flat
surface the prepared mold is placed and the fiber resin mixture
for the different composition such as 20%, 30%, 40% and
50% of fiber were poured over it and made to spread over the
entire mold and the OHP sheet is placed over it, over this is a
flat surface is placed. Then we cover the sample with a non-
reacting plastic cover and place the glass on it such that no
voids or air gaps leave behind. These voids weaken the
composite and makes testing difficult. For the composite of
perfect dimension weight should be carefully put above it and
finally large amount of uniformly distributed load is placed Fig.6 flexural testing machine
over it to get the smooth surface.
4.2.3 Impact testing:
4.2 Testing of composites: Impact test shows that the maximum energy absorbed
by the material when impact load subject on it. The specimen
4.2.1 Tensile test: are cut by the saw cutting as per the ASTM standards of
The prepared composite plates are cut by saw cutting 62.5×12.5×3mm. the specimen was gripped in the impact
to get the dimensions of the specimen for tensile testing as per testing machine with charpy arrangement and the sudden
ASTM standards of 165×25×3 mm and the test was carried impact load is subjected by the pendulum until it fractures and
out by using universal testing machine. The specimens are the corresponding energy absorbed by the material was noted.
gripped in the universal testing machine and the test results are Shown in Fig 7
noted with respect to strain till the specimen gets fractured.
Shown in Fig 5

Fig.7 Impact testing machine

4.2.4 Compressive testing:

The prepared composite plates are cut by saw cutting
to get the dimensions of the specimen for compressive testing
as same as tensile testing as per ASTM standards of 165×25×3
Fig.5 Tensile testing machine mm and the test was carried out by using universal testing
machine. The specimens are gripped in the universal testing
4.2.2 Flexural test: machine and the test results are noted with respect to strain till
Flexural test exhibits the behavior of the material the specimen gets fractured. Shown in Fig 8
when subjected by the maximum stress applied in it. The
specimens are cut by saw cutting as per the ASTM standards
of 125×12.5×3 mm. The specimen loaded on its midpoint
when it is subjected to simple beam loading, the flexural test
used to determine the maximum stress induced in the material.
Shown in Fig 6

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 International Conference on Current Research in Engineering Science and Technology (ICCREST-2016)

60

Flextural Strength in Mpa

50
40
30
20
10
0
50/50 40/60 30/70 20/80
Fiber to resin ratio
Fig.8 Compressive testing machine

5. Results and discussion: Table.2

Tensile strength:
Initially the tensile strength values increase form 20% Fiber to resin ratio
Flexural strength
fiber to 40% fiber plate and finally decreased at 50% fiber
50/50 38.3
plate. The is shows that the tensile strength value is better at
60% resin and 40% fiber plate 40/60 56.2

50 30/70 44.7
Tensile Strength in

40
20/80 34.6
30
Mpa

20
10 Impact strength:
0 The impact strength value of the mader
fiber value increase from 20% fiber plate to
50/50 40/60 30/70 20/80
40% fiber plate and then suddenly decrease at
Fiber to resin ratio 50% fiber and 50% resin plate. This shows
Fig.9 Tensile strength that impact strength value better at 60% resin
Table.1 and 40% fiber plate.
Fiber to resin ratio Tensile strength 3
Impact strength in J

50/50 21.3 2.5

40/60 38.4 2
1.5
30/70 34.82
1
20/80 25.72 0.5
0
50/50 40/60 30/70 20/80
Fiber to resin ratio
Flexural Strength: Table.3
The flexural strength value for the mader fiber
increase initially from 20% fiber plate to 40% fiber plate and Fiber to resin ratio Impact strength
suddenly decreased at 50% fiber and 50% resin this implies 50/50 0.76
flexural strength value is better at 60% resin and 40%fiber.
40/60 2.722
30/70 1.576
20/80 1.001
Compressive strength
The compressive strength value of the madar fiber
increase from 20% fiber plate to 40% fiber plate and suddenly

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 International Conference on Current Research in Engineering Science and Technology (ICCREST-2016)
decrease at 50% fiber plate this shows that compressive 6. Sathishkumar T.P, Navaneethakrishnan P, Shankar S
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