Free-vibration and moisture absorption behaviour of Sida acuta fibre polymer composites Available to Purchase

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of fibre orientation and fibre loading on the flexural properties, free-vibration characteristics and moisture absorption behaviour of Sida acuta-fabric-reinforced epoxy matrix composites. S. acuta composites were fabricated to 0, 24, 28 and 32 wt.% fibre loadings with each having 0°/90° and ±45° fibre orientations using the hand lay-up method. The flexural strength and damping properties of the S. acuta composite were enhanced with fibre loading from 24 to 32 wt.% in both ±45° and 0°/90° fibre orientation composites. The maximum value of the flexural strength of the composites (43.3 MPa) was obtained at 32 wt.% fibre with a 0°/90° fibre orientation. The moisture absorption of the S. acuta composite was enhanced with increase in fibre content from 0 to 32 wt.%. The tensile strength and stiffness of the moisture-degraded S. acuta composite decreased with an increase in fibre loading from 24 to 32 wt.% after the equilibrium period (60 days) of moisture immersion. The nature of fibre and matrix material interface was investigated through scanning electron microscopy of a flexural fracture without moisture degradation and tensile fracture with moisture-degraded samples. The fracture surface morphology of the composite reveals that the fracture behaviour and fibre pull-out of the samples.