| dc.description.abstract | This study deals with the utilization of natural local fibers as reinforcing materials of polymer matrix composite (PMC), epoxy matrix composites. The objectives are (1) to compare the strength of four different fibers/epoxy composites, (2) to describe the failure modes of the composites, and (3) to compare the bonding ability of the epoxy onto the four different fibers. The four kinds of fibers used in this research are palm, coconut-skin, barbed pandanus, and abaca fibers. The specimens were made using hand lay-up technique, weighted and their volumes were measured to find out their densities, and then the specimens were tensile tested until each of them were broken up into two pieces. Their broken surfaces ware then macro-photographed to identify their failure modes. The data of tensile strength were then plotted to anyalize their tensile strengths and moduli. It was found that: (1) when Vf 24% for cl and Vf 19% for Ecl, the highest of cl and Ecl belong to palm fibe/epoxy composite, followed by barbed pandanus fiber/epoxy, banana-tree fiber/epoxy and coconut-skin fiber/epoxy, respectively, (2) there is weak bonding on the coconut-skin fiber/epoxy interface due to oily surface of the fibers, (3) f of palm, barbed pandanus, banana-tree and coconut-skin fibers are predicted to be 476.554 (MPa), 304.346 (MPa), 83.6593 (MPa), and 25.548 (MPa), respectively; while (4) Ef of those fibers are predicted to be 14091.96 (MPa), 2679.098 (MPa), 2173.02 (MPa), and 750.86 (MPa), respectively, noted that Ef of coconut-skin fiber is not the 'real' value, (5) All specimens underwent single failure and contained relatively high fraction of void. Failure mode of palm fiber epoxy and coconut-skin fiber/epoxy composites is fiber pullout, while that of barbed pandanus fiber/epoxy and banana-tree fiber epoxy is fiber breakage/break-up. | en_US |
