Hybrid Composites From Coir Fibers Reinforced With Woven Glass Fabrics: Physical and Mechanical Evaluation

Hamouda T., Hassanin A. H., Kılıç A., Candan Z., Bodur M. S.

POLYMER COMPOSITES, vol.38, no.10, pp.2212-2220, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 38 Issue: 10
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/pc.23799
  • Journal Name: POLYMER COMPOSITES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2212-2220
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Sandwich composites based on coir fiber nonwoven mats as core material were manufactured by Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding technique. Mechanical and physical properties of produced coir/polyester and coir-glass/polyester composites were assessed. Samples were evaluated according to their reinforcement contents, resin contents, areal density, and thickness. Tests on physical properties revealed that coir-glass/polyester sandwich structure has the lowest values of thickness swelling, water absorption and moisture contents compared with coir/polyester composite. Mechanical tests such as tensile strength, open-hole tensile strength, and flexural strength were also performed on all samples. Coir-glass/polyester sandwich structure showed significant increase in tensile strength of 70 MPa compared with 8 MPa of coir/polyester composite. Introducing two skins of fiber glass woven roving to coir/polyester increased its flexural strength from 31.8 to 131.8 MPa for coir-glass/polyester. (C) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers