Static and Dynamic Properties of Sisal Fiber Polyester Composites - Effect of Interlaminar Fiber Orientation

The effect of fiber orientation was studied relative to the static and dynamic properties of sisal/polyester composites. Different composites were developed using the compression moulding technique with the aid of a specially designed mould. Composite laminates were formulated by stacking a number of fiber lamina with different orientations such as 9 degrees/0 degrees /90 degrees, 0 degrees /90 degrees/0 degrees, 90 degrees /0 degrees /0 degrees /90 degrees, 0 degrees /45 degrees /0 degrees, 0 degrees /90 degrees /45 degrees /45 degrees /90 degrees /0 degrees, and 0 degrees /45 degrees /90 degrees /90 degrees /45 degrees /0 degrees. In general, the performance of static and dynamic characteristics was found to be significantly influenced by the effect of interlaminar fiber orientation. Experimental results exhibited a higher flexural strength of 68 MPa and an impact strength of 320 J/m in the case of 0 degrees /90 degrees/45 degrees/45 degrees /90 degrees /0 degrees oriented composites. Dynamic characteristics such as natural frequency and damping were found to be higher in the case of 0 degrees /45 degrees /0 degrees and 0 degrees /90 degrees /0 degrees, respectively. Morphological analysis was performed for understanding the interlaminar orientation and failure mechanisms between the fiber and the matrix.