Mechanical, Chemical and Acoustical Behavior of Sisal - Tea Waste - Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Based Hybrid Polymer Composites

Natural fiber reinforced composites replace metals due to their light weight, high strength to weight ratio, non-corrosive nature and stiffness. However poor interfacial adhesion between fiber and matrix, low melting point and lack of resistance to moisture has limited the use of natural fibers. Hybridization helps to tweak the properties of composites as per specialized requirements and to get the best performance. Studies on the use of natural fibers as replacement in fiber-reinforced composites have increased and opened up further industrial possibilities. Many automobile sector are currently shifting to a Green outlook since customers are also looking for environmental friendly vehicles. Mixing of natural fibers with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP's) is finding increased applications in automotive parts. In the present research, sisal (S) and waste tea fibers (T) are selected because of their eco-friendly nature and sound absorption properties respectively. Both the fibers having a hydrophilic contents like hemicellulose, waxes and lignin. Due to this reason, the fibers are chemically treated with 5% of alkaline (NaOH) treatment and hybridized with GFRP by an epoxy matrix. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength were investigated. The moisture absorption properties are also carried out. The chemical compositions present inside composite were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Analysis. The sound absorption properties are also experimentally investigated by using Impedance Test Tube method. It shows that hybridization of sisal with glass have more flexural and impact properties. The tea fiber used as a filler material exhibits more sound absorption property than other fibers. Also interfacial properties such as internal cracks, blow holes and fiber pullouts were examined through scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.