Mechanical and Water Intake Properties of Banana-Carbon Hybrid Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

The concern for the environmental pollution and the prevention of resources has attracted researchers to develop new eco-friendly green materials based on sustainability principles. In this experimental study, there are six different composite samples were fabricated by using banana and carbon fibers with epoxy resin matrix. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and water uptake properties of these composites have been evaluated. The composites reinforced with pure carbon fibers can hold the maximum tensile strength of 288.03 MPa, flexural strength of 3.12 kN, impact strength of 4.58 J and water intake percentage of 62.3%. Whereas the composites reinforced with carbon and banana fibers can withstand the maximum tensile strength of 277.06 MPa, flexural strength of 3.07 kN, impact strength of 4.36 J and water intake percentage of 70%. The finite element analysis has been carried out to predict the mechanical properties of the composites by using ANSYS 15.0. The experimental results are compared with the predicted values and have found that, there is a high correlation occurs between the results. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis is carried out to study the fiber matrix interfaces and analyse the structure of the fractured and water absorbed surfaces.