Effect of Fiber Volume Fraction on the Mechanical Properties of NFRP Composites

Abstract

Natural fibers are gaining popularity at present because they are readily available in nature and biodegradable. This study aims to determine how fiber content affects the mechanical characteristics of natural fiber-reinforced polymer (NFRP) composites. Three types of laminates are manufactured using the hand-layup technique by considering the flax, hemp, and jute fibers as reinforcement and epoxy resin and hardener as a matrix. The impurities on surface of fibers are cleared by treating them with a 2% NaOH concentration. All the laminates are fabricated using 40 and 50% fiber volume fractions to identify their effect on mechanical properties. Mechanical performance of the composites is investigated by performing the tension and compression tests on composite coupons following ASTM standards along several fiber directions of 0°, 90° and 45°. This study shows that composite materials with a fiber volume fraction of 40% perform better in terms of elastic characteristics. The composite made with a fiber volume proportion of 50% has served better regarding strength properties