Effect of Fiber Content on Mechanical Properties of Alkali treated Unidirectional Long Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites.

Abstract

Environmental awareness of the general public and depletion of petroleum resource have trigged an enormous interest in utilizing the natural fibers, and their composites as environmentally friendly. Now a days, the numerous researchers, scientists and engineers have explored the production and properties of natural fibers and utilization of natural fibers as effectively and economically as possible to produce good quality fiber reinforced polymer composites. This will be helpful to evaluate the development and properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites. The use of natural fiber as reinforcement for polymer composites have generated much interest due to their availability, renewable, low cost, light weight, relative high specific strength and modulus, in explosive, minimal health hazardous, biodegradable and possibility of environmental protection. Also the use natural fibers offer some advantages regarding mechanical thermal properties.