Study of Improvement in Mechanical Properties of Chemically Treated Hybrid Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

Natural fibres such as banana, jute, coir, hemp, sisal, and bamboo are utilised as reinforcements for composite materials at random because of their inherent features such as low-cost, low-density, and low-energy consumption when compared to man-made fibres. Furthermore, they are both renewable and biodegradable, and a wide range of natural fibres are accessible. In this study, mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, compression, and impact behaviour of a hybrid banana–jute fibre-reinforced polymer composite were examined using compression moulding techniques. Jute and banana fibre were used as reinforcements, and polyester resin was used as the matrix in this investigation. The jute and banana fibres were chemically treated for 48 h with potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution at 5% solution concentration. Fibre composites were made using the compression moulding technique. Mechanical and physical evaluations revealed the impact of surface chemical treatments on reinforcements. An optical microscope (SEM) was used to investigate the impact of chemical alteration on composites. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to determine the thermal stability of hybrid composites. Finally, it is discovered that the hybridization of jute and banana fibres might be highly useful in the production of composites.