Tensile Properties of Commingled Yarn Arenga Pinnata-Basalt Polyester and Polyvinyl Ester Polymer Composites

Abstract

The use of natural fibres as replacement materials in several industrial sectors has attracted significant global interest in the quest for sustainability and a greener world. Arenga pinnata (AP) is the most cost-effective natural fibres available and one of the most abundant fibre plants grown in Asia. It has an excellent mechanical performance to replace glass fibres. However, the industrial production of based composites reinforced with natural fibres nowadays is limited due to their long-term durability in different environments. Therefore, in this study, AP was commingled with basalt fibre to improve its mechanical performance. Two different types of matrices were used, i.e., polyester (PE) and polyvinyl ester (PVE) polymers. The tensile properties of commingled AP-Basalt fibre PE or PVE composites were then compared to the individual AP and Basalt commingled yarn composites. All samples were undergone tensile test using ASTM D3039 standard. It was found that Basalt yarn fibre has the highest mechanical strength when compared to the AP yarn and AP-B commingled PE and PVE polymer composites.