Item

Analysis of mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

Abstract
Different chemically treated hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were investigated over a range of fibre content (0–60 wt%). Although Young’s modulus of all the short fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites was found to be higher than that of unreinforced unsaturated polyester; however, tensile strength of the composites exceeded that of the unsaturated polyester matrix only for the combined alkali- and silane-treated fibre composites at 40 wt% fibre content. The decrease in tensile strength of the composites could be attributed to stress concentrations caused by the fibres in conjunction with the brittle matrix. Impact strength of all the treated fibre composites was higher than that of the untreated fibre composites at all fibre contents. KIc and GIc of the composites decreased initially and thenincreased as the fibre content increased because more and more fibres being available to pull-out. The mechanical properties of the composites were increased further due to the alignment of long fibres.
Type
Journal Article
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Sawpan, M.A., Pickering, K.L. & Fernyhough, A. (2013). Analysis of mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Journal of Composite Materials, 47(12), 1513-1525.
Date
2013
Publisher
Sage
Degree
Supervisors
Rights
Publisher version