Effect of Carbon and Glass Fillers on Tensile and Impact Strength, Water Absorption, and Degradation Properties of Sisal/Polyester Composites

ABSTRACT

The inferior mechanical and water absorption properties of natural fibers are massive challenges to utilizing them for industrial applications. The study aims to enhance tensile strength, impact strength, water absorption, and degradation of sisal/polyester composites using glass and carbon fillers. Four fillers proportions (2.5 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 7.5 wt.%, 10 wt.%) and two sisal fiber proportions (20 wt.% and 30 wt.%) were taken to fabricate the composites. Experimentations were performed according to the ASTM standards. The fillers improved tensile and impact strength, water absorption, and degradation of the composites. Carbon-filled composites displayed better results than the corresponding glass-filled composites. Carbon fillers showed a maximum increment of 24.2% in tensile and 78.5% in impact strength for the dry 20/80 composites, and 14.7% in tensile and 57.3% in impact strength for the dry 30/70 composites. Moreover, carbon fillers reduced water absorption by 55.4% for the 20/80 composites and by 53.6% for the 30/70 composites. The highest values of tensile and impact strengths were obtained for the 5 wt.% carbon-filled 30/70 composite; whereas, the lowest water absorption was for the 10 wt.% carbon-filled 20/80 composite. The lowest degradation of 2% in tensile and impact strengths was exhibited for the 7.5 wt.% carbon-filled 20/80 composites.

摘要

天然纤维的低劣机械性能和吸水财产对其工业应用带来了巨大挑战. 该研究旨在提高使用玻璃和碳填料的剑麻/聚酯复合材料的拉伸强度、冲击强度、吸水性和降解性. 采用四种填料比例（2.5重量%、5重量%、7.5重量%、10重量%）和两种剑麻纤维比例（20重量%、30重量%）来制备复合材料. 根据ASTM标准进行实验. 填料提高了复合材料的拉伸和冲击强度、吸水性和降解性. 碳填充复合材料比相应的玻璃填充复合材料显示出更好的结果. 对于干燥的20/80复合材料，碳填料的拉伸强度和冲击强度分别增加了24.2%和78.5%，对于干燥的30/70复合材料，拉伸强度和抗冲击强度分别提高了14.7%和57.3%. 此外，对于20/80复合材料，碳填料降低了55.4%的吸水率，对于30/70复合材料，降低了53.6%的吸水率. 对于5 wt.%碳填充的30/70复合材料，获得了最高的拉伸强度和冲击强度值; 而对于10 wt.%碳填充的20/80复合材料，吸水率最低. 对于7.5 wt.%的碳填充20/80复合材料，在拉伸和冲击强度方面表现出2%的最低降解.

KEYWORDS:

• Sisal fiber
• carbon filler
• glass filler
• tensile strength
• impact strength
• degradation

关键词:

• 剑麻纤维
• 碳填料
• 玻璃填料
• 抗拉强度
• 冲击强度
• 堕落

Highlights

The highlights of this research include:

• A significant enhancement on tensile strength, impact strength, water absorption, and degradation properties of sisal fiber/polyester composites is achieved through the addition of carbon and glass fillers.

• Comparative study between the effect of carbon and glass fillers on the water absorption, tensile strength, impact strength, and degradation properties showed better results for the carbon filled composites than the glass filled composites.

• Investigation on the influence of carbon and glass fillers’ amount on the impact strength, tensile strength, water absorption, and degradation properties of the composites presented highest tensile and impact strengths for the 5 wt.% carbon filled 30/70 composite, lowest water absorption for the 10 wt.% carbon filled 20/80 composite, and lowest degradation of 2% in tensile and impact strengths for the 7.5 wt.% carbon filled 20/80 composites.

• Addition of carbon and glass fillers in the 30/70 composites is preferable to the 20/80 composites for better tensile and impact strengths; whereas, adding the powders in the 20/80 composites are preferable for lower water absorption and degradation properties.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to appreciate the School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and School of Civil Engineering at Ethiopian Institute of Technology Mekelle (EIT-M), Mekelle University for providing us with materials, laboratory service, and research funding.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.