Effect of inter-laminar fibre orientation on the tensile properties of sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites

Abstract

In this present work, effects of interlamina fibre orientation on the tensile properties of composites were studied and the results were discussed. The varying types of fibre oriented composites were prepared using the compression moulding technique at a pressure of 17 MPa. The different types of oriented composites investigated were 90º/0 º /90 º, 0 º /90 º /0 º, 90 º /0 º /0 º /90 º, 0 º /45 º /0 º, 0 º /90 º /45 º /45 º /90 º /0 º, 0 º /45 º /90 º /90 º /45 º /0 º and these composites were subjected to tensile testing according to ASTM: D3039-08. The sisal fibres were arranged in various angles with the help of specially designed mould. It was found that the tensile strength of sisal fibre composites improved when 0 º oriented fibres were positioned at the extreme layers of the composites compared to 90 º oriented fibres. The highest tensile strength among the types of composites was observed for 0 º /90 º /0 º. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to understand the interphase adhesion mechanism.