Dynamic mechanical and dielectric behavior of banana–glass hybrid fiber reinforced polyester composites.

Abstract

Hybrid composites of glass and banana fiber (obtained from the pseudo stem of Musa sapientum) in polyester matrix, are subjected to dynamic mechanical analysis over a range of temperature and three different frequencies. The effect of temperature on the storage modulus(E’), loss modulus (E’’), and loss factor or damping efficiency (tan delta) is determined. All the properties are compared with those of the neat polyester samples and the un-hybridized composites. The effects of the layering pattern of the two fibers on the ultimate viscoelastic behavior of the composites are also investigated. Composites are prepared with banana as the surface layer and glass as the surface layer and also as an intimate mixture of glass and banana. At temperatures above Tg, the storage modulus values are found to decrease even with the addition of glass fiber for the geometry where glass is the core material. The value of the storage modulus of the composites with the above mentioned geometry is found to be different, above and below Tg, the value above Tg being lower than that below Tg unlike in unhybridized composite. The loss modulus curves and the damping peaks are found to be flattened by the addition of glass. Layering pattern or the geometry of the composites is found to have a profound effect on the dynamic properties of the composite. An intimately mixed composite is found to have the highest storage modulus values in all compositions. The values are consistent with the results of tensile strength. The tan delta curve is found to be affected by the layering pattern followed and gives insight into the interaction in the material. The dielectric behavior of the composites are also found to be dependent on the glass fiber volume fraction as well as the layering pattern employed. The study reports on the effect of hybridization on the dynamic mechanical behaviour as well as electrical properties of banana–glass composites. Hybridization of banana fiber with glass fiber has been proved to improve the mechanical performance and the water absorption behavior of the composites. The effect of the relative glass volume fraction as well as the layering patterns on the properties of the composites like storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping peaks are reported in the present communication. The nature of the storage modulus and damping peaks give an idea about the load transfer efficiency between the polymer and the reinforcement. The layering pattern giving best properties is proposed to be optimized based on the dynamic mechanical response of the composites