Polymers and Polymer Composites

Behaviour of hybrid SiC/jute epoxy composites manufactured by vacuum assisted resin infusion

May 1, 2017 By: Noha Ramadan; Iman Taha; Rawia Hammouda; Abdellatif M H Research article

Title: Behaviour of hybrid SiC/jute epoxy composites manufactured by vacuum assisted resin infusion
Page Range: p.333-344
Author(s): Noha Ramadan; Iman Taha; Rawia Hammouda; Abdellatif M H
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 25
Issue No: No.5

Abstract
Natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites are standing in the limelight of investigations due to their light weight and availability from natural and renewable resources. Improved mechanical and physical behaviour is targeted through hybridisation with other reinforcing elements. This study investigates the potential of adding silicon carbide particles at volume contents ranging between 2 and 8% to jute fabric-reinforced epoxy composite to produce such hybrid composites. In contrast to the commonly applied processing technique of hand layup used to produce natural fibre-reinforced laminates, the vacuum-assisted resin infusion method was applied in this study to produce high quality laminates. Samples were tested for their mechanical behaviour through tensile, flexural and impact tests. Scanning electron microscopy was further performed to analyse the modes of failure of the composites. Finally, erosion tests were conducted, by directly sanding the hybrid composite samples to evaluate their erosion wear resistance. Results indicated that the addition of particles had a significant effect on the tensile, flexural, impact and erosion wear behaviour of the composites under investigation. Hybrid composites reinforced with 4 vol.% SiC exhibited acceptable mechanical properties. The behaviour was found to deteriorate at SiC contents beyond 4 vol.%. 32 Refs.


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