Tensile, impact, and vibration properties of coconut sheath/sisal hybrid composites: Effect of stacking sequence

Abstract

This work addresses the tensile, impact, and free vibration properties of sisal/coconut sheath fiber hybrid-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. The hybrid composites are fabricated using a compression molding technique with varying stacking sequences under as-received or chemically treated conditions. The chemical treatments (alkali and tri-chloro vinyl silane) have shown better performance than untreated composites. Furthermore, the silane-treated composite shows enhanced static mechanical and free vibration properties for all stacking sequences relative to the other two cases. From the experimental results, the silane-treated coconut sheath/sisal/coconut sheath hybrid stack is found to be an optimum stacking sequence for better properties. Further, an encouraging damping factor value is also observed for the optimum stacking sequence. The failure mechanism of interfacial de-bonding between the fibers and the matrix is analyzed with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.