SU-ERBIL 2011

The International Scientific Conference of Salahaddin University Erbil October 18-20, 2011 Erbil , Kurdistan, Iraq

Effect of reinforcement of palm fiber base and carbon fiber on the mechanical properties of composite material with Epoxy Resin
Asst. Prof. Dr. Hani Aziz Ameen Ameer Tofan Shafiq AbdulWahab Ahmed Daud

Technical College- Baghdad

Objective of the Work

The objective was to investigate the influence of base of palm fiber on the mechanical properties of composite material and compared it with carbon fiber.

Abstract
The experimental of testing of laminate plate from fiber glass two layers arranged in (30,60) orientation and third layer from base of palm fiber with (0) orientation . The measurements and relationship of various loads with various deflections is investigated the effect of using base of palm fiber on flexural properties of fiber glass specimens. The tests determine the flexural properties, flexural modules (stiffness) and strength for each case (i.e with base of palm fiber and with carbon fiber). The developed finite element solution (numerical solution) formulation, for the analysis (fiber-reinforced) laminated plate are presented. The results are divided into two parts; the first part of results consists of material properties of the composite materials where this group has been tested experimentally with base of palm and with carbon fibers. The second part containing groups with the analytical outcome that depend on the finite element method using the ANSYS program in which the effect base of palm fiber on the mechanical properties of composite material (E-glass fiber + base of palm fiber + Epoxy resin) is investigated. Samples were manufacturing and examined using three point bending test method in order to assess the effect of base of palm fiber on the strength modulus. Results show that the base of palm fiber has clearly effect on the mechanical properties of composite materials, that the composite materials with base of palm fiber has the mechanical properties less than with carbon fiber in bending test

Intoduction
A number of investigations have been conducted on several types of natural fibers such as banana and ramie to study the effect of these fibers on the mechanical properties of composite materials (natural fibers + Epoxy + EGlass). Frederico studied the temperature variation of the dynamicmechanical parameters of epoxy matrix composites incorporated with up to 30% in volume of ramie fiber were investigated by DMA tests. Manoj studied the mechanical properties of epoxy resin with fly ash such as compressive strength and impact strength . Lina studied the process for the production of the banana fiber reinforced composite materials with a thermoset, suitable for automotive and transportation industry application. Maleque studied the effect of banana fiber on the mechanical properties (tensile, Flexural and impact test). In this study the influence of base of palm fiber on the mechanical properties of composite material and compared it with carbon fiber, in which the mechanical properties of glass/epoxy two layer arranged in orientation (30,60) is investigated .

The method that is used in the present work for manufacturing the laminated composite plate is hand lay-up. Preparing the base of palm fiber as shown in Fig(1).

Preparation of specimens

Fig.(1) Base palm fiber

Arranged the E-glass in orientation (30,60) and the distance 0 mm as shown in Fig(2).

Fig.(2) manufacturing the specimen

 The application of E-glass fiber in the resin layer with the considered orientation (theta) (30,60) as shown in Fig(2). One of the fibers sheet is put upon this resin. After that a quantity of epoxy resin added over the fiber layer, and then another sheet of base of palm fiber in orientation (0) and another theta is put upon this resin in using a suitable hand roller to compact the material to remove any entrapped air. This process is repeated until the total design number of layers is achieved as shown in Fig(3). Again, repeat the above steps but with carbon fiber. After that, the plate was cut into several samples 250*38*8 according to ASTM standard D3039 for testing three point bending test.
Epoxy Layer

E-Glass Layer

Base of palm Layer

E-Glass Layer Epoxy Layer

Fig.(3) section of the specimen

Bending (Flexural) Test The three-point bending test has received wide acceptance in the composite material industry, this method was utilized in order to investigate the changes in flexural properties (stiffness and strength) due to environmental exposure. The bending tests were performed according to ASTM standard D790-02, using a universal tensile testing machine MTS (20/MH). Summary of test method a bar of rectangular cross section rests on two supports and loaded by means of a loading nose midway between the supports as shown in Fig(4).

Fig(4) three bending moment device

Measurements of force/deflections were taken every 0.5 s and sketched graphs between these values as shown in Figs.(5,6).

Fig.(5) Force vs extension ( percentage) for the composite material using base of palm

Fig.(6) Force vs extension( percentage) for the composite material using carbon fiber

Model Generation by ANSYS

The two Dimensional model of specimen is done with element shell99. Fig.(7) shows the specimen model and its boundary conditions in ANSYS for three point bending.

Fig.(7) Mesh and boundary conditions

Two specimens of composite material are tested; with base of palm fiber and with carbon fiber, which manufactured from (E glass fiber & epoxy resin) under three point bending in order to see the effect of palm fiber on the material properties. After test procedure the force displacement curve obtained as shown in Fig.(8)

Results and Discussion

Fig.(8) Force vs extension (%) for base of palm and carbon fiber

From that it can be obtained the mechanical properties for the composite material with base of palm fiber and with carbon fiber are shown in the table (1).
Composite Material Width (mm) Thickness Max. Modulus (mm) Force (N) of Elasticity (MPa) 13 370 1565 13 1023 462

With base of palm fiber With carbon fiber

42 42

The stress distribution along the specimens of bending tests are illustrated in Figs.(9 & 10) which obtained by using finite element method via ANSYS program.

Fig.(9) Stress distribution of the specimen for the composite material using base of palm

Fig.(10) Stress distribution of the specimen for the composite material using carbon fiber

From the results, it can be observed that the base of palm fiber and carbon fiber element has got clearly effect on the mechanical properties of the composite material, the mechanical properties are decreased when the base of palm fiber is used than the carbon fiber element adding to the epoxy to produce composite material as shown in table (1). The reason of this result belongs to the increasing of hardness of material when the carbon fiber employed with the epoxy as a risen. The value of max. bending stress of composite material with carbon fiber greater than the composite material with base of palm fiber as shown in Fig.(9 &10). The reason of low value of the ultimate stress for this composite material belongs to the mesh of fiber glass and thickness of matrix which cause in decreasing the elongation under tensile load because the value of young modulus is reasonable and this observed clearly when the base of palm fiber is used with the epoxy as a risen material. The arrangement of fiber glass with thickness of matrix used in this study to produce a composite material can be given a good strength in bending especially.

Conclusions
The base of palm fiber has clearly effect on the mechanical properties of composite materials. Composite materials with base of palm has the mechanical properties less than with carbon fiber .

Conclusions
The base of palm fiber has clearly effect on the mechanical properties of composite materials.

Composite materials with base of palm has the mechanical properties less than with carbon fiber .