The influence of woven density on tensile properties of hybrid kenaf/glass composites

Abstract

The synergy of natural fibre and synthetic fibre reported to overcome natural fibre drawback. This study focus on, plain weave of kenaf fibre with different weaving density effects on its tensile properties in hybridization with non-woven mat glass. The weaving density directly affect composites fibre loading, increased in weaving density hence increase fibre loading and composite weight. Two type of woven kenaf fabrics were weaved by lab scale self-designed hand loom, varies in warp direction. For comparison purposes, kenaf composite for both type of woven kenaf fabricated by compression moulding. The tensile properties and its failure mechanism were revealed in this study. Kenaf composite with higher woven density shows slightly reduce it tensile strength even though increased in composite fibre loading. Both kenaf composites achieved tensile strength at 83.85 MPa and 75.61 MPa respectively. However, tensile modulus calculated as comparable for both composites with results as 8.92 MPa and 8.29MPa. Hybrid kenaf/glass composites however exhibits, drastic drop in tensile strength and modulus effect of weaving density. Drop in tensile strength about 28% with increased in weaving density, hybrid kenaf low woven density tensile strength measured at 85.5 MPa meanwhile hybrid kenaf high weaving density composites dropped to 51.7 MPa. Tensile modulus for the composites measures at 9.88 MPa and 6. 75 MPa for low and high woven density hybrid composites respectively. Failure mechanism analysis has found that fracture was dominantly by kenaf yarn in both parameters.