Investigation of Mechanical Properties and Drilling Parameters of Sesbaniarostrata Fiber Reinforced Polycaprolactone Biodegradable Polyester Resin Composites

Abstract

The requirement of the current scenario is to identify the sustainable material and process it into acceptable properties for current applications. The natural fiber is a prime sustainable material having the properties of biodegradability, plenty of availability, economical and adequate physical-mechanical property. Sesbania rostrata fiber is extracted from the stem of Sesbania rostrata plant which is cultivated along with Turmeric plants on 1000 acres annually as a nitrogen fixation plant. The fiber-reinforced composite is a tailor made material by altering the fiber and polymer weight proportion to achieve desired properties for applications. The natural fiber is a promising material to replace synthetic fiber to transform the composite into biodegradable. The making of holes in the biocomposite by the secondary process is essential for the assembly operation. The biocomposite was developed by reinforced Sesbania rostrata fiber in Polycaprolactone (PCL) biopolymer at the weight ratio of 20:80 and the mechanical properties and drilling parameters were investigated. The tensile, flexural and impact strength of the biocomposite was increased by 68%, 28% and 20.6% respectively compared with PCL biopolymer. The biocomposite was drilled by 4 mm at spindle speeds of 300, 750, and 1800 rpm with feed rates of 0.05, 0.12, and 0.25 mm/rev to evaluate the thrust force and delamination properties. The results showed that increasing spindle speed and feed rate resulted in higher thrust force and increased delamination in the composites. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanical properties and drilling behaviour of Sesbania rostrata fiber reinforced Polycaprolactone biodegradable composite and their potential use in various applications.