Experimental characterization of Grewia Ferruginea fiber reinforced polyester matrix composite materials

Abstract

Researchers have recently altered their focus and have become more interested in natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites because they are more ecologically friendly and environmentally conscious than synthetic fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Among the best sources of natural fiber, Grewia ferruginea, sometimes known locally as Lenquata, is a source of natural fiber from other plant fibers. The goal of this study was to create polyester matrix composites reinforced with short Grewia ferruginea plant fibers measuring 10, 20, and 30 mm. The fibers were extracted using the traditional water-retting method and chemically treated with 5% NaOH. The findings indicated that the average tensile strength of a single fiber from Grewia ferruginea plants is 214 MPa, with a density of 1.11 g/cm³. Furthermore, the composite, which was created with a fiber length of 10 mm, fiber weight ratio of 25 %, and polyester matrix composite of 75 %, exhibited superior performance since it is stronger than any combination that was used to create the composite in this investigation, with 18.3 MPa tensile and 35.2 MPa flexural strength.