Effect of continuous fiber reinforcement on mechanical and tribological characteristics of cellulose and human hair fiber polymer composites
K.S. Ashraff Ali, Samraj Ravi, V. Mohanavel, Manikandan Ayyar, Selvakumar Kathiresan, Sathish Kannan, Arunkumar Munimathan, Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar, S. Kaliappan
Abstract
• A steady increase in fiber volume from 15 % to 25 % results in an increase in the composite's tensile strength. • Due to increased adherence in both directions, it increased both impact energy and Rockwell hardness. • Decreased level parameter values result in decreased mass loss for all volume fractions and fiber types. • Cellulose fiber wear rates were lower for functional applications. • The material stability was decreased by increasing the sliding distance at greater loads and velocities. • The present work can be used as the high frictional resistance applications such as brake pads and floor panels. Frictional materials present a new challenge in today's automotive and manufacturing sectors as they improve the capacity for self-lubrication while meeting functional criteria like reduced noise, friction, and heat resistance. The life of earlier materials composed of a single component is shortened due to increased heat production and wear rate. Therefore, for these applications, multi-component frictional materials are typically utilized. Because asbestos sheets have great heat resistance and dependability, they were previously employed for frictional purposes. However, a lot of sectors have stopped using asbestos because of the possible cancer risks to both humans and the ecosystem. Certain areas used metallic or synthetic fibers to lessen these impacts, but it also revealed the higher cost of raw materials, non-recyclability, and environmental risks. This work aims to investigate the effects of various natural fibers reinforced in both unidirectional and bidirectional orientations on mechanical strength properties, frictional properties, and physical properties using an epoxy polymer matrix. Using the compression molding process, a total of nine distinct composites were created, each with a different fiber and matrix volume composition (15:85, 20:80, and 25:75, respectively). While areca and PALF fibers are oriented bidirectionally with an epoxy polymer matrix throughout all fiber volumes, human hair is orientated unidirectionally. Then, using ASTM-recommended testing procedures, the produced composite samples were examined for tensile, impact, hardness, density, microstructural analysis, and frictional qualities. The benchmarking analysis of the obtained results led to the conclusion that 25 % PALF bi-directional fiber mat reinforced polymer composites exhibited superior mechanical capabilities compared to the other two fibers under consideration, namely Areca and human hair. Because the human hair composites had a smaller surface area of the fiber, their wear rate was reduced. The continuous fiber reinforcement improved the bonding interaction by improving the interlocking at the interface region.