Effect of peacock feather and rose stem fibre hybridisation on mechanical properties of polystyrene composites

Natural fibre composites are developed to combat environmental challenges posed by non-biodegradable polymers such as littering in landfills. Other advantages of such composites include low cost, renewability and low density. In present research, polystyrene matrix composites were prepared with varying compositions of peacock feather barbs and retted rose stem fibre. The percentage of fibre used was 0, 5, 10 and 15%, while keeping feather to stem ratio at 1:1. The composites were compression moulded in a hot press machine. Later two more composites were prepared using 15% fibre loading and feather to stem ratio of 3:1 and 1:3. Tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests of prepared composites were subsequently conducted. Tensile and impact strength decreased, while other mechanical properties increased generally with peacock feather and rose stem hybrid fibre loading. Composite containing feather and stem fibre at 3:1 ratio had highest tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength, while composite containing feather and stem fibre at 1:1 ratio had highest Young's modulus and hardness. Thus, composite containing 15 wt% peacock feather and rose stem fibre at 3:1 ratio had the best set of mechanical properties among all prepared composites.