Vibrational analysis of glass/ramie fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composite

Natural fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composites have gained extensive applications in recent decades owing to their damping, low density, biodegradability, and low-cost benefits. This research explores the impact of the surface treatment, and the number of ramie fiber layers on the vibrational and mechanical characteristics of a glass/ramie fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composite. The composite is made of outer layer (glass fiber) and inner layer (ramie fiber) at different concentrations (varying between 2, 3, and 4). The ramie was pre-treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at different weight percentages (1%, 2%, and 5%). The composites have been fabricated using the vacuum bag technique. The composites have been characterized for chemical, mechanical, morphological, and free vibrational analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope have been used to study the chemical characteristics and morphological study of the composites respectively. The mechanical properties of the composite were evaluated through tensile and flexural testing. The hybrid composite reinforced with two layers of ramie fiber as the core with 2% pre-treated shows the maximum tensile strength of 120 MPa and flexural modulus of 12,147 MPa. Overall, the hybridization and NaOH pre-treatment to certain ratio helps in increase in the hybrid composite's mechanical strength compared to the natural fiber composite.