Study on Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Palm Stalk Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Static and dynamic effects of palm leaf stem stalk (PLSS) powder were investigated relative to the bi-directional palm stalk fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The PLSS bio-filler was incorporated into the epoxy resin by varying its content from 0 to 15 wt%. The hybrid palm-epoxy composites were manufactured using the hand-lay-up technique followed by light compression molding. The results for the mechanical properties of the PLSS particle (15 wt%)/palm/epoxy composites indicated an improvement in the tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength by approximately 33, 32, and 21%, respectively, when compared to the palm/epoxy composite. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the composites showed an enhancement in the storage modulus, loss modulus and damping capacity (tan 8) by approximately 75, 95, and 47%, respectively, when compared to the palm/epoxy composite. The fiber-matrix interaction was studied using a Cole-Cole plot analysis. The swelling and degradation resistance of the composites was increased with filler addition.