Processing and Mechanical Property Evaluation of Banana Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

In the fast developing world, the concern for the environmental pollution and the prevention of non-renewable and non-biodegradable resources has attracted researchers seeking to develop new eco-friendly materials and products based on sustainability principles. The fibers from the natural sources provide indisputable advantages over synthetic reinforcement materials such as low cost, low density, non-toxicity, comparable strength, and minimum waste disposal problems. In the present experiment, banana fiber reinforced epoxy composites are prepared and the mechanical properties of these composites are evaluated. The composite samples with different fiber volume fractions were prepared by using the hand lay-up process and apply pressure at room temperature. The samples were subjected to the mechanical testing such as tensile, flexural and impact loading. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis is carried out to evaluate fiber matrix interfaces and analyze the structure of the fractured surfaces. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.