Paper Title
Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Calotropis Giganteastem Fiber-Rein Forced Composite Material
Abstract
The awareness in natural fiber reinforced composite materials is rapidly growing both in terms of industrial
applications and fundamental research. Natural fibers have recently become attractive to researchers, engineers and scientists
as an alternative reinforcement for fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Owing to their availability, low cost, good
mechanical properties, high specific strength, non-abrasive, eco-friendly and bio-degradability characteristics, they are
exploited as a replacement for the conventional fiber, such as aramid and carbon. Several chemical modifications are
employed to improve the interfacial matrix-fiber bonding resulting in the enhancement of mechanical properties of the
composites.Calotropisgigenteais a species of calotropis, native to Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri
Lanka, India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and tropical Africa. Itsfiber was extracted manually from the plant’s stem and treated
chemically.The samples have been prepared by varying the fiber percentages and epoxy resin. Hybrid Composites are
fabricated using raw calotropisgigenteastem fiber/glass with varying fiber weight percent5:0 to 5:3 weight by using hand
layup method. The fabricated specimens were cut as rectangular pieces according to the ASTM standards for conducting all
tests. The purpose of this paper is to assess the tensile strength, impact strength, density and hardness of hybrid
calotropisgigantea stem fiber reinforced composites. Results illustrates that the use of less than 12 gm glass fiber in this
composite increases tensile strength, impact, density and hardness.
Keywords- Calotropisgigentea, Stem fiber, Composites, Mechanical properties, Epoxy resin.