Comparative Study of Physico-Mechanical Properties Between Okra and E-glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene-based Composites

Abstract

Okra fiber (OF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) matrix composites (45 wt% fiber) were fabricated using a compression molding technique. To fabricate the composite treated Okra fiber were used. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation at break (Eb%), bending strength (BS), bending modulus (BM), impact strength (IS) and hardness of the composites were found to be 38.5 MPa, 0.68 GPa, 8.2%, 72.5 MPa, 5.56 GPa, 22.87 kJ/m2, and 97 (Shore-A), respectively. Then E-glass fiber (woven)-reinforced polypropylene-based composites (45 wt% fiber) were fabricated and the mechanical properties (TS, TM, Eb%, BS, BM, IS, hardness) were found 80 MPa, 5 GPa, 11%, 81 MPa, 10 GPa, 32 kJ/m2, and 97 (Shore-A), respectively. After that compared E-glass fiber/PP based composites mechanical properties with those of the OF/PP based composites mechanical properties. It was observed that E-glass fiber-based composites showed almost double mechanical properties compared to OF/PP based composite. Water absorption and elongation percentage at break showed different scenario and it was noticed from the experimental study that water absorption and elongation at break (%) of was higher than E-glass based composites. After the flexural test, fracture surfaces of the E-glass/PP and OF/PP composites were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the results revealed that E-glass fiber reinforced based composites matrix adhesion less than the E-glass fiber reinforced based composites.