IMPACT TEST ANALYSIS OF NATURAL FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES FABRICATED WITH BAST FIBRES FOR INDUSTRIAL/HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS

The Charpy impact test measures the amount of energy absorbed by a standard notched specimen while breaking under an impact load. The test consists of striking a suitable specimen with a hammer on a pendulum arm while the specimen is held securely at each end. Composites are judicious combination of two or more materials that produces aggregate properties that are different from those of its constituents. Composites are hybrid materials made of a polymer resin reinforced by fibres, combining the high mechanical and physical properties of the fibres and the appearance, bonding and physical properties of the polymers. This work studies the impact strength for given range of temperature (210°C-180°C), force (5-8KN) and time (8-15 mins) for six natural fibres reinforced with polypropylene matrix base. The bast fibres include viscose, rayon, lyocell, linen, jute and hemp. The results show for rayon a maximum impact strength of 32.3144KJ/m2 at a force of 3KN, time of 10 mins and a temperature of 200°C, for viscose a maximum impact strength of 30.7716KJ/m2 at a temperature of 180°C, time of 15 mins and force of 5KN. Lyocell had a maximum impact strength of 29.3869KJ/m2 for an elapsed time of 10 mins, impact force of 3KN and a temperature of 200°C, linen had a maximum strength of 35.8735KJ/m2 at an elapsed time of 10 mins, impact force of 3KN at a temperature of 200°C, jute had a maximum strength of 13.2075KJ/m2 at an elapsed time of 8 mins, impact force of 3KN and a temperature of 210°C, and hemp had a strength of 12.7050KJ/m2 at an elapsed time of 10 mins, impact force of 3KN and a temperature of 200°C. Received: April 29, 2023Revised: May 28, 2023Accepted: June 29, 2023