Thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis of hybrid jute/sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composite

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid jute/sisal fibre reinforced epoxy composites. The hybrid composites were prepared by hand layup technique having total fibre loading of 30% by weight with different weight ratios of jute and sisal fibres. Dynamic mechanical properties such as storage modulus ( $E\text{'}$ ), loss modulus ( $E″$ ) and damping ( $\mathrm{Tan}\delta$ ) were investigated in the temperature range of 30–200 ℃. The thermal stability of the prepared composites was studied using thermogravimetric analysis. Other thermal properties such as glass transition temperature (T_g), crystallization temperature (T_c) and decomposition temperature (T_d) were also obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated a positive effect of hybridization in terms of increase in dynamic mechanical and thermal properties. Storage modulus, loss modulus and T_g were found to be higher for hybrid composite having a higher percentage of jute fibres.