Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of E-Glass and Coconut Fiber Reinforced with Polyester and Epoxy Resin Matrices

Composite manufacturing is the novel branch of science, which finds its immense applications in various industries such as sporting, automotive, aerospace and marine industries. The superior properties of composites such as stiffness, better mechanical properties, low density and light weight make it a candidate in engineering applications. The need for seeking alternate materials with increased performance in the field of composites revived this research, to prepare fiber reinforced composites by hand layup method using E-glass and coconut fibers with length 5-6 mm. The resin used in the preparation of composites was epoxy and polyester. Fiber reinforced composites were synthesized at 18:82 fiber-resin weight percentages. Samples prepared were tested to evaluate its mechanical and physical properties, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, hardness and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed the morphological features. E-glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite exhibited better mechanical properties than other composite samples. The cross linking density of monomers of the epoxy resin and addition of the short chopped E-glass fibers enhanced the properties of E-glass epoxy fiber reinforced composite.