TENSILE AND IMPACT PROPERTIES OF POLYSTYRENE MATRIX COMPOSITES REINFORCED BY PALM NATURAL FIBERS AND CARBON FIBERS

The Palm natural fiber and carbon fiber reinforced polystyrene matrix composites were prepared by hand-lay-up with 50% Palm natural fibers and 50% carbon fibers . The weight fractions of Palm fiber and carbon fiber are (10, 20, 30, 40,50, and 60% by weight wt). The tensile and impact properties of composites were determined by the tensile and impact tests. The maximum impact strength is (175Kj/m 2 ) at the weight fraction of (60 % wt) of fibers, comparison with (19Kj/m2 ) for virgin polystyrene material ,and The maximum tensile strength is (358Mpa) at the weight fraction of (60 % wt) of fibers , comparison with (59Mpa) for virgin polystyrene material.