Effect of polyurethane ratio on mechanical behavior of banana fiber/polyurethane-vinylester matrix composites

ABSTRACT

A customary ratio of vinyl ester (VER) and Polyurethane (PU) resin were chosen as the matrix material (blend) to attain the complete Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPN). In this course of research, the mechanical properties of the Banana fiber reinforced IPN (blend) matrix were thoroughly investigated by precisely varying the loading of polyurethane into vinylester as 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% PU respectively. Besides that, the fabricated banana fiber reinforced polyurethane loaded IPN laminate were experimentally investigated in order to characterize the strength of the laminate as per the ASTM standards. The test results exhibit that, strain rate of the laminate increases to many folds as compared (Tensile 0% PU - 0.45% & 50% PU - 3.1%, Flexural 0% PU – 0.62% & 50% PU – 3.73%) with the neat vinylester resin based banana fiber reinforced laminate. In addition to that, it also increases the impact strength and moisture resistance (Impact 0% PU – 2.93 kJ/m² & 50% PU - 8.01 kJ/m², Moisture 0% PU – 0.42% & 50% PU – 0.96%) of the IPN laminate considerably depends upon the loading of the polyurethane. As well as to validate further, the fractured surfaces were assessed through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Finally the experimental values were also cross-verified by analytical simulation software by using ANSYS. Finally, the cross-verification proved that both the results of experimental and FEA analysis of the material were in good co-relation with each other.

Keywords
Vinylester; polyurethane; interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs); banana fiber; scanning electron microscope; ANSYS