viii
LIST OF TABLES
2.1 Number of plies used in laminate composite
12 2.2
A comparative average mechanical property of high performance fiber laminates
13 2.3
Properties of thermoplastic and thermoset matrix material 14 2.4
Properties of epoxy and polyester resin 15
2.5 Mechanical properties of clear- cast unreinforced polyester resin 16
2.6 The selected properties of natural fiber and synthetic fibers
18 2.7
Type of fibers used in hybrid laminate and the effect of hybridization
19 2.8
Physical properties of kenaf fiber 20
2.9 Fibers and weave patterns used
25 2.10
Overview of studies on literature review 33 3.1
Technical data of epoxy using slow hardener 37
3.2 Properties of E-glass fiber 38
3.3 Properties of kenaf fiber 39
3.4 Design of intraply hybrid lamina composite 41
4.1 Basic structural parameter of woven fabric samples
49
ix
LIST OF FIGURES
1.1 Flow chart of research methodology
7 2.1
Types of composite 10
2.2 Classification of composite material
11 2.3
Composite 11
2.4 Common forms of fiber reinforcement
19 2.5
Warp and weft direction of woven fabric 22
2.6 A textile composite fan made by SNECMA, woven fabric
and fibers in woven fabrics 23
2.7 Schematics diagram of process performing and resin injection
molding process 23
2.8 Textile composite reinforcements
24 2.9
Fabric construction diagram 24
2.10 Hybrid composite
26 2.11
Various stacking sequences of composite laminate 27
2.12 Stress strain curves for laminates samples
28 2.13
Carbon fiber with epoxy 29
2.14 Flexural and impact strength of composites
30 3.1
Flow chart of methodology 35
3.2 Close-up picture of epoxy resin sticker
37 3.3
Woven roving E-type glass fiber 38
3.4 Kenaf fibers
39 3.5
Process flow chart for vacuum infusion 43
3.6 Geometry of tensile specimen according to ASTM
45 3.7
Shimadzu universal testing machine 45
3.8 Sample dimension for S1W1
46 3.9
SEM machine 47
4.1 Plain weave
49
x
4.2 Twill weave
50 4.3
5-hardness satin weave 50
4.4 2x2 Basket weave
51 4.5
Epoxy resin is spread throughout the sample 51
4.6 Demould of sample from the mould
52 4.7
Weight of samples 54
4.8 Comparison of areal density and thickness of samples
56 4.9
Empty spaces between kenaf and glass fiber in twill weave 57
4.10 Average value of maximum force for single kenaf and glass
fiber with epoxy resin 58
4.11 The breaking part of a kenaf fiber
59 4.12
The breaking part of a glass fiber 60
4.13 Average value of maximum force to break the specimens
62 4.14
Tensile failure for longitudinal kenaf fiber in 2x2 twill weave 64
4.15 Tensile failure for 2x2 basket weave
65 4.16
Plain weave lamina composite 66
4.17 Tensile failure of longitudinal kenaf in plain weave
66 4.18
Photograph of tensile fracture surface of plain weave 67
4.19 5-hardness satin weave lamina composite
68 4.20
Photograph of 5-hardness satin weave 69
4.21 Tensile failure of transverse kenaf fiber in twill weave
70 4.22
Photograph of twill weave specimen 71
4.23 Tensile failure of transverse kenaf fiber in plain weave
72 4.24
Tensile failure of transverse kenaf fiber in 5-hardness satin 73
xi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ASTM -
American Society for Testing and Materials KFRP
- Kenaf Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
PSM -
Projek Sarjana Muda PC
- Polycarbonate
PP -
Polypropylene PS
- Polystrene
PVA -
Poly vinyl alcohol MEKP
- Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide
S1P1 -
Sample 1 in plain weave S2T2
- Sample 2 in 2x2 twill weave
S3H3 -
Sample 3 in 5-hardness satin weave S4B4
- Sample 4 in 2x2 basket weave
UPE -
Unsaturated polyester resin RTM
- Resin transfer molding
LCM -
Liquid composite molding NCF
- Non-crimp fabric
UD -
Uni-directional UTM
- Universal testing machine
SEM -
Scanning electron microscopy RM
- Ringgit Malaysia
xii
LIST OF SYMBOLS
o
- Degree
o
C -
Degree celcius kPa
- Kilo pascal
MPa -
Mega pascal GPa
- Giga pascal
K
IC
- Fracture toughness
G
IC
- Fracture energy
kgcm
3
- Kilogram per centimetre cubic
kgm
2
- Kilogram per metre square
kJm
2
- Kilo joule per metre square
gm
2
- Gram per metre square
gcm
3
- Gram per centimetre cubic
J m
-2
- Joule per meter square
MPa m
12
- Mega pascal square root of metre
Mmmin -
Millimetre per minute ms
- Metre per second
µm -
Micro metre kg
- Kilogram
kN -
Kilo newton X
- Multiply
- Percent
: -
Ratio mm
- Millimetre
wt. -
Weight percent min
- Minute
1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Research