Effect of Moisture Absorption on the Tensile Behavior of Woven Hybrid Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Natural fibers are receiving considerable attention as substitutes for synthetic fiber reinforcements such as glass in polymer due to their low density, low cost, acceptable specific strength, reduced tool wear and respiratory irritation and renewable resources. The fibers are not uniformly distributed in the randomly oriented fiber reinforced hybrid composites due to manual lay-up and fibers agglomeration. This reduces the mechanical properties. The above problem can be solved by reinforcing the woven hybrid natural fiber laminated composites. Polyester resin was used as a matrix. The present work emphasis the sisal/cotton fiber woven mat reinforced polyester composites preparation and analysing the tensile behaviour (Dry and wet condition) by varying the fiber volume fraction (10, 20, 30 and 40%).At dry condition, while increasing the fiber content increases the tensile strength and modulus of the composites upto the volume fraction of 30%.Further increase in fiber volume fraction decreases the tensile strength and modulus. Water absorption was carried out for 24 hours with different condition. This reduces the tensile properties. KEYWORDS— Natural fiber, tensile behavior, water absorption