Fabrication and Mechanical Property Evaluation of Ethiopia Banana Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
Idiris Mehamud *
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Wolkite University, Ethiopia
Jegan Raj
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Wolkite University, Ethiopia
Cheru Zeleke
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Wolkite University, Ethiopia
Thomas Gebre
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Wolkite University, Ethiopia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Banana and false banana fiber is important by-product of Ethiopian country farmers. The current work explains the characterization of different weight of a composite, natural fiber epoxy composites, by using hand lay-up technique and mechanical testing machine. Depending on the percentage of composite in resin, from 80%-95% by weight, which increasing the mechanical properties. SEM using to evaluate fiber, surface structure and fractured internal structure. The Experiment outcome illustrate that the impact strength, tensile strength and flexural strength are increased with the similar proportion as amount of epoxy (resin) increased. Scanning electron microscopy used to evaluate and analyze the experiment work. As well as form experimental result conclude that higher tensile, Impact and flexural strength exist at proportion of 80% epoxy resin with 20% banana fiber.
Keywords: Banana, epoxy, tensile, flexure, impact strength, scanning electron microscopy