AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF SISAL EPOXY COMPOSITES

This paper presents an experimental study of physical and mechanical characterization of natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix. In this work, a thermoset polymer i.e. epoxy is chosen as a matrix material whereas short sisal fibre is taken as reinforcement. A set of composite with wide range of fibre content by varying weight percentage has been fabricated using simple hand lay-up technique. The effect of fibre content on various properties like density, tensile strength, cross breaking strength, impact energy and water absorption behaviour has been reported. The microstructure of the composites is also studied with the help of scanning electron microscopy.  Later, based on the experimental investigation it has been suggested that the fabricated composites find its potential application in Indian railways like windows frames for non-air conditioned coaches, inner frames for sealed glass in air conditioned coaches, lavotrary doors, roof formations and panelling work of side walls of Indian railways coaches.