Experimental Characterization for Natural Fiber and Hybrid Composites

Composite materials are more predominant in weight-sensitive applications in a different field such as Engineering, Medicine, Military applications due to its high impact strength, easy to manufacture the intricate part, high resistance against corrosion, deformation and high thermal stability. Thus, it makes them a good alternative for weight-sensitive applications compared to the traditionally used material. Though synthetic fiber-reinforced composite offers many advantages over conventional materials, it provides weak resistance for fire, more vulnerable to rays and oxidization, uncomfortable to human health. Thus, overcomes by replacing them with natural fiber for structural applications. The low elastic modulus of the natural fiber composite makes them not suitable for many practical applications. Researchers hybridized natural fiber with a smaller amount of synthetic fiber, and filler materials such as rice husk, wood powder, clay, CNT, etc. and enhanced the elastic modulus. Also, the addition of natural fiber in the matrix enhances the energy dissipating capability along with strength. In all mechanical design, strength and modulus of the material is the most important one which influences on material selection. A property of natural fiber composites always depending on a percentage of constitutes (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), fiber distribution, fiber surface roughness, etc. The present study focuses on various characterization studies such as mechanical analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, free vibration analysis, and stability analysis of natural fiber composites. Thus, it helps better understanding of factors affecting the strength, stiffness, and stability of natural fiber composite.