EFFECT OF FIBER MODIFICATION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SUGARCANE (Saccharumofficinarum)/GLASS FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY RESIN HYBRID COMPOSITE.

Abstract

Sugarcane (Bagasse) was extracted to remove the juice by mechanical process. A portion of sugarcane fiber was subjected to 6% alkaline, then0.125% potassium permanganate, andlater 6% benzoyl peroxide treatment respectively. Also this research work deal with the hybrid effect of composite made of sugarcane/glass fibers which are fabricated by hand lay -up method using epoxy and hardener of ratio 2:1. The mechanical properties of this hybrid composite are determined by testing like Tensile and flexural strength which wereevaluated experimentally according to American Society for Testing of Material (ASTM) standards. The result of the test shows that hybrid composite of treated benzoyl peroxide sugarcane/glass fiber (TBP/GFHC) on the mechanical properties possesses better properties than that of untreated, alkaline, and potassium permanganate treated sugarcane fiber composite. The effect of alkali, potassium permanganate and benzoyl peroxide treatments of sugarcane fiber on the mechanical structure and Functional Group was examined using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR). FT-IR analyses confirmed the lowering of hemicelluloses and lignin contents by benzoyl treatment of the sugarcane fiber. Furthermore, the improved hybrid composite showed resistance to acid, alkali and also possessed lower water absorption. The sugarcane fiber composite/glass fiber hybrid composites have the properties which advice their relevance for application in the building and construction.