An Experimental Study on the Mechanical and Environmental Behavior of Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Composites
摘要
This study explores the mechanical behavior of sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy composites fabricated using hand-layup technique. Sisal fiber, recognized for high cellulosic content and abundant availability, was used as reinforcement, while epoxy resin as the matrix. Mechanical behavior, in terms of tensile strength, was evaluated for unexposed and environmentally exposed samples. The samples were exposed to five common environmental conditions such as kerosene, petrol, tap water, used engine oil, and soil and the effect of the exposure was analyzed over a two-week period. The unexposed samples demonstrated the highest tensile strength (86.425 MPa), while tap water exposure resulted in the lowest strength (36.9 MPa) due to fiber swelling and degradation. The exposure to other environments such as petrol and engine oil caused moderate strength reductions. These findings validates the potential of sisal fiber-reinforced composites for industrial applications requiring lightweight, sustainable materials, particularly in automotive interiors, construction, and packaging applications.