Study on impact strength of untreated and alkali treated napier grass fiber strands reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

Napier grass fiber strands were extracted using the combined mechanical and water retting process. The extracted fiber strands were treated with various proportions (5, 10 and 15% w/v) of NaOH solution to improve their surface morphology and bonding with the resin. This study investigates the impact properties of composites made by reinforcing alkali treated, long and short Napier grass fiber strands in to epoxy resin with different orientations (0º, 90º and random). The composites were prepared with 0, 5, 10, and 15% of alkali treatment and with a fiber loading (weight %) of 10, 20, and 30%. The effect of alkali treatment, orientation and fiber loading on the impact strength of the composites was analyzed using scanning electron microscope micrographs. Quantitative results from this study will be useful for more accurate design of Napier grass fiber strand reinforced composite materials for possible automotive applications.