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(2020) 20:125

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Intrinsic cellulosic fiber architecture and their effect on the mechanical properties of hybrid composites B. NagarajaGanesh1   · B. Rekha2 Received: 27 March 2020 / Revised: 2 August 2020 / Accepted: 18 September 2020 © Wroclaw University of Science and Technology 2020

Abstract  This study is mainly focused on the intrinsic fiber parameters and their influence on the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites. Cellulosic fibers are extracted from mesocarp of Cocos nucifera fruit and outer mat of Luffa cylindrica fruit. The inherent fiber parameters such as fiber diameter, lumen diameter, cell wall thickness are observed under light microscope. Micro-fibrillar angle is found using X-ray diffraction technique. Three varieties of hybrid polymer composite samples are fabricated using Cocos nucifera and Luffa cylindrica fibers as reinforcements in the ratio 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2 respectively employing hand layup technique with their combined weight maintained as 30%. Significant response in the Load Vs Deflection curve and mechanical properties of the hybrid composites are found attributing to the difference in the respective weight proportion of the constituent fibers in the hybrid composite system. Results exemplify that the hybrid composite sample comprising Cocos nucifera and Luffa cylindrica fibers in the ratio 1:2 capitulates the maximum flexural strength and impact strength of 31.05 MPa and 14.24 kJ/m2 respectively when compared with other hybrid composites. The reason for the difference in mechanical strength of hybrid composite samples containing two different fibers is found to be related to the built-in architecture and physical characteristics of the constituent fibers. The morphology of the fractured samples are examined and reported. It is concluded that properties of hybrid composites can be tailor made depending upon the requirements either by using the Cocos nucifera fibers to impart ductility or Luffa cylindrica fibers to impart brittleness. Graphic abstract

Keywords  Biomaterials · Cellulose fiber architecture · Microfibrillar angle · Moisture content · Hybrid composites · Mechanical properties

* B. NagarajaGanesh [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article

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1 Introduction Lignocellulosic fibers are obtained from a variety of plants and are the preferred bio-degradable reinforcements for polymer matrices nowadays. These fibers are extracted from various parts of the plants such as roots, stem, leaves and fruit. The climatic conditions, geographic location, method of extraction, age of the plant and the fiber source in the plant are some of the variables that control the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the fibers. The suitability of a fiber as reinforcement in polymer matrixes for diverse applications is assessed from their physical properties, chemical composition and the anatomical parameters of the fibers [1]. These fiber reinforced polymer composites are a distinct