Compressive and impact properties of unidirectional banana (Musa paradisiaca) stalk fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

• Published in: AIP conference proceedings Vol. 2499; no. 1
• Main Authors: Sudarisman, Hakim, Muhammad Fatkhurrahman, Sosiati, Harini
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 30.11.2022
• Subjects: Composite structures; Fiber composites; Impact loads; Impact tests; Kinking; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Strain
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0106580

The effect of fiber loading on compressive and impact properties of banana stalk fiber (BSF)-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites has been investigated. Before being used as reinforcement, the locally available BSF was alkali-treated and neutralized. Unidirectional BPF-reinforced composite plate panels containing four different fiber loadings of 10, 20, 30 and 40 vol% were fabricated. In addition, a neat BSF/polyester composite plates were also produced for reference. The plates were then cut into specimens. Compressive and impact test was conducted according to the ASTM D3410 and to a modified ASTM D4812 standard, respectively. Impact load was applied flat-wise rather than edge-wise as instructed in the standard, in order to obtained data on the effect of stacking configuration on the impact properties. It was revealed that all mechanical properties being evaluated increase, by 11,1% for failure strain to 200.4% for compressive modulus, with the increase of fiber content up to 40 vol%. While compressive specimens failed by fiber local buckling followed by kinking and matrix crushing, impact specimens mostly failed by fiber breakage.