A Study on Areca nut Husk Fibre Extraction, Composite Panel Preparation and Mechanical Characteristics of the Composites

Abstract

Areca nut husk fibre is an agricultural waste, which does not contribute to the economy of areca nut plantation. The use of areca nut husk fibre as reinforcing material in the preparation of low-cost and lightweight composites provides utility value to areca nut husk fibre. Low-cost and lightweight composites have wide range of applications in construction industry, marine structures, automobile industry and aerospace industry. The present work focuses on extraction of areca nut husk fibre with alkali treatment process by using 6% of sodium hydroxide solution, composite panel preparation and determination of mechanical properties of composite panels. Different fibre compositions (fine fibre, coarse fibre and coarse fibre sandwiched with glass fibre) of 15% by weight were used in the present study. Tensile, flexural and impact tests were conducted to find the mechanical characteristics the composite materials. The tensile strength of composites made with fine fibre (15.1 MPa) is observed to be more than that of composites made with coarse fibre (10.8 MPa). Further improvement in tensile strength of composite panels made of coarse areca nut husk fibre layer sandwiched with two layers of glass fibre (24.8 MPa) is observed. The flexural strength of fine fibre composites is more when compared to that of the coarse fibre composites. The average flexural strength of composites reinforced with fine fibre, coarse fibre and coarse fibre sandwiched with glass fibre is observed as 73 MPa, 66.7 MPa and 284 MPa, respectively. The impact strength of coarse fibre composites is found to be higher when compared to that of fine fibre composites. © 2019, The Institution of Engineers (India).