Comparative Analysis of Flexural Properties of Bamboo-Glass Hybrid FRP Composites: Influence of Water Absorption

Abstract

Hybrid fibers are crucial in the self-propelled vehicle industry, with bamboo-glass fiber composites playing a significant role. Bamboo fibers, in particular, feature numerous tiny gaps that enhance their properties and performance. Hence there is a possibility for the absorption of moisture content from the atmosphere when compared to the relevant fibers. These setbacks can be rectified in various ways. Apart from that these fibers are very friendly to echo systems, can degrade quickly, and are flexible in their property. The major drawbacks of most of the fibers are, that they get easily affected by bacteria and fungus when they get soaked and wetted. But as far as the bamboo fibers are concerned they have a high resistance to these attacks. Therefore these materials can be preferred for external use such as engine guards of vehicles. The bamboo fiber in the glass hybridized polyethylene composite is alkali-treated to enhance the adherence of these materials. The high interpenetration of the resin into the fiber surface reduces the contact of this fiber especially the bamboo’s direct reach to the atmosphere. In this work, this hybrid material is preferred for doing a two-wheeler engine safety guard or a protective cover to protect the engine from the external natural compressive or the tensional forces acting on the engine when moves forward along with the vehicle. So, there is a necessity for measuring the flexural strength of the material, whether it will be suitable for this assigned work and also the stiffness of the material is obtained through the flexural modulus curve. Apart from this though these materials are placed in the outdoor sector, these materials can get in contact with external climatic conditions such as rain, dust, and moisture due to cold climatic conditions. This leads to the need for conducting the water absorption test. The test was conducted separately to obtain the water absorption coefficient as well as flexural test before and after water absorption to obtain any deviation if any after water absorption. The test was conducted in the open atmosphere at room temperature for both water absorption and flexural test. The results were tabulated and compared. The comparative study shows that only negligible deviation in property due to water absorption of the hybrid composite is observed.

Keywords

• Flexural
• water absorption
• engine safety guard
• hybrid composite
• bamboo fiber
• glass fiber
• polyethylene

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