Mechanical behaviour of polymeric composite with fibres of false banana (Ensete ventricosum)
¹ ²Czech University of Life Science Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521 Praha 6 Suchdol, Czech Republic
³ ⁴Czech University of Life Science Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Material Science and Manufacturing Technology, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521 Praha 6 Suchdol, Czech Republic *Correspondence: mizera@tf.czu.cz
Abstract:
This study was focused on the analysis of the deformation characteristics of the polymer composite with continuous phase in the form of two-part epoxies and discontinuous phase (reinforcing particles) in the form of fibres of false banana (Ensete ventricosum). The aim of the experiment was to describe the mechanical behaviour of polymeric composite reinforced by fibres of false banana under tensile loading and to determine the modulus of elasticity and deformation energy. The fibres of Ensete ventricosum, originally from Ethiopian region Hawasa, were used in this experiment. Reinforcing fibres were prepared in sizes of lengths 1–2, 2–3, 3–5, 5–6, 7–8, 9–10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 mm with randomly fibres arrangement in matrix. The fibres with length of 1–2, 2–3, 3–5, 5–6, 7–8 and 9–10 mm were used in short fibres composites and fibres with length of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mm in long fibres composites. The composite material was created with 2 wt.% of the filler. The modulus of elasticity of the short-fibre composite material was increased of 28 ± 12% by adding Enset fibres as the filler. The modulus of elasticity of the long-fibre composite material was increased of 46 ± 14%. The influence of the fibre length on the value of the volume deformation energy was not proved.
Key words:
agriculture., deformation energy, tensile strength.