Publication

Abstract : pNow a days the usage of natural fiber as reinforcement in polymers has gained significance due to its environmental nature like light weight, high strength, nearby obtainable and also reasonably economical. This current investigational study targets at learning the weight percentage of hybrid natural fiber reinforcement polymer composite material of coir and sugarcane bagasse fibers (10%, 15%) with epoxy resin as matrix in structural applications. The composite specimen was fabricated using hand lay-up practice to the dimension of 115mm x115mmx5mm. The mechanical properties like tensile strength and shore D hardness were approved out from the samples cut from the fabricated composite specimens. The tribological performance of hybrid polymer composite (7% of coir+3% of bagasse) filled epoxy composites were studied by means of Pin on Disc apparatus under dry sliding conditions. Major control factors mostly influencing the wear rate are recognized and the effect of wear constraints like load 10, 20, 30(N), sliding speed 1, 2,3(m/s), and sliding distance 500, 1000, 1500(m) on the sliding wear rate were examined by varying with three levels. A design of experiments based on the Taguchi technique was achieved to attain data in a precise way. An orthogonal array and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were practiced to examine the effect of process constraints on sliding wear behavior of these composites. Results revealed that hybrid polymer composite with (7% of coir+3% of bagasse) filled epoxy composites has the best tensile strength and shore D hardness number. Tribological results exposed that sliding distance have straight influence on wear rate (52.6%), pursued by sliding velocity (16.9%) and normal load (8.2%). © Research India Publications./p