MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF KENAF PAST FIBER-REINFORCED EPOXY MATRIX COMPOSITE PANELS

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), a stalk-like plant, provides a bast fiber that was utilized in a nonwoven mat form and embedded into art epoxy resin matrix. Plaques with three different fiber volume fractions were made by hand lay-up using 3, 4 and 10 layers of nonwoven mat. Coupons were cut from these plaques and tested for impact and tensile strengt h. The random kenaf fiber mat did not reinforce the tensile strength c haracteristics approximate to 40MPa (5.8 ksi) or the impact strength a pproximate to 0.50 J/cm (0.937 lbs/in) of the epoxy matrix. Percent el ongation and the Young's Modulus were calculated from the data. The st rength and elongation values were compared to the fiber volume fractio n of the respective test plaques. Results showed that kenaf bast fiber s serve as a good filler for thermoset composites due to the fiber's h igh yield strengths. Kenaf fibers possess such advantages as being ine xpensive, biodegradable, and environmentally safe while serving as a r enewable resource.