An evaluation on mechanical properties of vaccum bagging processed kenaf epoxy nano aluminium oxide and nanographene composites

Abstract

This paper aims to study the mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites and the addition of primary and secondary fillers the nano-aluminum oxide and nanographene to the Kenaf epoxy composites. The vacuum bagging method was used to fabricate the composites. The advantage of using vacuum bagging is to reduce blowholes. The weight ratio of Kenaf fiber 50%–60%, matrix 40%, fillers nano-aluminum oxide 0%–6%, and nanographene 0%–3% was considered. Mechanical properties like Tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus, hardness, impact strength, and compression strength were tested.6% nano aluminum oxide and 3% nanographene show a 125% increase in tensile strength, a 45% increase in flexural strength, and almost four times higher flexural modulus recorded. 42% increase in compression strength, and an increase of 40% in impact strength. The highest Vickers hardness is 27. An increase in primary and secondary fillers decreases and a combination of increases the mechanical properties.