The Effect of Fiber Orientation and Composition on Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Natural Composite of Nettle, Sisal and Glass Fibers

Majority of the conventional materials have been replaced by Natural fiber composites due to their high strength to weight ratio, biodegradable, eco-friendly environment. Based on various literature surveys, natural fibers are a very good alternative for the Engineering and Manufacturing industries. The main goal of this work is to investigate the effect of fiber orientation and wt.% composition on mechanical properties. Fabrication of the composite was made from a hybrid polymer matrix reinforced with nettle fiber (NF), sisal fiber (SF), and glass fiber (GF). Different compositions wt.% of nettle and sisal fiber were used with 0°/90° and 45° orientations. A 5% NaOH was used for both fibers to remove further lignin, hemicellulose, and other fiber remnants. The total volume fraction of the fiber was 40 wt.%. From this wt.% of nettle and sisal fibers were hybridized as 20NF:10SF, 15NF:15SF, and 10NF:20SF through 0°/90° orientation by keeping wt.% glass constant. The mechanical property results for those samples were very good. In this case, the tensile load and impact force was applied in the direction of both fibers sample S5 and S5’. In the case of S5, the load was applied longitudinally to SF. Whereas in S5’ the load was applied longitudinally to NF. Tensile and impact strength of S5 and S5’ were 97MPa, 8.4J, and 91MPa, 6.9 J respectively. Therefore, it is possible to say that hybrid composite which shows good mechanical property can be manufactured from locally available nettle fiber which is not well known in composite and sisal plant fiber.

Keywords: Hybrid composites; Nettle fiber (NF); Sisal fiber (SF); Glass fiber (GF); Hand lay-up; Polyester