EME4313 BIOCOMPOSITE

MINI PROJECT REPORT:

BAGASSE FIBER REINFORCE POLYESTER

NAME MATRIC
MUHAMMAD AFIF BIN AZIZ E14A0133
MUHAMAD KHAIRI BIN CHE ANI E14A0128
CHUA YONG KOK E14A0040
ANIS AMALIN BINTI AZHAR E14A0019
NURUL AFIKAH MD ROSLI E14A0272

1.0 Introduction
 Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites have appeared as a potential
environmentally friendly and cost-effective represent a decent, renewable and biodegradable
alternative to the foremost common synthetic reinforcement with example of bagasse fiber. In
spite of the interest and environmental attraction of natural fibers, their use has been restricted to
non-bearing applications because of their lower strength and stiffness compared with fiber
reinforced polymer composite (El, 2008). The stiffness and strength shortcomings of bio-
composites can be get the better of by structural configurations and better arrangement in a sense
of inserting fibers in specific locations for highest strength performance.

Figure 1.1: bagasse fiber from sugarcane

The processing of bagasse for production of composites is homogenous to that for

chopped wood or wood dust agglomerates. In that case of bagasse, it is compulsory to have an
initial operation of cleaning from organic residues. before mixing with the adhesive resin, the
bagasse is must be cut, sieved and dried. typically used commercial resins are ureaformaldeyde
and phenol which are mixed up to 15% in weight with the bagasse determined by the level of
humidity resistance required. Chemical additives may also be utilized to enhance the properties
of the composite and its resistance to fire and attack from fungi (Monteiro, Souza, & Janeiro,
2000). These bagasse composites can substitute wood agglomerates in approach such as
furniture, interior panels, wall lining, doors and toys with the advantage of lower cost and good
quality. bagasse reinforced composites could also be hand lay-up with thermoset resin such as
polyester and cure at room temperature. This would avoid the use of pressure and high
temperature in addition of lowering the cost. the scope of this work was to study the use of sugar
cane bagasse waste as reinforcement in low cost resin matrix composites would be the main idea.

The use of natural fibers as reinforcements for composite has attracting more interest to
give the good outcome to the industry. Fibers reinforced polymer composites have many usages
as class of structural materials because of their ease of fabrication that is absolutely low cost and
superior mechanical properties compared to polymer resins (Cerqueira, Baptista, & Mulinari,
2011).

2.0 Objective

1. To study about fabrication of bagasse fiber from sugarcane reinforce polyester

2. To investigate the mechanical and physical properties of bagasse fiber from sugarcane
reinforce polyester

3.0 Apparatus

250 ml beaker, measuring cylinder, Tupperware mold, universal tensile machine, grinding
machine, cutter

4.0 Materials

Sugarcane fibers, 6% sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH), polyester resin, methyl ethyl ketone
peroxide (MEKP) hardener
5.0 Procedure

The bagasse fiber was put and soak in two different beakers with the 6% of NaOH solution for
24 hours. Then, the beaker surface was covered with the aluminium foil

the fiber was put away from beaker and dried in the oven for 80 o C in one day

The fiber was weighed with two different fiber orientation (aligned and random)

the fiber was mixed with the polyester resins and MEKP hardener by hand lay-up

bagasse reinforce polyester composite cured for a day at room temperature

The composite was cut into a two sample with different orientation (aligned and random)

Four composite sample were test with tensile test

The data was recorded

6.0 Result

Test 1 Sample Random fiber

Length = 100mm
Width = 1mm
Thickness = 4mm

Gage Length of Sample = 100mm

Cross Sectional Area of Sample = 4mm x 10mm = 40mm2

5096 N
Tensile Strength of Sample = 40 mm2 = 127.4N/mm2

1.514 mm
Percent of Elongation of Sample = Sample = 100mm x100% = 1.514%

Force, (N) Elongation, (mm) Stress, (N/mm2) Strain

0 0 0 0
1006 0.1478 25.15 0.001478
2062 0.3258 51.55 0.003258
2901 0.4678 72.525 0.004678
3712 0.6688 92.8 0.006688
4257 0.8228 106.425 0.008228
4546 1.0018 113.65 0.010018
4805 1.1568 120.125 0.011568
4969 1.3118 124.225 0.013118
 5073 1.4778 126.825 0.014778
5096 1.514 127.4 0.01514

Stress vs Strain of Random fiber sample

Stress vs strain Slope of Young's Modulus UltimateTensile Strength

Yield Strength of Sample = 0.2% of offset from stress vs strain curve is 68N/mm2
Ultimate Tensile Strength of Sample = 127.4N/mm2
Modulus of elasticity (E) = Slope of the linear stress-strain curve in the elastic region
y = mx
75
m= 0.004678 = 16032.4925 N/mm2

Modulus of Resilience of Sample = Area under the stress strain curve

= Yield Strength^2/ 2Young Modulus
= 682/2(16032.4925)
= 0.1442N/mm2
Test 2 Random fiber sample
Length = 100mm
Width = 1mm
Thickness = 4mm

Gage Length of Sample = 100mm

Cross Sectional Area of Sample = 4mm x 10mm = 40mm2
15166 N
Tensile Strength of Sample = 40 mm2 = 379.15N/mm2

3.458 mm
Percent of Elongation of Sample = Sample = 100 mm x100% = 3.458%

Force, (N) Elongation, (mm) Stress, (N/mm2) Strain

0 0 0 0
1750 0.2785 43.75 0.002785
3825 0.5865 95.625 0.005865
5085 0.8485 127.125 0.008485
6183 1.1445 154.575 0.011445
7266 1.4295 181.65 0.014295
8242 1.6665 206.05 0.016665
9504 1.9705 237.6 0.019705
10709 2.2635 267.725 0.022635
11811 2.5345 295.275 0.025345
12848 2.8065 321.2 0.028065
13853 3.0785 346.325 0.030785
 14823 3.3515 370.575 0.033515
15166 3.458 379.15 0.03458

Stress vs strain of random fiber sample

Stress vs strain Slope of Young's Modulus Ultimate Tensile Strength

Yield Strength of Sample = 0.2% of offset from stress vs strain curve is 125N/mm2
Ultimate Tensile Strength of Sample = 379.15N/mm2
Modulus of elasticity (E) = Slope of the linear stress-strain curve in the elastic region
y = mx
135
m= 0.008485 = 15910.43N/mm2

Modulus of Resilience of Sample = Area under the stress strain curve

= Yield Strength^2/ 2Young Modulus
= 1252/2(15910.43)
= 0.491N/mm2
Test 3 Straight fiber sample
Length = 100mm
Width = 1mm
Thickness = 4mm

Gage Length of Sample = 100mm

Cross Sectional Area of Sample = 4mm x 10mm = 40mm2
34732 N
Tensile Strength of Sample = 40 mm2 = 868.3N/mm2

13.794 mm
Percent of Elongation of Sample = Sample = 100mm x100% = 13.794%

Force, (N) Elongation, (mm) Stress, (N/mm2) Strain

0 0 0 0
5590 0.9695 139.75 0.009695
6492 1.9675 162.3 0.019675
7179 2.9286 179.475 0.029286
8375 3.8545 209.375 0.038545
9675 4.8285 241.875 0.048285
10543 5.7665 263.575 0.057665
13302 6.7455 332.55 0.067455
16366 7.6115 409.15 0.076115
19562 8.5165 489.05 0.085165
22537 9.4815 563.425 0.094815
 25849 10.5105 646.225 0.105105
28354 11.4275 708.85 0.114275
30808 12.3475 770.2 0.123475
33311 13.2705 832.775 0.132705
34732 13.794 868.3 0.13794

Stress vs strain of straight fiber sample

Stress vs strain Slope of Young's Modulus UltimateTensile Strength

Yield Strength of Sample = 0.2% of offset from stress vs strain curve is 150N/mm2
Ultimate Tensile Strength of Sample = 868.3N/mm2
Modulus of elasticity (E) = Slope of the linear stress-strain curve in the elastic region
y = mx
275
m= 0.019675 = 13977.13N/mm2

Modulus of Resilience of Sample = Area under the stress strain curve

= Yield Strength^2/ 2Young Modulus
= 1502/2(13977.13)
= 0.80489N/mm2
Test 4 Straight fiber sample
Length = 100mm
Width = 1mm
Thickness = 4mm

Gage Length of Sample = 100mm

Cross Sectional Area of Sample = 4mm x 10mm = 40mm2
34732 N
Tensile Strength of Sample = 40 mm2 = 868.3N/mm2

13.794 mm
Percent of Elongation of Sample = Sample = 100mm x100% = 13.794%

Force, (N) Elongation, (mm) Stress, (N/mm2) Strain

0 0 0 0
2208 0.4073 55.2 0.004073
5544 0.8113 138.6 0.008113
8411 1.1783 210.275 0.011783
10868 1.5763 271.7 0.015763
12442 1.9653 311.05 0.019653
13443 2.3653 336.075 0.023653
 14164 2.7213 354.1 0.027213
15052 3.1113 376.3 0.031113
16053 3.4803 401.325 0.034803
17162 3.8493 429.05 0.038493
18273 4.2513 456.825 0.042513
19357 4.6563 483.925 0.046563
20387 5.0613 509.675 0.050613
20908 5.311 522.7 0.05311

Stress vs strain of straight fiber sample

Stress vs strain Slope of Young's Modulus Ultimate Tensile Strength

Yield Strength of Sample = 0.2% of offset from stress vs strain curve is 150N/mm2
Ultimate Tensile Strength of Sample = 522.7N/mm2
Modulus of elasticity (E) = Slope of the linear stress-strain curve in the elastic region
y = mx
200
m= 0.011783 = 16973.61N/mm2

Modulus of Resilience of Sample = Area under the stress strain curve

= Yield Strength^2/ 2Young Modulus
 = 1502/2(16973.61)
= 0.6628N/mm2

7.0 Discussion

In this test we take 2 bio-composites samples with different fiber orientation which is
random orientation and straight orientation, and tested it with 4 trials using the Universal Testing
Machine (UTM). Theoretically, bagasse fiber has tensile strength of 290 MPa and density of 1.27
g/cm. Stress-strain diagrams were made from the data collected from the all of the
instrumentation. The modulus was calculated by finding the slope of these stress-strain
diagrams.

From the results obtain from sample 1 with random fiber orientation, it is observing that
the bio-composite start to experience strain of 0.001478 at stress 25.15 N/mm. The maximum
strain in the graph plots corresponds to fracture strain which is 0.01514 with the maximum stress
of 127.4 N/mm. The ultimate tensile strength for this sample is 127.4 N/mm. The percent of
elongation for this sample is 1.41%. For sample 2 with the same orientation as sample 1 which is
random orientation, it is observed that the test sample start to experience strain of 0.002785 at
stress of 43.75 N/mm. The maximum strain experience by this sample is 0.03458 with
maximum stress 379.15 N/mm. The ultimate tensile strength for sample 2 is 379.15 N/mm.
Percentage of elongation for this sample is 3.46%. The difference in the value of the ultimate
tensile strength and percentage of elongation of both sample 1 and sample 2 despite having the
same orientation of fiber in both bio-composites is may be cause by some error in the fabrication
of the samples like the dispersion of the fiber in the matrix that causing the strength of samples to
be different. Sample 2 have higher ultimate tensile strength and percentage of elongation before
breaking than sample 2 due to sample 2 have more uniform distribution of fiber throughout the
matrix of the bio-composite compared to sample 1 that have some part of the matrix with no
fiber causing sample 1 to have lower strength in that area.

For sample 3 that have straight fiber orientation, it is observed that the sample start to
experience strain of 0.09695 at stress of 139.75 N/mm. The sample reach it maximum strain of
0.13794 when it is applied with stress of 863.3 N/mm. The sample have the percentage of
elongation of 13.794% with the ultimate tensile strength of 863.3 N/mm. For the last sample
which is sample 4, the sample start to experience strain of 0.004073 when the stress reach 55.2
N/mm. The maximum strain experienced by the sample is 0.05311 when the stress level reach
522.7 N/mm. The ultimate tensile strength of this sample is 522.7 N/mm with percentage of
elongation of 13.794 %. The difference in result of both sample 3 and 4 is may cause by the error
in the fabrication of both of the sample. There may be no uniformity in the fiber dispersion in the
matrix of sample 4 causing the sample to have lower strength compared to sample 3 despite
having the same fiber orientation in both of the bio-composite sample. Other factor that might
influenced the different in result of sample 3 and sample 4 is the error when both samples were
cut from each other. Sample 4 might have crack result from the error when it is being cut causing
it to be easier break when subjected with lower stress compared to sample 3. These errors could
be avoided if the fabrication process is done with the dispersion of the fiber in the matrix is
uniform throughout the sample to give uniform strength throughout the bio-composite sample
and then the cutting process of the cured sample is done properly to avoid cracking to occur that
may affect the strength when subjected with tensile test.

It is important to mention that it is very difficult and in many cases, impossible to

develop engineering product to be defect free and in the fabrication process and cutting process
of the bio-composite product. Moreover, it is also obvious that the surface conditions of bagasse
fibers are not always identical. As a result, compatibility and adhesion between bagasse fiber and
the polymer matrix may vary, which also contributes to difference in the tensile strength of the
developed bio-composites.

Overall when it is compared between bio-composite sample 1 and 2 that have random
fiber orientation with sample 3 and 4 that have straight fiber orientation, it is observed that fiber
3 and 4 appear to have higher strength with the average ultimate tensile strength for both fiber is
693 N/mm compared to average ultimate strength of sample 1 and 2 which is 253.275 N/mm.
This is due to the fiber orientation of fiber that is uniform that give a higher grip between the
fiber and the polymer matrix; and parallel to the applied stress that contribute to the higher
strength of the sample compared to the random orientation that easily break when subjected with
stress that is not parallel to applied stress. All samples with random and uniform fiber orientation
have been alkaline treated which gave higher adhesion between the bagasse fiber and polymer
matrix resulting in higher strength of the bio-composite.

8.0 Conclusion

Fabrication of bagasse fiber from sugarcane reinforce polyester composite can be

conducted with conventional techniques such as hand lay-up. Which was bagasse fiber had been
laid-up with polyester with addition of MEKP hardener. Afterward, bagasse fiber reinforce
polyester composite produced are cure at room temperature for a day. From there, the mechanical
and physical properties of bagasse fiber reinforce polyester had been determined the strength of
composite materials that have been produced. Its physical appearance and capability of the
composite materials are able to be used in industry such as home appliances, furniture, toys from
others.

9.0 References

Balaji, A., Karthikeyan, B., & Raj, C. S. (2015). Bagasse Fiber The Future Biocomposite
Material: A Review, 7(1), 223233.
Balaji, A., Karthikeyan, B., Raj, C. S., & Res, J. C. P. (2015). Journal of Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Research , 2015 , 7 ( 8 ): 573-577 Research Article Morphological and
mechanical behavior of sugarcane bagasse fibers reinforced polyester eco-friendly
biocomposites, 7(8), 573577.
Cerqueira, E. F., Baptista, C. A. R. P., & Mulinari, D. R. (2011). Procedia Engineering
Mechanical behaviour of polypropylene reinforced sugarcane bagasse fibers composites.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.04.339
El, M. (2008). A study on the potential of sugarcane fibers / polyester composite for tribological
applications, 265, 223235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2007.10.006
Hossain, M. R., Islam, M. A., Vuurea, A. V, & Verpoest, I. (2013). Effect of Fiber Orientation on
 the Tensile Properties of Jute Epoxy Laminated Composite.
Mortazavian, S., & Fatemi, A. (2014). Effects of Fiber Orientation and Anisotropy on Tensile
Strength and Elastic Modulus of Short Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites Composites
Part B: Engineering. COMPOSITES PART B.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.11.041
Monteiro, S. N., Souza, M. V. D. E., & Janeiro, R. De. (2000). Sugar Cane Bagasse Waste as
Reinforcement in Low Cost Composites, 191(1998), 183191.
Paiva, J. M. F., & Frollini, E. (2001). Sugarcane Bagasse Reinforced Phenolic and
Lignophenolic, 880888.