Page 341 - Handbook of Properties of Textile and Technical Fibres

314 Handbook of Properties of Textile and Technical Fibres

properties, etc. The choice of matrix could be limited due to fiber degradation at
elevated temperatures, which would be necessary for the curing of some resin systems.
It is possible to estimate the load-bearing capacity and other properties of FRCs by
studying the micro- and macromechanics of composite behavior. The mechanics of
plant fiberereinforced composite materials have been discussed in detail (Jones,
1998; Gibson, 2011). The kinetics with respect to the properties such as tensile
strength and water absorption have been studied (Gouanve et al., 2007). The design
of composites and the modeling of natural fiberereinforced composites have allowed
the properties of composites to be evaluated. Computer software was used to predict
the properties of the FRCs (Venkateshwaran et al., 2012; Behzad and Sain, 2007).

9.6.1 Physical properties
The physical properties of the plant fiberereinforced composites depend on a number
of parameters such as volume fraction of the fibers, fiber aspect ratio, fiber/matrix
adhesion, stress transfer at the interface, and orientation (Saheb and Jog, 1999). The
main factors affecting the properties of plant fiberereinforced composites are fiber se-
lection including type, harvest time, extraction method, aspect ratio, treatment and fi-
ber content, matrix selection, interfacial strength, fiber dispersion, fiber orientation,
composite manufacturing process and porosity (Pickering et al., 2016). The fiber orien-
tation, volume fraction, type of treatment, and physical characteristics of the plant fi-
bers significantly influence the mechanical behavior of composites, and the most
important key in designing the plant fiberereinforced composites is the interfacial
adhesion of the fiber with the matrix (Shalwan and Yousif, 2013). Physical properties
of the ramie fibers were studied by Nam and Netravali (2006) and composites were
prepared. Ramie fibers were used as reinforcements in many thermoset and thermo-
plastic resins to produce biocomposites (Nam and Netravali, 2006; Yu et al., 2010;
Kim and Netravali, 2010). Ramie fibers are comparatively less well known than any
other mentioned bast fibers due to their limited availability, purity and most of the
ramie fibers are consumed domestically. Pujari et al. (2014) reviewed the comparison
and potential of jute and banana fiber composites emphasizes both mechanical and
physical properties and their chemical composition. The physical and mechanical
properties of jute and banana fibers are presented in Table 9.1. The utilization and
application of these cheaper goods in high-performance applications is possible with
the help of this composite technology. Combining the useful properties of two
different materials, cheaper manufacturing cost, versatility, etc., makes them useful
in various fields of engineering, high-performance applications such as leisure and
sporting goods, shipping industries, aerospace, etc.

9.6.2 Mechanical properties

The mechanical properties of the composites can be improved by improving the inter-
face, which makes the composites firm and allows good stress transfer. The chemical
analysis of the fiber has been studied so as to understand and modify the surface of the
fiber, which improves the interface between fiber and matrix. A brief review has been