Comparative investigation on Mechanical properties of Natural fiber reinforced polyester composites V. Muthukumar 1a* , R. Venkatasamy 1b , V. Mariselvam 2c , A. Sureshbabu 3d , N. Senthilkumar 4e , A. Antony George fernando 5f 1 Professor, Saveetha Engineering College, Chennai-602105, India. 2 PG student, Saveetha Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai – 602105, India. 3 Assistant Professor, Anna University, Chennai- 600025, India. 4 Asso. professor, Adhiparasakthi Engineering College, Melmaruvathur- 603319, India. 5 Asst Professor, Saveetha Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai – 602105, India. a profmuthukumarmech@gmail.com, b principal@saveetha.ac.in, c selvam.050591@gmail.com, d subaceg@annauniv.edu, e nskumar_1998@yahoo.co.in, f antonygeorgefernando@saveetha.ac.in * corresponding author mail id : profmuthukumarmech@gmail.com, Mobile : +919176941555 Keywords: Mechanical properties, Hybrid composites; Hand lay-up technique, ASTM standard Abstract The aim of present experimental investigation is to compare the mechanical properties of Sisal, jute and kenaf fiber reinforced with glass fiber in polyester matrix hybrid composites. Hybrid composites were fabricated by hand lay-up technique. The tensile, flexural and impact tests were carried out on different composite samples as per the ASTM standards. It was observed that the tensile strength of jute/glass fiber composite is 1.94 and 1.59 times more than that of sisal/glass and kenaf/glass composites, respectively. The flexural load carrying capacity of sisal/glass composite is 3.4 and 2.83 times greater than those of jute/glass and kenaf/glass composites, respectively. Also, it can be seen that impact strength of jute/glass composite is almost equal to that of kenaf/glass composite and 1.13 times more than that of sisal/glass composite. Introduction Nowadays, synthetic fiber reinforced composites are replaced by natural fiber composites in various engineering applications due to light weight, high specific strength, low material cost, biodegradability, renewability, good thermal and acoustic insulating properties[1–4]. Sisal, jute, banana, flax, coir, ramie, kenaf, hemp, palmyra are the most widely used plant fibers for polymer matrix composites. Natural fiber reinforced composites are used in transportation (automobiles, railway coaches, aerospace, boat), military applications, building and construction industries (ceiling paneling, partition boards), packaging and consumer products like mailbags, fishnets, ropes, wall coverings and mats [5]. Generally the performances of polymer composites are evaluated based on their mechanical characteristics such as tensile, flexural, compression and impact properties. These characteristics are essential to establish the material performance in various content conditions [6]. Vijaya Ramnath et al (2013) have fabricated hybrid natural fibre composites with abaca and jute as reinforcements and compared its mechanical properties [7]. Ramesh et al (2013) have developed the sisal–jute–glass fiber reinforced polyester composites and evaluated their mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength [8]. Velmurugan and Manikandan (2007) have studied the tensile, bending, shear and impact properties of roof light resin, palmyra/glass fiber hybrid composites and identified that mechanical properties increased due to hybridization [9]. Many authors have previously investigated composites with natural fibre reinforcement with polymer matrices. However, hybridization of two or more different types of natural fiber in a common matrix are not fully investigated. Keeping this in view, the present work is focused on fabrication of hybrid polyester matrix composite reinforced with glass fiber and natural fibers like sisal, jute and kenaf via hand lay-up technique. In addition, comparison of its mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of different composites. Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 592-594 (2014) pp 92-96 © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.592-594.92 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 14.139.187.225-04/07/14,10:59:50)