http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/index.asp 123 editor@iaeme.com International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET) Volume 8, Issue 2, February 2017, pp. 123–130 Article ID: IJMET_08_02_015 Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=8&IType=2 ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359 © IAEME Publication CHARACTERIZATION OF BANANA FIBER/PISTACIA VERA SHELL CELLULOSE REINFORCED COMPOSITES M. Mounika Department of Mechanical Engineering, PVP Siddhartha Institute of Technology, India Dr. K. Ravindra Department of Mechanical Engineering, RVR & JC College of Engineering, India ABSTRACT The main objective of the work is to add value to the agricultural residue by fabricating a partially biodegradable composite that shows the best combination of properties. To achieve this, Pistacia Vera shells are opted and cellulose is extracted from it, of both nano and micro sized. Such cellulose is added as filler, to the long banana fibers reinforced polyester composite. Also, this novel material is characterized by testing tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and thermal conductivity. Peak Tensile strength for Pistacia Vera shell banana fiber/nanocellulose reinforced composite is found to be 19% higher than banana fiber based composite. Similarly, Flexural, Impact strength and Thermal conductivity results also exhibited good synergism. Key words: nanocomposites, cellulose, pistacia, banana, acid hydrolysis. Cite this Article: M. Mounika and Dr. K. Ravindra. Characterization of Banana Fiber/Pistacia Vera Shell Cellulose Reinforced Composites. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 8(2), 2017, pp. 123–130. http://www.iaeme.com/ijmet/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=8&IType=2 1. INTRODUCTION Plants found their application in various fields of interest. Especially, in the area of material science, many researchers have done far-reaching research, which primarily focused on natural fiber reinforced composites. Their work mostly emphasized on fabrication and characterization of partially biodegradable composites [1]. On top, hybrid composites were also fabricated. The purpose of hybridization is to enhance the properties of composites such as strength, toughness and impact resistance [2, 3]. Low cost, high specific properties, low density, biodegradability, availability and non-abrasive nature are the principle concerns for opting natural fiber [4]. Natural fiber reinforced composites have high fiber content for equivalent performance, for which environmental impact is lowered. In spite of many benefits, there are also stressing disadvantages such as moisture absorption, incompatibility of fibers, low processing temperature and brittleness [5]. Significantly, hydrophilic nature of these fibers lowers mechanical properties due to moisture uptake. Several physical and chemical methods were investigated to improve fiber-matrix adhesion. When physical methods were sided by chemical