H .L. Guruprasad et. al; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology © 2018, www.IJARIIT.com All Rights Reserved Page | 908 ISSN: 2454-132X Impact factor: 4.295 (Volume 4, Issue 4) Available online at: www.ijariit.com Influence of surface treatments on chopped strand mat E-glass fiber reinforced with Epoxy polymer matrix composites Guruprasad H .L. gurugowdahl@gmail.com East West Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka Dr. J. N. Prakash prakash69jnp09ace@gmail.com East West Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka Aravind K. U. aravindku@yahoo.com East West Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka ABSTRACT The present work revolves around the investigations carried out on Fiber surface Treated Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) E-Glass fiber reinforced Epoxy matrix composites. Hand lay-up technique was used to fabricate the Epoxy based polymer matrix Composites reinforced with treated CSM E-glass fiber with volume fraction of 3.42%. The three types of treatments were done on Chopped strand mat E-Glass fibers, namely no surface treatment, Heat treatment and Ethyl silicate coating on heat treated E-glass fibers were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the epoxy composite. The composites were subjected to mechanical tests preferably to determine tensile, flexural and Impact strengths. The test results showed that there has been a marked improvement in mechanical properties of composites reinforced with fiber surface treated CSM E-Glass Fibers. E- Glass Fibers treated with Ethyl Silicate shows remarkable improvement in mechanical properties. Experimental results of mechanical properties for different surface treatment of E-glass fiber were evaluated and compared to conclude. Keywords— Epoxy, Chopped strand mat, E-glass fiber, Mechanical properties, Composites 1. INTRODUCTION Polymer matrix composites have replaced metals and pure polymer-based materials in many applications. In the present days, composite materials are the popular materials in demand because of their high strength to weight ratio. The fiber reinforced composites exhibit the excellent mechanical properties which are the most essential parameters to design the long sustainable structures or components. The glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites are in great demand [1]. Under various operating conditions, commercially available thermoset type of Epoxy polymers exhibits good mechanical properties. Epoxy resins have been used in a wide range of applications due to their advantageous properties like corrosion resistance, chemical resistance and low shrinkage on curing, high performance at various operating conditions [2]. The properties of the constituent materials such as the type of resin and fibers, quantity, fiber distribution and orientation are the parameters which define the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix composites [3]. The bonding at the interface and the transfer of load from the matrix material to fiber material is an important issue for defining the mechanical property of the fiber reinforced composite [4]. The interface bonding between the fibers and the matrix is a major issue in the mechanical properties of the composite materials. The stability and the strength of the interface are the defining parameters of life expectancy, toughness, fatigue resistance and strength of the composite materials [5]. The fiber reinforced composites are anisotropic in nature, this property of the fiber reinforced composites is not found in traditional isotropic materials. The fibers have the anisotropic region around them even when they are formed to isotropic when they are seen on the macroscopic scale. The properties like strength and rigidity are less in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the fibers but are extreme in the parallel direction of the fiber axis. The high performance and stability of the composite are obtained when the interface of fiber and matrix are having high strength and chemically stable [6]. The physical property of the matrix is changed due to the chemical reaction at the coupling agent and matrix interface, thus the morphology of the matrix is modified [7]. The overall fiber reinforced composite materials efficiency is measured by the conventional method of evaluating i.e. by conducting the mechanical evaluations at various temperature and environmental conditions by enhancing the fiber protection. Many investigations are been in the process to evaluate the improved fiber surface treatments. The stress transfer capability and fiber protection are been evaluated by using the experimental or theoretical technique [8,9,10]. The enhancement of the mechanical properties is possible with the surface treatment of glass fibers along with the filler materials [11]. In this present investigation, an attempt has been made to unveil the influences of fiber surface treatment of E-Glass fibers on the tensile, flexural and Impact properties of Epoxy/Treated Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) E-Glass fibers Polymer matrix composites.