ISSN (Online) : 2319 - 8753 ISSN (Print) : 2347 - 6710 International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engi eering and Technology Volume 3, Special Issue 3, March 2014 2014 International Conference on Innovations in Engineering and Technology (ICIET’14) On 21 st & 22 nd March Organized by K.L.N. College of Engineering and Technology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright to IJIRSET www.ijirset.com 1162 M.R. Thansekhar and N. Balaji (Eds.): ICIET’14 Mechanical Properties of Vakka Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites Ravi Kumar N #1 , Ranga Rao CH *2 , Raghava Rao B #3 , Srinivas K #4 # Department Of Mechanical Engineering, V. R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada, Krishna (Dt), A.P, India. * Department Of Mechanical Engineering Department, Andhra Loyola Institute of Engineering and Technology, Vijayawada, Krishna (Dt), A.P, India. ABSTRACT— During the last few years, natural fibers have received much more attention than ever before from the research community all over the world. These natural fibers offer a number of advantages over traditional synthetic fibers. The main aim of this research was to study the feasibility of using a Vakka natural fiber as reinforcement in the development of partially biodegradable green and environmentally friendly composites. Composites consisting of polypropylene reinforced with Vakka fiber were prepared by injection moulding technique with varying weight fractions of fiber (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%). The developed Vakka fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were then tested for their mechanical properties. KEYWORDS— Vakka fiber, Composites, Mechanical properties, Polypropylene, I. INTRODUCTION These Natural fibers are lignocellulosic in nature and the most abundant renewable biomaterial of photosynthesis on earth. Underutilized natural fiber residues are readily available rich resources of lignocellulosic materials. Since last decade, there is considerable worldwide interest in the potential of substituting natural fibers (agro fibers) for either wood or manmade fiber (eg. fiber glass) in composite materials. Composites consisting lignocellulosic fibers and synthetic thermoplastics have received substantial attention in scientific literature as well as in industry, primarily due to improvements in process technology and economic factor. Natural fibers such as jute, flux, hemp, etc. can be alternately used to reduce the cost of the composites (Mohanty et al, 2002).The prominent advantages of natural fibers include acceptable specific strength properties, low cost, low density and high toughness (Biagiotti et al, 2004). Thermoplastics are alternative matrix materials that possess a number of obvious advantages over thermoset matrices. These include shelf-life, post forming, toughness and recycling considerations. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic matrix material that received attention for the production of natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites. It provides advantages in regard to economy, ecological and technical requirements. Common methods for manufacturing natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites are injection moulding and extrusion (Li et al, 2000). The mechanical properties of some natural fibers such as jute, sisal, and flax fibers were compared to glass fibers and it was observed that specific moduli of these fibers are comparable to or better than those of glass fibers (Nabi Saheb and Jog, 1999). The physical and mechanical properties of wood, water hyacinth, Kenaf, banana and empty fruit bunch of oil palm fibers filled polypropylene composites has been determined (Myrtha Karina, 2007). The addition of natural fiber decreases tensile strength and breaking strain of the composites. However, it increases modulus of elasticity of composites. Compared with other natural fibers, kenaf filled composites showed highest tensile strength, breaking strain and modulus of elasticity but absorbed least water. Different composites based on polypropylene and reinforced with flax and glass fibers have been made and their mechanical properties are measured together with the distribution of the fiber size and the fiber diameter (Amirhossein Esfandiari, 2007). Composites of polypropylene and four different types of natural fibers including wood flour, rice hulls, kenaf fibers, and newsprint were prepared at 25% and 50% fiber contents and their dynamic mechanical properties were studied and