Journal of Pure and Applied Ultrasonics

Susanta Behera ¹, G. Nath ², J.R. Mohanty ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur-768 018, Odisha., IN
2 Department of Physics, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur-768 018, Odisha., IN

Abstract

Ultrasound sonication is one of the promising techniques to disperse the fiber particles into polymeric matrix thoroughly. The present study encompasseseffect of ultrasonic treatment on mechanical property of rattan/ epoxy composite (REC). Rattan fibers were initially treated with NaOH using ultrasonic bath sonicator for proper absorption of chemical into the fibre surface. Treated rattan fibers were blended with epoxy matrix material by ultrasound during the winding process to enhance the adhesion. The ultrasonic cavitation, improves the wetting between aramid fibers and resins. According to the ultrasonic treatment the interfacial properties of the composite has been greatly improved. Various mechanical properties such as tensile strength, Young's modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strengths and hardness of the fabricated composite have been calculated and analyzed with different weight percentage of fiber matrix composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used for the characterization of fabricated composite. The NaOH treated composite shows better tensile, flexural and impact strength at 45.5 MPa, 121.89 MPa and 39.445 J/m–1 respectively. The mechanical properties of the treated REC were better than the untreated REC. This shows that composite with ultrasonic treatment has good mechanical properties and can be used for wide range of engineering applications.

Keywords

Ultrasonication, Rattan Fiber, Surface Treatment, Mechanical Strength.

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