Microwave curing of natural fiber and synthetic fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites

Vol.1 No.4

Year: 2013

Issue: Apr-Jun

Title : Microwave curing of natural fiber and synthetic fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites

Author Name : Akshay Mali, Inderdeep Singh , A.K.Sharma

Synopsis :

Akshay Atul Mali and his co-authors Apurbba Kumar Sharma and Inderdeep Singh developed the microwave processing of materials of natural fiber and synthetic fiber which are reinforced polymer matrix composites. In the present experimental work, natural fiber (grewia optiva) reinforced polypropylene composites (GOF/PP) and synthetic fiber (glass) reinforced polypropylene (GF/PP) composites have been cured with the help of microwave hybrid heating (MHH). The trials were conducted in atmospheric conditions at fixed frequency 2.45 GHz and a power of 900 W. Microwave wattage and exposure time were optimized for each type of composite and study shows that GOF/PP and GF/PP composites can be successfully cured with microwave heating. The obtained samples show a perfect bonding between the fiber and the matrix. The result shows that the tensile strength of composite with GOF as reinforcement is 79.93% than that of the GF reinforced PP composites.