Recent Advancement via Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Characteristics of Sisal and Juncus Fibre-Reinforced Bio-Composites

Abstract

In this work, the mechanical characteristics of unidirectional bio-composite materials reinforced by two types of natural fibres (sisal and
juncus) were studied in order to develop new materials. The effect of the fibres’ extraction methods and their new assembly techniques on the mechanical properties of the elaborated composites was investigated. This is based on three methods of extracting natural fibres: the first uses water treatment alone over a long period, while the second uses alkaline chemical treatment with a sodium hydroxide solution. The last method uses the burial of plant leaves in moist soil. The obtained fibres are assembled according to techniques, such as monolinear fibres, twisting fibres into rope and braiding fibres into rope. The composite materials are produced manually using a pressure-contact moulding process. The outcomes demonstrated that the resulting compounds’ mechanical properties are significantly impacted by the chemical treatment. The sisal/polyester composites exhibit better mechanical tensile test behaviour than those made with juncus fibres. Moreover, contrary to the results of some other studies, the recently developed techniques of assembling with a chemical treatment process enabled the reduction of the bio-composite’s thickness as well as the cost of its preparation.