article · Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites filled with aluminium oxide have been fabricated to replace conventional synthetic E-glass fibres. Using a conventional hand lay-up method followed by compression moulding, chopped flax and unsaturated polyester resin composites were produced with varying aluminium oxide filler contents of 0, 5, 10, and 15 weight percent. These formulations were tested under ASTM standards at 15 and 25 weight percent flax fibre loadings. The addition of the aluminium oxide filler altered both the tensile and impact strength of the base composites. Ultimate tensile strength increased by 39.06 percent in the composite formulation containing 25 percent fibre and 5 percent filler. In addition, impact strength improved by 45 percent in the formulation containing 15 percent fibre and 10 percent filler. The resulting composite materials demonstrate suitable properties for producing automotive body components, including mudguards and engine undercovers.
Manufacturers frequently seek plant-based alternatives to synthetic glass fibres to lower environmental impact without sacrificing structural integrity. Demonstrating that adding aluminium oxide particles boosts the tensile and impact strength of flax-polyester composites offers a practical route to reinforcing natural materials. This provides the automotive industry with a renewable alternative for vehicle body parts that regularly endure mechanical stress.
The composite material is targeted at automotive component manufacturers looking to replace synthetic E-glass fibres. Specific stated applications include vehicle mudguards and engine undercovers. Because the material has been formulated and subjected to standard mechanical property testing using laboratory compression moulding, the technology represents applied and tested research, needing component-level fabrication trials and durability testing before reaching production readiness.
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This study has endeavored to develop an Al 2 O 3 ‐filled natural fiber reinforced polymer composite which is intended to substitute the most widely used synthetic E‐glass fiber material. To attain the desired objective of the work, 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt% Al 2 O 3 ‐filled chopped flax/unsaturated polyester resin composite have been developed by the conventional hand‐lay‐up method followed by a compression molding process. Consequently, characterization and mechanical property tests are conducted based on the ASTM standard. The results revealed that both tensile and impact strength properties of the base chopped flax/unsaturated polyester resin composite are all affected due to the inclusion and variation of the content of Al 2 O 3 in 15 and 25 wt% fiber loading cases. It has been noticed that a 39.06% increase in the ultimate tensile strength of the composite in 25/UPR‐5 composition has been gained. The effect of Al 2 O 3 on the impact strength of the base composite has also been analyzed and a 45% increase has been observed in 15/UPR‐10 composition. The findings also witnessed that the newly developed composite can be applied to make automotive parts such as mud guard and engine undercover.
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DOI: 10.1155/2021/6641029
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