Mechanical and physical properties characterization of hybrid aloe vera and raffia palm fibers reinforced polyester composite material

In this research, the mechanical and physical properties of hybrid aloe vera (AV) and raffia palm (RP) fibers-reinforced polyester composite materials were characterized. The AV fiber was extracted using water retting technique from the stem of the AV plant, and the RP fiber was extracted using mechanical retting technique by hammering manually form petiole of the RP plant. These fibers were treated with an alkaline solution, and the composite materials were developed using a hand lay-up technique. The weight percentages (wt.%) of AV and RP fibers were varied from 0 to 30 wt.%, while maintaining a constant 70 wt.% polyester matrix content. A fixed ply angle arrangement of 0°, 90°, 45°, −45°, 90°, 0° was used for all samples. When the weight percentage amount of RP fiber increased, the increments of tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength were observed; however, these properties decreased as the weight percentage of AV fibers increased. The maximum tensile, compressive, and flexural strengths were observed on the sample S-5 (0% AV/30% RP/70% polyester matrix), with values of 120.4, 131.13, and 201.4 MPa, respectively. Sample S-4 (10% AV/20% RP/70% polyester matrix) exhibited the maximum impact strength of 1.21 J/mm². Unlike the tensile, compressive, and flexural strength properties, the impact test findings were not significantly influenced by the hybridization of AV and RP fibers. The water absorption test revealed that the sample S-1 (30% AV/0% RP/70% polyester matrix) had the lowest water absorption value of 1.91 wt.%, while the maximum water absorption (3.15 wt.%) was observed on the S-5 sample. In general, by hybridizing RP and AV fibers, it was possible to develop a composite material with moderate mechanical properties and moisture resistance.