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Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research Special issue Open Access

Fabrication and Characterization of Hybrid Composites Using Natural Fibers Reinforced in HDPE and Optimization of Injection Moulding Process Parameters to Minimize Shrinkage

  1. Gobind Department of Mechanical Engineering, IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar
  2. Tejeet Singh Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University, Ferozepur

Abstract

Materials are crucial for advancing human living standards. Over the past 20 years, composite materials have garnered significant attention owing to their unique properties and applications across various sectors. This study outlines the creation and analysis of a novel series of natural fiber-based composites, which incorporate jute, sisal, and hemp as reinforcements, with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) serving as the matrix, and produced through injection moulding. This study examines the effects of different natural fiber contents on the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and Shore-D hardness of hybrid composites, and identifies optimal injection moulding parameters to minimize shrinkage defects. It was evaluated that incorporating three different fibers into HDPE led to a decrease in tensile strength, which had a similar effect, showing a decline in tensile modulus, but an increase in hardness. The findings indicate that a melting temperature of: - 190°C, refilling pressure of: - 85 MPa, and cooling time of: - 11 sec resulted in the least shrinkage. In the final part of the study, the best parameters in terms of the mean and signal-to-noise ratios, responses, and characteristics were determined by analyzing the response plots and variance tables. Consequently, the results of this study are interdisciplinary and may interest mechanical engineers and material scientists in the automotive industry, government bodies, and the development of small-scale eco-friendly industries aiming to achieve an effective method for processing natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites with desired properties to produce environmentally friendly composite materials.

Keywords

References (34)

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