Response Surface Modelling of the Mechanical Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites

This work presents a systematic approach to evaluate and study the effect of fibre aspect ratio and fibre volume fraction on the tensile strength, ultimate elongation, modulus of elasticity, strength and impact energy of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibre reinforced polyester composites. Hand-lay-up technique was used in the fabrication of the composite materials. Response surface methodology was used to study the effect of the selected factors on the mechanical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibre reinforced polymer-based composite. The optimum fibre aspect ratio and fibre volume fraction for each mechanical property was determined. From the result of optimization, the maximum value for tensile strength obtained was 12.15N/mm2 at a fibre aspect ratio of 64 and fibre volume fraction of 26%. The maximum value for ultimate elongation was obtained as 1.939% at a fibre aspect ratio of 124 and fibre volume fraction of 50%, the maximum value for modulus of elasticity was obtained as 1509 N/mm2 at a fibre aspect ratio of 124 and 34% volume fraction. The maximum value for toughness was obtained as 0.12 N/mm2 at a fibre aspect ratio of 89 and a volume fraction of 30%. The maximum value of impact energy was obtained as 307.72J/m (5.77ft-lbs/in) at 28% fibre volume fraction and an aspect ratio of 69. The maximum value of impact strength was obtained as 4.57N/mm2 at a 36% volume fraction and an aspect ratio of 64.