Kenaf Bast Fiber BundleReinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites. IV: Effects of Fiber Loadings and Aspect Ratios on Composite Tensile Properties
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Mechanically retted short kenaf bast fiber bundle (KBFB)-reinforced unsaturated polyester (UPE) composites were fabricated. The effects of fiber loadings and aspect ratios on composite tensile properties were evaluated experimentally and theoretically. Tensile properties of KBFBs and the neat cured UPE were determined, and kenaf-UPE shear bonding strengths were measured. These measured properties were used to predict the tensile properties of the short KBFB-reinforced UPE composites using classical models in micromechanics. Theoretical tensile moduli predicted by Halpin-Tsai, Mori-Tanaka, and Self-Consistent models were in good agreement with experimental results. Theoretical tensile strengths predicted by the Kelly-Tyson model correlated well with experimental results at high fiber aspect ratios. Both composite tensile moduli and strengths increased consistently with increasing fiber loadings up to 75 percent (vol/vol). Forest Products Society 2010.