FLEXURAL AND TENSILE PROPERTIES OF KENAF/GLASS FIBRES HYBRID COMPOSITES FILLED WITH CARBON NANOTUBES

The usage of nanofillers reinforcement in polymer matrix has been recently explored for natural fibres composites to improve mechanical properties of polymers. In this study, 0.5 wt%, 0.75 wt% and 1.0 wt% of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added into epoxy resin. The CNTs-modified epoxy resins were then used to produce kenaf/glass hybrid composites. The laminates were prepared using dry filament winding machine and hand lay up method. All samples were tested according to the ASTM Standards, i.e. D790 and D3039 for flexural properties and tensile properties, respectively. Experimental results obtained showed that the flexural strength decreases with increasing CNTs content, while the flexural modulus increases with increasing CNTs content. The tensile strength was found to decrease with the addition of 0.5 and 0.75 wt% CNTs but increase with the addition of 1.0 wt% CNTs. Hybridization with glass also showed an improvement in flexural and tensile properties of kenaf composite.