DEVELOPMENT OF FABRICATION MATERIALS FOR LOW COST HOUSING USING SISAL FIBERS

Received: 26 May 2017 Final Accepted: 28 June 2017 Published: July 2017 The present work deals with the effect of orientation on tensile, compression and impact properties on sisal fibers oriented composite. Tensile, Compression and impact tests are conducted for the composite and the results exhibit an enhancement in the structural property.in this work we will Develop the sisal fibers composite material like Box, Rod, and panels which are then used for low cost Hosing material as roof . By using epoxy chemical in fabrication of sisal fibers composite we get the hardness in that particular panel


ISSN: 2320-5407
Int. J. Adv. Res. 5 (7), 2247-2252 2248 Methodology:-Materials Sisal fibre and its extraction:-Sisal (Agave sisalana) plants are more familiar with the tropics and subtropics region as they can grow better at a temperature more than 25°C. These plants consist of sword shaped leaves of normally 1.5m height and a typical plant produces around 150 leaves during its life span of 6 years. It contains about 500-800 fibers, which are normally used to make ropes, carpets etc. The matured leaves standing at an angle of more than 45_ to the upright of the plant are cut. The next stage in which the leaves are initially crushed by the rollers of rounded knife edges followed by repetitive beaten is called decortication. During this process, the fibers are extracted by squeezing out the pulpy content of the leaf. Finally the fibers are dried in sunlight for 3-4 days after washing them in clean water to remove the dusts and unwanted contents in it.
Epoxy:-Epoxy resin is a member of the epoxy oligomer class. It forms a three dimensional structure when it reacts with the hardener or curing agent. It is possible to change the properties of the epoxy resin with different epoxy oligomers and by choosing various curing agents. The epoxy-LY556 i.e., diglycidyl ether of biphenyl-A (DGEBA) with the hardener HY951 i.e., triethylenetetramine (TETA) is used as matrix material. The blending ratio of the resin with the hardener is 100:30 by weight. .

Laminate
When there is a single ply or a lay-up in which all of the layers or plies are stacked in the same orientation, the layup is called a lamina. When the plies are stacked at various angles, the lay-up is called a laminate. Continuous-fiber composites are normally laminated materials ( Fig. 1.7) in which the individual layers, plies, or lamina are oriented in directions that will enhance the strength in the primary load direction. Unidirectional (0°) laminate are extremely strong and stiff in the 0° direction. Composites are rarely used in the form of unidirectional laminates, since one of their great merits is that the fibres can be arranged so as to give specific properties in any desired direction. Thus, in any given structural laminate, predetermined proportions of the unidirectional plies will be arranged at some specific angle, θ, to the stress direction. In order to calculate the properties of such a multi-ply laminate, it is first necessary to know how the elastic response of a single unidirectional lamina, such as that which we have been considering so far, will vary as the angle to the stress direction is changed. However, they are very weak in the 90° direction because the load must be carried by the much weaker polymeric matrix. Because the fiber orientation directly impacts mechanical properties, it seems logical to orient as many of the layers as possible in the main load-carrying direction.

Composite preparation:-
The composite laminates for this work were fabricated by compression molding method. Initially, the qualified sunlight dried sisal fibers are segregated and chopped. Different kinds of laminates were prepared with like 3 No of strip of size 16 cm X 4 cm, 3 laminate of 30 cm X 30cm size , 5 No of sisal composite beam of size 20cm X 2.4 cm , 3 no of sisal fibre composite for bonding strength .sisal fibers, 20 cm X 50cm panel and the epoxy resin were taken, the appropriate hardness also selected to fabricate the composites. The dimension of the mold used in the present work was 30 cm X 30 cm 0.8cm. This had to be placed over the fixed bottom jaw after placing a polythene sheet over it to avoid deposition of squeezing resin during the process. The mixture of epoxy resin with the hardener was applied to the mold, and then it was followed by the uniform deposition of the natural fiber premixed with a predetermined percentage of the resin mixture on the mold according to the laminates needed. Finally the resin was applied at the top before compressing the laminate with the Loading material. The pressure was applied gradually to ensure uniform distribution of resin throughout the laminate and also to remove the entrapped air. The laminate was kept under constant pressure for about nearly 24 hr to guarantee absolute curing After acquiring the compressed laminate from the Loading material, the burs on the rough edges were cut by using saw cutter and emery sheets were used to remove the rough edges.
Similar type of plywood panel is prepared by cutting with above size to compare.

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Structural Testing:-Impact Resistance:-The composite sheet of 30 cm x 30 cm and thickness 8mm was tested using a Impact test setup. This setup contains steel ball and dial gauge. The panel is simply supported at four corners. The steel ball of 5cm diameter and weight 450 gm. is dropped from 100 cm height.
Same test is carried out on standard plywood of thickness 8 mm with similar boundary condition. the impact test on plywood and Sisal fibre Composite panel. Bending Test:-The Sisal fibre composite panels are prepared in size 20 x 50cm and plywood sheets of same size are prepared. These panels are tested under Flexural Testing Machine so as to calculate the bending strength and deflection of both the panels. The deflection is measured by using the Dial Gauges of 0.01mm least count.
The panels fabricated are tested under the FTM to measure the maximum load it can sustain under the bending. Thus using the parameters such as Load and Deflection of the tested panel the Flexural rigidity is calculated.         Conclusions:- The panels fabricated using Sisal fibre Composite exhibit more strength, Impact resistance and flexibility as compared to the plywood of same size and thickness. The deflection developed in the Sisal fibre Composite panel was more as compared to the plywood but there were no cracks developed at the point of maximum deflection.  The panels are acid and alkali resistant and do not exhibit any blister when it comes in contact of any acid or alkalis. Whereas, the plywood of same size and thickness showed blister at its surface when it was kept in contact with acid for 24 hrs.  The panels are very good in Sound Absorption as compared to the plywood. When sound was passed through the Sisal fibre Composite panel and the plywood, the Sisal fibre Composite panel shows 37% more sound absorption capacity.  The materials used in fabrication of Sisal fibre Composite panels are of much cheaper cost. The panels cost almost 20% less than plywood of same thickness. The per square ft rate of Sisal fibre Composite panel is 42 Rs whereas plywood of same thickness costs 54 Rs per square ft.